Why You Shouldn't Wash Your Face With Hot Water This Winter

The best of experts will tell you, skin care is a little like style; it tends to shift with the seasons. Not a total product makeover, per se, but a couple of tweaks here and there will make sure your skin stays glowing and hydrated all year long. 

"Your environment affects all parts of your body, so of course it will affect your skin!" board-certified dermatologist Howard Murad, M.D., has previously told us. 

Come winter, you might want to hop into an extra-steamy shower after braving those brittle winds. But that instant gratification you might get from a scalding splash of water can actually worsen your moisture barrier in the long term and result in dehydration. And, as we know, even people with over-oily skin can still be at risk for dehydration; no matter your complexion, the advice applies. 

It's advice we should be using year-round, as holistic esthetician Kimberly Yap Tan tells us: "If the water's too hot, it will strip and damage skin; and if it's too cold, it won't dissolve the face wash properly, leaving residue. Extreme temps either way can also cause broken capillaries for sensitive- or thin-skinned folks."