If you are having persistent breakouts despite a consistent, well planned skin care regimen, it might be time to consider ditching that face cloth hanging in your bathroom.
There are many reasons to break up with your face towel. Keep reading for the top 5 reasons I share with my patients every day.
- You use fabric softener
Fabric softener actually prevents towels from absorbing water and can leave a waxy buildup that then gets on your face.
- You hang the towel to dry in your bathroom.
A study at the University of Arizona found that nearly 90% of face towels were contaminated with coliform bacteria or E. coli after being left to dry in the bathroom. Yuck, right?
- Your towel smells funky.
We have all done this right? Your towel smell pretty good out of the dryer then when you get it wet an odor shows up. This is because the towel never got completely clean in the first place. You may have washed it, but if your washer is not clean (how many of you clean the washing machine on a schedule?) body soil and bacteria can get redeposited during the rinse cycle.
- You’re not the only one who uses it.
Yes, there are still folks out there that use community towels (and tooth brushes). This seems like a no brainer but hello cross contamination.
- Your skin type is not normal.
If you have very dry, sensitive, or acne prone skin you are at more risk of that dirty towel causing outbreaks.
So, what can you do?
- Use a towel once and toss it in the wash. Yes, this leads to more laundry but if this is the one barrier to getting your skin clear, why not?
- Wash with your hands. Your hands are a great tool. I like to wash my face with my hands, splash some water to rinse then pat dry or allow to air dry. This may not work well for those who wear heavy make-up.
- Use 100% cotton, natural face pads. You can apply your favorite make up remover to these then give your face a few swipes then toss in the trash.
- Use disposable paper towels or face wipes.
Be careful when choosing your face towel. Some have added fragrance and even formaldehyde.
Here’s to your perfect skin!
Kimberly
Creator & CEO of Perfect Skin Code
