Water should be warm, not hot, if you're using the towel method. Steam your face once a week for the best results. Limit each steam session to around 10 minutes to avoid irritating your skin.
Face – hot towels are typically used before a facial to relax the muscles on the face, soften the skin, open the pores and allow skin treatment to penetrate the skin with ease. This allows beauty professionals to thoroughly remove deep-seated dirt and oil in the pores and replace it with nourishing moisture.
"When it's been fifteen minutes, place a warm towel over your face for one minute before removing the mask.
According to Cult Beauty, using a cleanser hot cloth is not only perfect for removing the cleanser itself from your face, but it's also great for gently buffing your skin whilst helping any oils or active ingredients to penetrate pores and loosen anything unwanted (makeup or otherwise) that remains.
Wash them after three uses maximum.
"You should wash your towels after no more than three uses," says Anna Utley, the general manager of the consumer products group at Whirlpool Corporation.
According to dermatologist Sejal Shah, "Bacteria, fungus, dead skin cells, oils and other debris can collect on the towel," which can become the culprit of skin "infections, acne flares, and irritation."
“A cotton or cotton blend washcloth or hand towel is preferred for the face,” he says. “Quick-drying options for washcloths are also a great option as some work to help with exfoliating dead skin cells. Turkish cotton is a great option for your body.
Warmth and moisture help loosen the contents inside the pores and draw excess oil and dirt to the surface. People can treat large, inflamed pimples by alternating hot and cold compresses. To make a hot compress, soak a towel in hot water. The towel should be hot, but not scalding.
The warmth from the compress helps draw out and get rid of oil and bacteria trapped in your pimples. Use a clean cloth and fresh water each time you make a warm compress so you don't get any dirt or additional bacteria in your pimples.
Once a whitehead begins to form, a warm compress can help release the pus that accumulates under the skin. Soak a clean washcloth in hot water. Apply the warm cloth to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this step three to four times daily until the pimple begins to heal.
Hold the warm washcloth over your face to steam out your pores. The steam helps loosen dirt, make-up, and such in your pores. Repeat the process. As the washcloth cools, continue to heat up the washcloth with new hot water, and hold it over your face, up to three or four times.
Disadvantages: It can aggravate sensitive skin, or if you suffer from rosacea or eczema, the heat and steam may trigger "facial flushing", so anyone prone to redness should avoid it.
There are two main benefits to washing your face with a flannel. Firstly, exfoliation. Using a soft flannel or muslin cloth in circular motions gently exfoliates the skin as it aids in the cleansing step. Skin is left smoother and brighter.
By using warm treatments first, you can help remove any debris that's trapped in your pores. After applying warmth for 5 to 10 minutes, you can then follow up with ice for one minute to decrease inflammation and swelling. You can repeat this process daily as needed until the pimple clears up.
Changing your sleeping position may help prevent acne. Train yourself to sleep on your back, so that your face does not come in contact with the pillowcase. Position the pillows around you in such a way that they stop you from rolling over on your side or front.
Using ice cubes on your skin can immediately reduce the size of the acne. So if there is any kind of inflammation on your skin, using an ice cube will help reduce the swelling and shrink the acne spot a considerable level. It will also reduce the lifespan of the acne by reducing the size of the inflammation.
Use a warm compress
Soak a fresh washcloth in hot water for a few minutes. Be careful not to get it so hot that you burn your skin. Wring it out and hold the warm cloth to the pimple for about 10 to 15 minutes. You can repeat this process three to four times a day to help release the pus.
A washcloth (THIS is the one I swear by) is most beneficial when it's used to wipe off the make up from your face that the act of cleansing and rinsing wouldn't achieve. Also, the washcloth provides a bit of exfoliation, which further helps achieve clear and radiant skin.
They're not gentle on your skin
For those of you who use paper towels to dry your face- you have the right idea, however, they're just not gentle enough on your skin. The rough texture and general stiffness, paired with the chlorine used to dye the paper towel white, is simply too harsh to use on your face.