She explains, “When water is left on the skin for long stretches of time, it can further dry out the skin. This happens because the prolonged water contact strips the skin of its natural moisture and lipids and disrupts the skin barrier.”
It is not a good idea to let your face dry by itself after showering or cleaning your face. If you do, it will lead to dry skin and possible breakouts. It is better to use a towel or tissue paper to pat the water off of your skin before allowing i...
Water evaporating shouldn't cause issues. Skin can get dry from washing a lot, just getting it wet should not be a problem, unless you spend hours in a hot shower. You mention it happens when washing the hair, is it possible you are reacting to a hair product, like shampoo or conditioner?
It's not advisable to just use water when cleansing your face. This is because most times the water won't remove the dirty and germs you've collected all day. The water just cools your face. It is advisable to use both soap or facial cleanser and then use water to rinse yourself.
Over a prolonged period of time, hard water can also form 'free radicals' which break down your skin's collagen, causing the skin to sag and form fine lines and wrinkles, making you look older.
Maceration can occur anytime skin is exposed to moisture for extended periods. Most people experience mild skin maceration from water when swimming or taking a long bath. Other common sources of moisture contributing to maceration are sweat, exudate, urine, and feces.
Tap Water for Your Skin
“For the majority of people, using tap water will not harm your skin,” says Dr. McGuinness, so you can breathe a sigh of relief. “While water pH, hardness, and temperature can affect skin, these factors may impact certain people more than others,” she adds.
Just Water Method
By wetting your hair you're still technically washing it, but you're avoiding exposure to potentially dehydrating ingredients like sulfates. A good time to use the “just water” method is when it's the end of the day and your hair is looking like a bit of a mess.
While it's recommended that those with acne-prone or oily skin keep a morning cleanse in their skincare routine, those with dry skin might benefit from skipping this step (though splashing your face in the morning with just water is fine).
So, assuming you are using the right products—it is absolutely fine to wash your face in the shower. It is also absolutely fine to wash your face at the sink. This is a personal choice, and you're allowed to do what feels good on any given day.
“The dryness caused by air-drying can reduce the production of sebum in the skin, thereby triggering the release of additional oils after drying,” she cautions. On the other hand, gently wiping your face dry with a towel immediately after cleansing will ensure that the skin does not get dehydrated and irritated.
Your face retains more moisture.
Try washing with a mild cleanser in the evening to remove your makeup and simply splashing your face with water in the mornings.) “Rinsing with warm water will accomplish a reduction in some oils, and lifting of buildup and dead skin cells,” she says.
Improves Skin Tone
Since water allows the skin to bounce back and heal scars faster, it's easy to understand that it also helps improve overall skin tone. Since water flushes out toxins, it enhances blood flow, which helps the skin look clear and youthful. Water also minimizes puffiness and inflammation.
Water alone is not sufficient to remove dirt, make-up, and other impurities. Therefore, washing your face with only water benefits very few factors. What's more, the optimal pH value for the skin on the face and body lies between 4.7 and 5.75.
Soft water contains less than 100mg of calcium carbonate per litre. Moderately hard water contains between 100 and 200mg of calcium carbonate per litre. Hard water contains between 200 and 300mg of calcium carbonate per litre.
Individual Variations: The amount of water needed for flawless skin varies from person to person. Factors like age, gender, activity level, and climate can all influence your hydration needs. For most people, it's recommended to aim for around 8-10 glasses of water a day, but some may require more or less.
Lukewarm water is the way to go for any skin-related cleansing (including your body). You want some warmth in your water, since as you probably know, heat can help loosen plugs in pores. (This is the reason steamers are so popular with aestheticians.) Warm skin also absorbs your subsequent skincare products better.