Many of us immediately pat our face dry with a towel after washing. Someone does it more or less carefully and sparingly, while someone diligently rubs it. Recently, there has been more talk about benefits of not doing it at all, and let the face dry on its own. The opinions of professionals and ordinary people are divided on this matter — some don’t see anything harmful in this, while the latter categorically don’t recommend using a towel to dry the face, since this can significantly worsen the condition of the skin.

To dry your face with a towel or not?

The habit of wiping your face after washing with a towel really carries certain risks for the skin. Firstly, wet skin is sensitive to mechanical stress and can be easily injured. If you rub your face with a towel, microcracks may appear on the skin and it will start losing moisture, thus multiplying bacterias, that will lead to dry skin and irritation.

Secondly, the risk of premature skin aging increases. During strong friction, the fibers of the epidermis are stretched, which provokes the appearance of fine wrinkles.

Thirdly, if your skin is prone to oiliness and frequent breakouts, a towel (even if it is being used exclusively for the face) can be the first culprit for acne on the cheeks, forehead, and chin. A terry towel is a hotbed of pathogenic microbes that cause inflammation. And if there is already a pimple on the skin, it can easily be injured and with the help of a towel its contents will spread over healthy areas, causing new inflammation.

Fourthly, the use of face care products on slightly damp skin increases their effectiveness. If you apply a tonic, cream or serum on a damp face, the active ingredients of the products will be absorbed along with water, improving skin condition.

Alternatives to wiping your face with a terry towel?

Paper towels

Many skin care experts unanimously recommend replacing terry towels with paper towels. But here it’s also important to remember that you do not need to wipe your face with sharp or aggressive movements, otherwise you can easily damage the skin. Just lightly blot your face with dry wipes, leaving it slightly damp, and then apply your usual skin care products.

Massage drying of the face

Adepts of this technique are Korean fashionistas, who believe that a small facial massage is the basis of well-moisturized skin. Soft patting and stroking the skin with clean hands will not only help remove excess moisture, but also improve blood circulation in the capillaries, which will increase the permeability of active ingredients of facial skin care cosmetics.