Here’s How To Dry Your Face Like A Pro (We’re Serious)

Sometimes skin-care regimens come intuitively: like showering when we wake up, or taking off our makeup before bed. Another one of these nearly natural behaviors is drying our face after a shower or a good scrub, and although we like to think we’re pretty much pros at it (we’ve only been doing this, well, our whole lives), there’s always room for improvement. To correctly hone down our face drying technique, (and avoid any skin feats we might right into because of poor drying) we reached out to AcneFree Consulting Dermatologist, Dr. Hadley King for the best tips under her belt, and here’s what she had to say.

What Are We Doing Wrong?

When washing a sensitive area like the face, Dr. King notes being too harsh on the skin is where we often go amiss. “To gently dry your face, wipe your hands across your cheeks and neck to remove excess water,” she says. “It’s okay to gently pat the skin with a clean towel if you like using a towel, you don’t want to rub with a towel because this can irritate the skin.”

What If You Have Acne Prone Or Sensitive Skin?

For anyone who is especially sensitive, or acne-prone contenders, drying your face comes down to a gentle pat and an especially clean towel. “If you do use a towel, make sure that it is clean as to not expose your skin to bacteria, yeast and mold that might be harbored by a dirty towel,” says Dr. King. These pathogens can contribute to more acne or can even potentially cause other skin irritations or infections.

Not Drying Your Face Is Actually More Effective For Your Skin Care

What’s more, is that Dr. King notes that post-wash, skin-care products actually work better if your skin is not completely dry when you apply them. “Most active ingredients you put on your skin will penetrate better when the skin is damp — and that’s because the water molecules polarize the skin.” She also adds that when you apply moisturizers on wet skin, they are more likely to lock in, and you will be better hydrated and moisturized all together. Here’s to more effective face-drying in our skin-care future.

Looking for a new cleanser? Try the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser or the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser.

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