Is Hot Water Aging Your Face? (Small Habits, Big Difference #4)

Small Habits…Big Difference! Habit #4

How hot is the water when you wash your face?

If you're like a lot of us, you turn that faucet over to hot, wait for the steam, and splash away. Feels good, doesn't it? 😂

I've been reading The Eternal Norse by Astrid and Erik Halvorsen, and I'm sharing some of the everyday habits that might be worth changing as we get older.

Last time, we talked about closing the kitchen at least 2 hours before bed.

Well…here's Habit #4.

That nice hot water may be working against your skin!

Our skin makes its own natural oils.

Those oils aren't the enemy. They're the protection.

They help guard our skin against damage and dryness.

But hot water washes away the natural oils that protect the skin.

So every time we scrub our face with hot water, we're rinsing off some of the very thing that's there to take care of it.

And as we get older, our skin doesn't always replace that protection as quickly as it used to.

Here's the part I didn't know.

Hot water stretches the tiny blood vessels in your face.

Once in a while, no big deal.

But morning after morning…year after year?

Over time, this creates redness and uneven skin tone.

I always figured my face got its color from years of working outside in the sun on the farm. Now I find out my bathroom faucet may have been helping! 😂

This one is about as simple as it gets.

Not cold enough to make you yelp. Not hot enough to steam up the mirror.

Just comfortable.

Lukewarm water still gets your face clean without washing away all that natural protection.

When you're done, give your face one good splash of cold water.

It tightens pores and wakes up the skin.

And I'll tell you what…it wakes up the rest of you too! It might even get you moving before that first cup of coffee. (After your glass of water from Habit #1, of course!)

A word of caution. If you have a skin condition, such as rosacea or eczema, or a doctor or dermatologist has told you how to care for your skin, follow their advice.

Anybody who has worked around farm equipment knows the value of a little grease and oil.

You keep the bearings greased and the metal oiled because that coating is what protects it.

Strip it all off, and you've left that equipment wide open to wear, dryness, and rust.

Our skin's natural oils do the same kind of job.

No farmer in his right mind would wash the grease off his equipment every morning and leave it bare.

So why do we do it to our faces?

Small habits…big difference!

At my age, I'm not trying to look 25 again.

I've earned every line on this face. Years of farming, raising a family, teaching, laughing with friends, and 53 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart will do that!

But that doesn't mean I don't want to take care of what God gave me.

I want to stay active, stay healthy, enjoy my family, spend time with my grandson, and keep learning new things for as long as the good Lord allows.

That's one reason I've become interested in health and wellness and why I'm involved with Zilara, a company offering wellness products in forms such as liquids, powders, tinctures, and teas.

I'm not looking for miracles or overnight transformations.

I'm interested in learning about practical ways to support our health as we get older…and sharing what I discover.

If you're curious about Zilara, you can explore it through a free 72-hour tour:

https://zilaratour.com/bill

No pressure. Just take a look and decide for yourself. (I earn a commission if you join through my link; your price doesn't change.)

Tomorrow morning, before you splash your face, check the water.

Is it steaming?

Turn it down to cool or lukewarm.

Then finish with one cold splash and see how you feel.

One little change.

One little habit.

And who knows? Maybe your face will thank you!

Now, I have a question for you…

👉 Do you wash your face with HOT, WARM, or COLD water?

Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, keep learning, keep taking care of yourself, and…

Just keep moving forward!

Bill Feaver

Small Habits…Big Difference! A series about simple changes that may help us live healthier, more active lives as we age.