More sensitive and more exposed than the rest of the body, your face deserves more rigorous cleansing.
According to the NHS, it is estimated that our hands are in contact with the skin of our face 100s of times a day*.
This is a significant amount of touching; the face acts as a direct barrier against external elements such as dust and microbes. In addition, it naturally secretes sebum, sweat and dead skin that accumulates on the surface of the epidermis.
Daily cleansing of the skin and facial hair is therefore essential, particularly in the current health situation, to preserve this defence system against external aggressions and to keep the skin beautiful and looking healthy.
We have been at your side, studying the characteristics of your skin for over 118 years. This is why we have made a point of providing you with answers and advising you on the right routines to adopt to wash your face well, referring to the advice of doctors and our in-house experts.
Why Should We Pay Attention to the Hygiene of Our Face?
Washing your face and beard helps to wash away the number of harmful bacteria present on the skin and hair and thus reduce the impurities accumulated during the day. In addition, men’s skin, in particular, has more sebaceous glands to prevent dehydration.
Good Daily Beard & Face Washing Habits
Facial and beard hygiene can be adapted according to each person’s routine – sports activity, public transport, contact with other people – and the current health situation.
However, there are general ways to keep a clean face.
Experts recommend:
- Wash your face and beard every day, if possible after each contact with the outside world.
- Preferably take a shower before going to bed to remove the impurities of the day.
- Use soap to help wash away impurities and bacteria.
- For effective cleansing, run water over your face to rinse off the soapy areas.
- Do not use a hydro-alcoholic gel, but choose a cleansing product adapted to your skin type.
Is it Necessary to Shave to Keep a Clean Face?
A thorough shave helps to ensure effective facial cleansing. In fact, shaving daily makes it possible, thanks to the application of a shaving gel or foam composed of cleansing agents, to reduce pollution, dust and wash away bacteria residues present on the face and hair.
Passing a razor over your face also has an exfoliating effect and helps to remove skin cells accumulated on the upper layer of the epidermis.
However, shaving is not the only way to keep your face clean. A well-groomed beard also helps to keep your face clean.
How to Wash Your Face When You Have a Beard
Special care must be taken to the beard according to its thickness, length or your skin type. However, whatever your facial hair style, it’s recommended that you:
- Cleanse daily with a beard soap or shampoo as bacteria, dead skin, sebum and other unwanted organic matter can get trapped in the beard.
- Preferably take a shower at the end of the day and let the water run directly onto the hair to rinse it.
- Dry your beard or moustache well. Bacteria can thrive in water rich environments.
- Brush your beard to prevent itching, remove dead skin and prevent knots from forming in the hair.
- Moisturise and soften your beard hair by applying a few drops of beard oil.
Shaving Cuts & Irritation: A Problem in the Current Situation?
As a precaution, every wound deserves to be protected if possible by a bandage and to be disinfected, but there is no particular reason to worry about it in the current health situation.
Indeed, according to several doctors specialising in infectious diseases interviewed by the American daily newspaper Today**, there is currently no evidence to confirm that the Coronavirus can be transmitted through cuts or cause infection by crossing the skin barrier.
A press release*** issued in March 2020 by the World Health Organization explains that “the disease is mainly transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets expelled through the nose or mouth when a sick person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets may be found on objects or surfaces around the sick person. You can get COVID-19 if you touch these objects or surfaces and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth”.
That’s why it’s important to integrate facial cleansing into our essential daily habits, as we already have with hand washing.
Do I Need to Take Special Care of My Shaving Tools?
Using a prep with your razor can help to keep it clean and to clean away bacteria. Also rinse thoroughly with hot water after use to help remove shaving debris and residue.
It is recommended that you rinse your razor after each use and change blades regularly to maintain a comfortable shave.
Caution: When cleaning your razor, it’s essential to avoid using a small brush or towel, as this can damage the ultra-thin edges and protective coatings on the blades.
*https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/what-you-need-to-do/
** https://www.today.com/health/can-coronavirus-be-spread-through-cut-wound-sneezed-salad-toilet-t177994
***https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations
