skin care essentials Why You Should Air Dry Your Face

While you’ve likely heard about the benefits of air-drying your hair, did you know that air-drying your face after washing with your go-to facial cleanser or drying off sans towel after a shower can also be a good idea? Yes, that’s right. Air-drying your face and body is a step you may not have considered adding to your skin care routine, but it’s definitely one worth considering. Air-drying might just help address quite a few skin care concerns you’re dealing with, so why not learn more? Keep reading to find out why air-drying after a shower or face cleansing session could be a good idea.

3 REASON YOU SHOULD CONSIDER AIR-DRYING AFTER A SHOWER

As we mentioned, air-drying your face (and your body!) can benefit your skin in a number of ways. Intrigued? We’ve compiled a list of three skin care concerns you can address by opting to air dry. Once you’re in the know, we have a feeling you’ll be ditching your towel and letting Mother Nature do her thing.

Air dry your face if…you have sensitive skin. There’s no denying that towels can be harsh on your skin. This can lead to unwanted redness and can especially irritate those with sensitive skin. Air-drying your face allows you to ditch the rough, irritating towel and give your skin a much-needed breather with no rubbing required.

Air dry your face if…you’re prone to breakouts. Let’s be honest; you likely aren’t washing your towels, especially your face towel, quite as often as you should. Towels can easily build up with unwanted bacteria use after use, and using one to dry your face can cause that bacteria to make its way to your skin, which can result in unwanted breakouts. No towel, no problem (or pimples)!

Air dry your face if…you have dry skin. Calling all lovers of beauty hacks! Did you know that your moisturizer works better when applied to damp skin? This is because when your favorite moisturizers aren’t applied to dry skin, they’re able to trap more moisture and give your skin the long-lasting hydration you’re after. Skip drying your face and apply your face cream or lotion directly to damp skin to get the most out of your moisturizing skin care products.

IS AIR-DRYING BAD FOR YOUR SKIN?

You can probably guess the answer to this question based on all of the above, but it’s still one we hear a lot, so we thought we’d answer it once and for all. Air-drying is not bad for your skin! There’s no reason you would need to towel off after getting wet, other than the water may get on your clothes or make you a little colder. And as we’ve covered, air-drying can actually have benefits, so the answer is really quite the opposite!

SHOULD YOU LET YOUR SKIN AIR DRY?

On the contrary, can we say once and for all that you should let your skin air dry? Well, not quite. The truth is, it really depends on you. Some people like to towel-dry, while others benefit from air-drying. As with most things in life, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer!

HOW TO AIR DRY YOUR FACE

Now that you’re educated on the beauty benefits connected to air-drying, you may be wondering how exactly to add it to your routine. Follow our (super simple) step-by-step tutorial below.

1. WASH YOUR FACE

Brighten your skin by using the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Cleanser. The clay-to-mousse daily cleanser is formulated with charcoal to remove everyday impurities without over-drying while leaving skin revitalized with a fresh glow. To use, squeeze the cleanser into your hands and add water to transform the formula. Then apply the cleanser to your skin, massaging gently onto your face in circular motions. Rinse thoroughly.

2. LET THE AIR DO ITS THING

This step is self-explanatory. Go for a walk, style your hair, or catch up on your favorite TV show while you allow your skin to air dry.

Editor’s tip: In a rush? Spend a few seconds standing in front of a fan to speed up the drying process so you can head out the door ASAP.

3. MOISTURIZE

Once your skin is mostly dry but still damp, it’s time to put your moisturizer to use! Try a moisturizer with a water-based formula, like one from the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius line. Take your pick from the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal/Oily Skin, L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal/Dry Skin, or L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Extra Dry Skin. Formulated with aloe vera water and hyaluronic acid, these formulas glide onto skin easily and deliver instant and continuous hydration.

4. USE A FACIAL OIL

Give your skin a little extra TLC by applying a nourishing facial oil. Smooth the oil onto your skin, giving your face a bit of a massage as you go. Not only will this step feel amazing, but applying an oil overtop of your moisturizer can help lock it in for better results.

HOW TO AIR DRY AFTER A SHOWER

If you are taking things up a notch and not just air-drying after washing your face, but drying off without a towel post-shower, what to do will be slightly different. Step out of the shower and stay on your bathmat—you don’t want to drip water everywhere. Then smooth on a face cream and body lotion to lock in moisture all over. Gently squeeze excess water from your hair and hang out for a few minutes before getting dressed. Use that time to brush through your mane or tidy up the bathroom counter!

If your skin is still overly wet, you can dry off a little without losing the air-drying benefits. Grab a cotton T-shirt and dab it against your skin to get rid of a little bit of the H2O, and you should be good to go.

Want to learn more tricks that will benefit your skin? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Patting, the Trendy Japanese Skin Care Technique.