One of the most satisfying things to do on a vacation is collect all the little bottles of toiletries the hotel provides and bring them back for your collection. Guilty pleasures, right? You can use all the little bottles and pretend you are Goliath in a world of Lilliput bottles, but the one product that we suggest you do not use is the cute square bar of soap the hotel provides as face wash. Ever notice? Hotels never provide face wash, and we urge you to carry your own.

Soaps, unless carefully selected, are not very gentle on your skin. Here are some reasons why you should not use soap on your face...

 

Simple fact, skin is acidic, soap alkaline

Simple fact, skin is acidic, soap alkaline

Skin’s pH levels are usually between 4 and 6.5, but your soap’s pH levels are near the alkaline end of the pH spectrum. So ditch the soap, unless you are sure of the pH balance of the bar. If your find it impossible to say ‘bye’ to soap, then use mild ones like Dove Almond Cream Beauty Bathing Bar.

 

Surprise, surprise! Soap dries out your skin

Surprise, surprise! Soap dries out your skin

It should come as no surprise to you that soap dries out your skin. The skin on your face is delicate and sensitive to ingredients in soap, so it best avoided even if you have oily skin. Use a facewash or scrub that is formulated specifically for oily skin like St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Face Scrub which will remove dirt and excess oils from your skin without disturbing the pH levels or the natural oil layers of your skin.

 

Soap can harm the quality of your skin

Soap can harm the quality of your skin

Facewashes are formulated for different skin types and with various beneficial ingredients which can cater specifically to your skin’s needs. This is not the case with soaps. They are good for the body, but not so for the face, as they are made with the primary purpose of cleaning the skin, not nourishing it. We like the Lakmé Blush and Glow face washes that come in a range of fruity variants that cater to different skin issues.