Should I wash my face with hot water or cold water?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
You will hear both: "hot water opens the pores" and "cold water tightens them". The answer that Japanese households have shared for generations is neither — it is lukewarm water (nurumayu). This article sets out the target temperature and what happens to your skin at each water temperature, which matters in Japan, where winter tap water can be very cold.
What happens at each water temperature
| Water temperature | Feels | What happens on the skin | Suitable or not |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 20°C / 68°F (cold water) | Cold | Sebum tends to solidify and cleanser foam does not rinse away well. Blood vessels contract briefly, so skin only *feels* tightened; pore size does not change | Acceptable only for the final rinse |
| 32–35°C / 90–95°F (lukewarm) | Slightly cool | The range where sebum starts to melt (the melting point of sebum is roughly 30°C / 86°F). Dirt comes off and the sebum you need tends to stay | The basic washing temperature |
| 38–40°C / 100–104°F (bath water) | Warm | Sebum comes off easily, but moisture is also drawn out of the stratum corneum (the outer skin layer). Washing your face at this temperature in the bath tends to dry the skin | Avoid if you have dry or sensitive skin |
| 42°C / 108°F and above | Hot | The sebum film and the skin's own moisturising components (NMF and intercellular lipids) wash out. Causes redness, tightness and itching | Not suitable |
- The melting point of sebum is generally described as about 30°C. Below this, sebum tends to stay solid on the skin; far above it, even the sebum you need melts away. "Slightly cool" is a temperature that makes sense in theory.
- Places where cleanser is often left behind: the hairline, temples, under the chin, in front of and behind the ears, and beside the nostrils. Leftover cleanser causes irritation, so use around 20 rinses as your guide.
- Japanese tap water drops to around 10°C (50°F) in winter in many regions, so a winter "water-only wash" means washing with very cold water. Warming it a little at the tap is the realistic option.
- Pat with the towel to take off water; nothing more. Rubbing damages the stratum corneum through friction.
[Verify] The melting point of sebum (about 30°C) and the "20 rinses" guide are figures commonly given by dermatologists and the cosmetics industry. Check the relevant passages in the source documents before publication.
Misunderstanding 1｜Hot water opens the pores so dirt comes out
Pores do not open and close like muscles. The feeling that hot water "opens the pores" is just warmed, softened skin. Stripping too much sebum can, in fact, lead to dryness and excess sebum production.
Misunderstanding 2｜Cold water tightens the pores
Blood vessels contract briefly, so the skin only looks tighter; the actual pore size does not change. Cold water also rinses cleanser poorly, so it leaves residue behind.
Misunderstanding 3｜It is easier to point the shower at my face in the bath
The water pressure and temperature of a shower (around 40°C) are often too strong for the face. Dermatologists in Japan also explain: "Do not aim the shower at your face; use lukewarm water scooped in your hands."
Misunderstanding 4｜Water alone is enough in the morning
It depends on how much sebum you produce and your skin type. If your skin is dry, water (lukewarm) alone may be enough in the morning. If your skin is oily, sebum produced overnight stays on the skin, so many people do better using cleanser in the morning too.
Misunderstanding 5｜The quality of the cleanser matters more than temperature
A cleanser only works when temperature, friction and rinsing are all right. However good the cleanser, scrubbing hard with 42°C water ruins the result.
---
Sources
- Japanese Dermatological Association, "Dermatology Q&A" [皮膚科Q&A] (entries on skincare and face washing)
https://www.dermatol.or.jp/qa/
- Japan Cosmetic Industry Association, "Using Cosmetics Correctly" [化粧品の正しい使い方]
https://www.jcia.org/user/public/knowledge/usage
- National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, consultation and test information on facial cleansers
https://www.kokusen.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Cosmetics are not medicines and are not meant to diagnose, heal or prevent any condition. If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a dermatologist.
Sources
Tell us if this has changed
Approved contributions keep the contributor's name, shown in five languages.
Related questions
Other languages：日本語 ／ 简体中文 ／ 繁體中文 ／ 한국어
Value Village is not a government body. Always confirm procedures on the official site.
Written by Value Village from public sources. Nothing here is reproduced from another site.