Okay, so I’ve always heard people talk about how hot water can open up your pores. Sounds reasonable, right? But I started to wonder if that’s actually true. I mean, I’ve been washing my face with warm water for years, thinking it was doing wonders for my skin. But is it just a myth? I decided to find out, once and for all.

First, I did some digging online. I read a bunch of articles, and it turns out that the whole “hot water opens pores” thing is kind of a misconception. Pores don’t really open and close like windows. But, warm water does help loosen up the dirt and oil that’s clogging your pores. That makes sense, I guess. It’s like how you soak greasy dishes in warm water to get them clean.
So, I decided to put this to the test. I figured I’d try washing my face with warm water for a week and see what happened. I started by setting my faucet to a comfortably warm temperature, not too hot, not too cold. I’m going for Goldilocks here, people. Then, I splashed some water on my face and massaged it in for a minute or two. I read somewhere that 10 minutes is a good amount of time to steam your face for. But that was too long for me, so I just did that for around 5 minutes.
After that, I used my regular cleanser and washed my face like I usually do. I did this every morning and every night, being careful not to scrub too hard. I read somewhere that washing the face twice a day to wash away oil and dirt from the pores. And I also used an oil-free moisturizer to prevent the pores from becoming clogged with oil.
My Observations
- Day 1: Not much difference, to be honest. My skin felt clean, but it always does after I wash it.
- Day 3: I noticed my skin looked a little brighter. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I think the warm water is helping to remove some of the dead skin cells.
- Day 5: My pores do seem a bit less noticeable, especially around my nose. They’re not gone, but they look smaller.
- Day 7: Okay, I’m a believer. My skin feels softer and smoother, and my pores definitely look less congested.
So, what’s the verdict? Well, hot water might not technically “open” your pores, but it does help to clean them out. And for me, that made a noticeable difference in how my skin looked and felt. I’m not saying it’s a miracle cure, but it’s a simple step you can add to your skincare routine that might actually make a difference.
I also read somewhere that cold water would open the pores since the skin would shrink around them. Maybe I’ll try that next and see what happens. Stay tuned for more skincare adventures!