Emraan Hashmi shared he once washed his face with handwash; Dermatologist shares common skincare mistakes most men make

Actor Emraan Hashmi admitted to washing his face once with handwash (Picture Credit: Instagram/@therealemraan)

Emraan Hashmi is busy promoting his next movie titled 'Haq' and it seems the director of the movie, Suparn Varma, is really impressed by Emraan's skin. Emraan mentioned, "Suparn, mere jo director hain, I think roz mujhse Haq ki shooting par mujhse puchte the, 'Emraan, what do you do for your skin?'"

A lot of you too may think that there are some skincare hacks that Emraan follows to have the skin that he has. Well, to the surprise of many, it's so not the case. Emraan shared, "Mai kabhi kabhi wapas jakar makeup bhi nahin nikalta hu [I sometimes don't even remove the makeup], I just do under-eye makeup, and I am so bad with my skin. I have actually washed my face with handwash."

It is definitely odd to wash one's face with handwash. Moneycontrol's team spoke to Dr Mohammed Thalha, Consultant Dermatologist at Kaya Limited, to understand his viewpoint on what Hashmi said. He said: "Looking at Mr Hashmi, his skin seems naturally well-maintained, that’s probably good genetics, a healthy lifestyle, and consistent habits beyond just the products he uses. However, people should not for a second think that washing face with a handwash is okay."

He also added that even though he appreciated Hashmi for his honesty, he  is definitely against the idea. "The main reason is that hand wash lotion is generally prepared with strong cleansing agents with higher pH to remove all germs. If we use the hand wash on the face regularly, it can lead to dryness and irritation on the face," Dr Thalha told Moneycontrol.

Hashmi is not alone. Some men out there don't understand the importance of skincare and this explains why the end up making faux pas quite nonchalantly. Dr Thalha too comes across clients who make come of the very common skincare mistakes. He has listed them below.

Also read: Vidya Malavade hasn't used soap in a decade; Learn what a dermatologist has to say about it

1. Skipping sunscreen

A lot of men still believe that sunscreen should be used only while going to the beach or when it is very hot and under scorching sun. However, we need to understand that UV rays are falling on our skin every single day, be it during driving or even sitting near window. If we do not use sunscreen, it leads to tanning, wrinkles. Even long-term risks like skin cancer cannot be ruled out. It is the daily protection, and should be used regularly.

2. Using harsh soaps or body washes on the face
The skin on the face can't handle the same soap as used on the rest of the body, because they make the skin dry and even irritated. Moreover, with the use of bathing soap, essential oils are also lost from the skin. For the face, a gentle face wash is needed, which can at the same time cleanse the skin properly.

3. Avoiding moisturisers

It is a myth that the regular use of moisturizers leads to a shiny look on the face, which leads to many men avoiding it. They do not realise that not using a moisturiser only makes the skin dry. We have seen that in many cases, it starts producing more oil and it looks greasy. In fact, use of a light weight, oil-free moisturiser balances the skin texture.

4. Not scrubbing the skin properly

We often see that scrubbing the skin very hard can result in irritation or redness on the skin. It is always advised to exfoliate the skin gently once or twice a week.

5. Poor shaving hygiene

One of the common reasons for skin inflammation is poor post-shaving rituals. The blades that are used for shaving should always be new, as use of old blades may result in inflammation on the skin. Moreover, make sure to always use a clean razor. Before shaving, use warm water or shaving gel on the skin. After the shave, a soothing gel or moisturiser has to be used.

6. Sleeping without washing your face

This is a common mistake most men make. What they don't realise is that sweat and pollution clogs the pores on skin during the day. If the face is not properly cleaned, the skin pores may get affected, which can result in dullness of the skin. It may even lead to breakouts.

7. Ignoring early signs of skin trouble

Most men ignore initial acne, pigmentation, or irritation on the skin. They only visit a dermatologist when the problem becomes severe. What they do not realise is visiting a dermatologist early can save lot of problems.

Also read: Dermatologist rates viral skincare trends and a popular one scored only 4 on 10; Can you guess what it is?

FAQs on common skincare mistakes:

Q: Is washing my face too often bad?
A: Yes. Over-washing strips natural oils, causing dryness and irritation. Twice a day is enough.

Q: Can I skip sunscreen on cloudy days?
A: No. UV rays penetrate clouds and still cause skin damage and aging.

Q: Should I pop pimples to make them heal faster?
A: Never. It can lead to scarring and infection—use spot treatments instead.

Q: Is more product better for my skin?
A: No. Layering too many actives can irritate your skin. Keep your routine simple.

Q: Can I sleep with makeup on?
A: Definitely not. It clogs pores and accelerates aging—always cleanse before bed.