The Real Reason Women Should Shave Their Faces

According to Botched's Dr. Terry Dubrow, women should be shaving their faces. "The reason men's skin tends to age a little bit better than women's is not the basic nature of the skin differences, it's that we shave," explains Dr. Dubrow (via Yahoo! Lifestyle). "Shaving is a form of exfoliating that really allows the skin to come off and regenerate."

Believe it or not, many dermatologists back this up and refer to the practice medically as dermaplaning. Neal Schultz, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in NYC, told Cosmopolitan, "It also makes your skin smoother, allows any products you apply after to penetrate deeper, and promotes cellular turnover, which is one of the reasons men always look five or so years younger than their age, since they're constantly exfoliating through shaving and encouraging new cells to the surface of your skin." 

Many women who are considering dermaplaning are usually worried that it will make their facial hair thicker, but Schultz confirms this is nothing more than a myth. "That myth exists because people mistake the wispy feeling of their unshaven facial hair with the slightly blunt feeling they experience as their hair starts to grow back in as 'thicker,' and the new, not-yet-sun-bleached hair as 'darker,'" Dr. Schultz says. "So it's more about what you're feeling and seeing versus what is actually going on."

If you're ready to give it a go, the most important thing you need to do is invest in a facial razor, which are easy to find and available in most drug stores. Schultz recommends that you first wet your face and use shaving cream to soften the hairs and prevent irritation. Then, just as you would on your legs, use your razor against the hairs' natural growth direction for best results. Don't forget to rinse and moisturize after you're finished to make sure your face remains hydrated and supple.