If you’ve been blaming your breakouts on dairy, sugar or hormones, it might be time to turn down the heat — in the kitchen, that is.
Turns out, a greasy little habit could be wrecking your skin care routine, leaving your complexion looking extra crispy.
And no, it’s not about what you’re eating — it’s what’s floating around your stovetop.
“Most people don’t connect their kitchen routine to their skin,” dermatologist Dr. Helena Watson said in an interview with UK home improvement retailer Plumbworld.
“But exposure to cooking oils and airborne grease can clog pores and lead to stubborn breakouts — especially around the jawline and forehead.”
That means last night’s stir fry isn’t just seasoning your cast iron skillet, it’s also seeping into your hair, face and even your pillows.
In a recent survey by Plumbworld, 63% of respondents admitted they don’t wash their face or hair after cooking, even when frying food.
Even worse? Four in 10 skip the extractor fan altogether, letting those sizzling particles roam free like it’s an all-you-can-grease buffet.
“This is a recipe for breakouts,” Watson said.
“Even if your skin care routine is solid, not removing this layer of grime can undo all your efforts.”
And those slippery little suckers like to stick around, leaving you to deal with the aftermath.
“If you go to bed without cleansing properly, you’re pressing those particles deeper into your pores overnight,” she said.
“It’s something many of my patients never thought about until we connected the dots.”
For Sophie L., 29, from Manchester, England, this puzzle piece helped her go from breakout to breakthrough.
“I tried everything — new cleansers, expensive serums — but nothing helped,” she told Plumbworld.
“It wasn’t until I read Dr. Watson’s advice that I realized I was always cooking without tying my hair or washing my face after.”
Now she’s ditched the pricey skin care in favor of some good, old-fashioned post-cooking facial cleansing.
“My skin is clearer, and I haven’t had a breakout in weeks,” she said.
“I had no idea cooking could be the cause.”
It’s a good reminder that skin care isn’t just skin deep.
“Skin health isn’t just about what you apply — it’s about your environment,” a spokesperson for Plumbworld said.
“The kitchen may not seem like a threat, but the habits we build there can affect our health in ways we don’t always expect.”
How to avoid kitchen-related breakouts
Watson recommends three simple tips:
- Use the extractor fan every time you cook.
It helps pull airborne grease and particles out of the kitchen before they settle. - Wash your face and hairline after cooking.
Even a gentle wipe with micellar water can remove oil residue. - Change pillowcases more often.
“Once or twice a week is ideal if you cook frequently,” she said.
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