The pros: Cleansing your skin with your hands has a lot of advantages. You can cleanse your skin with your hands any time. Unless your hands are rough, youll receive a gentle, mild cleanse, making this method great for those with sensitive skin, have a skin condition or who are otherwise prone to irritation. In fact, LovelySkin CEO and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joel Schlessinger recommends cleansing skin with your hands over a shower loofah or washcloth. The cons: Theres one thing hands dont do particularly well, and thats exfoliation. Because hands are not considered optimal for exfoliation, they can leave behind dirt, oil and dead skin cells. Unclean hands can also contaminate skin on the face and body by introducing acne-causing bacteria. The verdict: Using your hands is perfectly fine as long as you wash them first to avoid spreading bacteria. Dr. Schlessinger also recommends using gentle circular motions when massaging cleanser onto your face or body.