Quick question: if you did not need to take a shower to be clean, would you still do it? Many people hate jumping into the shower, but they do it because they have to.
For others, the feel of water running down their body is so exhilarating, it’s like they can never get enough of it. They only step out when they find they are running late or they remember that longer showers means more bills to pay.
The weird thing is not having a shower can be good for you and bathing too long can be bad for you. Ironic, no? There is so much we are yet to learn about our bodies, health and hygiene, and some we will never know, but learning how best to take a shower is not one of them
When we learn to shower properly, it will not only keep us clean, but can also help improve the look and feel of our skin, which in turn impacts our self-confidence. Instead of keeping these beauty tips a secret, we decided to reveal them. You’re welcome.
Well, here are five things you’re probably doing wrong in the shower:
Using the Wrong Soap
How much thought do we put into choosing the right soap? Come on, let’s be honest. We usually choose based on the look and the smell, but most importantly, the price. Yes, most of our decisions are based mainly on the price.
While these are all valid reasons, we often forget the most important one: the effectiveness. Many consumers are under the impression that all soaps do the same job, but if that was the case, there would be only one type of soap in the world. But that is not the case.
For starters, you could use bar soap or body wash. Whichever one you choose will come in dozens of variants, each designed for something specific.
Some soaps are better suited for particular skin types. They could also be filled with vitamins and minerals to help deal with specific skin irritations or just to make the body healthier.
Choose soap or body wash that suits your skin type and habits (how often you bath, if you share soap and the cosmetics you use). This will ensure that your time in the shower won’t be wasted on damaging your skin cells, but rather on rejuvenation and proper exfoliation.
Not Totally Rinsing Soap Off Your Body
There are many mistakes we make because we are in a hurry. When we step out of the bathroom and see soap bubbles on our neck or behind our ears, we often just use our towel to wipe it off while we dry our body. Dermatologists have confirmed that this is a “No, No!”
Not completely rinsing soap off your body could cause irritation and dry skin. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule, such as soaps prescribed by dermatologists that are not to be completely washed off. These soaps are usually composed of moisturizers that are designed to remain on your skin even after your shower.
However, this is a rare instance so otherwise, we have to ensure we finish getting rid of all the soap scum.
Taking Too Long in The Shower
Some people just love being in the shower, so much so that you wonder what is going on in there. It’s like the world comes to a standstill while they’re in there.
While long showers might feel invigorating, this habit could be the reason why our skin gets dry easily and why fine lines and wrinkles show up much earlier than expected.
Sure, reducing the length of time we spend in the shower will help reduce the amount of water consumed, which has an impact on the environment and it will also reduce electric or gas costs, depending on what you are using the heat the water, but on a personal level you will also be reaping immense benefits.
Research has shown that staying too long in the shower isn’t healthy for the skin; it robs the skin off essential oils and moisture, leaving your skin feeling dry and most times itchy.
Using Our Towels Wrong
As soon as we get out of the shower, we try to get the excess water off our body so we can zoom off to the next part of our beauty routine. What that means quite often is that we end up scrubbing our bodies with the towel hurriedly.
One problem with this approach is that it absorbs all the water from our skin. Ideally, we should moisturize damp skin, so that the moisture from our bath gets locked into our cells, keeping our skin hydrated for longer. Losing that extra moisture makes it harder for our skin to maintain its natural vigour.
The other problem with the violent approach is it stresses out the skin, making it more prone to shrinkage and wrinkles.
The correct way to dry our bodies after a bath or shower is to pat it down, but not so much that we are completely dry. Don’t stay with your towel wrapped around you for too long either, as you should moisturize immediately after your shower.
Exfoliating Too Often
This last tip on things you’re probably doing wrong in the shower is rather peculiar. While we need to exfoliate in order to get rid of dead skin cells, bacteria and other contaminants, we should not do it too often.
While exfoliating often leaves the skin feeling more smooth and flawless, it also weakens the skin’s natural ability to fight infections and other reactions.
The skin needs some of its natural oils as well to remain hydrated. This happens not just when we exfoliate too often, but also when we use very harsh cleansers.
A shower in the morning and evening is more than enough, or the occasional extra shower after sports. If you can’t survive on only two showers a day, do ensure you are using cleansers that add nutrients to your skin, instead of taking them away.
There is more to be said about which body washes to use, how to use washcloths and when to use cold or hot water, but why reveal all our secrets in one blog? Check back for more tips. But at least for now, this should put an end to the 5 things you were probably doing wrong in the shower.
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