There is nothing more relaxing and luxurious than a long good shower. Whether it be a de-stressing and cleansing hot shower at the end of a tiring day, or an invigoratingly cold pick-me-up first thing in the morning, a shower can lift your spirits and make you ready to take life on. However, research has shown that showering too much or in an incorrect manner could result in harming your skin and hair. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the wonderful ritual of showering while protecting and contributing to your soft and supple skin.
1. Cold water showers are better for skin
Though your skin might love the feel of a good hot shower, it has been found by researchers to lead to dry skin. This happens because the hot water tends to strip your skin of moisture and the essential fatty compounds that help the skin retain the moisture within it.
2. Shorter showers are safer
Ever noticed how your skin goes all wrinkly if you stay in the shower or the pool for too long. Prolonged exposure to tap water can seriously dehydrate your skin. Tap water typically has a pH of 7, while normal skin pH is in the 4 to 5 range. Avoid staying in the shower for longer than 10-15 minutes in order to protect your skin from prolonged exposure.
3. Start at the top and work your way down
For efficient cleansing and optimizing the time you spend in the shower, start at the top, with your hair if you are washing it, and work your way down. This will ensure that all the cleansed dirt and oil gets completely washed off your body.
4. Follow shampooing with a face rinse
If you are washing your hair, wash your face with a good cleanser after you have rinsed all the shampoo off your hair. Keep in mind that all the stuff that you washed out of your hair has flowed down your face, and might be stuck on your face. Apart from this, the chemicals used in shampoos are not necessarily the best thing to have on your face. You can avoid it by thoroughly washing your face after you shampoo.
5. Protect your face from high pressure showers
Most modern shower panels allow you to control the pressure of the various shower heads. Make sure that the shower head that will direct water to your face is set at a low pressure. High pressure water jets can cause long term damage to your skin. If your shower does not come with adjustable pressure, you can either let the water run down to your face or wash your face at a wash basin.
6. Use your shower time to exfoliate and massage
This is a clever way to multitask and save time. Take your exfoliating scrub along with your into the shower. The natural hydration and lubrication that a shower provides makes it an excellent time to do your exfoliation and massaging tasks.
7. Pamper your hands and feet
Take advantage of the extra softness that comes into the skin of your hands and feet during a shower to address those manicure and pedicure needs. You can use this time to do away with the dead skin, the cuticles, and push them down for better nail health. You can use a heavy duty scrub to give your feet and your heels a smooth feel.
8. Clear the open pores
A good shower will usually open up the pores. The hydrated and soft skin immediately after a shower makes it an ideal time to exfoliate or gently push out the blackheads from your skin.
9. Be generous with the moisturizer
Always follow a shower up with ample application of a moisturizer that suits your skin. Remember that for all the softness and hydrated feeling you have after a shower, you have really washed away a good part of the skinâs own moisture and moisture retention ability. This has to be supplemented by using a good quality moisturizer that agrees with your skin type.
10. Towel up efficiently
People often take extreme positions with regard to toweling up. Some advise that you should towel up vigorously after a shower, in order to stimulate blood flow and prevent further loss of moisture by evaporation. Others suggest that you let yourself air dry to protect yourself from the abrasive effect of toweling. The truth lies somewhere in between. Pat yourself dry with a soft towel that will not abrade your skin before you step out of the shower, or at least soon after you finish your shower.