7 Ways to Improve Shower Skincare
Did you know the way you shower could be affecting your skin’s health? We have 7 power shower tips that will keep your skin looking and feeling it’s best!
Keep reading to find out what shower techniques you can implement to improve your skin care routine.
1. Take Warm Showers
We all know and love the feeling of a hot steamy shower after a long day’s work when we lose the ability to see ourselves in the mirror as the steamy room fogs up the glass. It feels like sweet relief at the time, but have you ever noticed how dry your skin is after a hot shower?
Dr. Woolery-Lloyd, the co-founder of Specific Beauty skincare, told Huffington Post that long, hot showers strip away the skin’s natural oils which can lead to itchy skin and the worsening of skin conditions like eczema. Dermatologist, Cynthia Bailey of DrBaileySkinCare.com points out, “hot water brings blood circulation to your skin which is why your skin turns red like a lobster. With the circulation comes inflammatory building blocks to create more itch and even a rash.”
Sebum, the skin’s natural oils, maintain our skin’s moisture levels. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “Oil helps preserve the skin, and people with oily skin tend to have thicker skin and fewer wrinkles.” When we strip away these oils using hot water, our skin is left dry and susceptible to wrinkling.
By monitoring the water temperature in the shower your skin will maintain natural moisture levels and your natural oils will keep you youthful longer.
2. Take Shorter Showers
It can be tempting to stay in the shower for a long time, especially on colder days or after a long day. However, the longer we spend in the shower, the more natural oils get stripped from our skin.
Try and limit showers to no more than 10 minutes. Additionally, to save water and your skin, we recommend shaving with the water turned off. You can use a cup with water in it to clean your razor in between strokes.
3. Wash Your Hair First
We all have an order we like to shower in, but sometimes this leaves product buildup on our bodies where we don’t want it.
We recommend starting the process of washing and conditioning your hair first. Wash your body once you have fully rinsed the conditioner out of your hair. Breakouts on your back might be from conditioner buildup.
4. Wash Your Face Last
End your shower by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. The shower acts like a steamer opening up your pores throughout the process. By washing your face last you also clean out any shampoo or conditioner that may have trickled down your face.
If you wear mascara, you may be familiar with the painful runoff that occurs as the steam in the shower melts makeup into your eyes. Remove your eye makeup before stepping into the shower so you avoid the sting of raccoon eye.
5. Lather Sparingly
Our bodies already have the capacity to heal and moisturize themselves, so using a ton of product is not necessary. The American Academy of Dermatologyexplains, “Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but avoid using so much that you see a thick lather.” This way you won’t strip away your natural oils and your products will last longer!
In fact, our arms and legs produce the least amount of oil as the rest of our bodies, so take it easy on the limbs. You can come out squeaky clean as long as you don’t miss behind the ears, buttocks, belly button and the feet. Just as a friendly reminder, it’s always good to replace your shower cleansing tools often, just as you would with your toothbrush.
6. Avoid Chemicals & Fragrances
With so many products on the market today it can be tough deciding what to buy and bring into your home. However, there are some basic rules of thumb when choosing products to use for your skin. First of all, forego all synthetic fragrances found in many soaps and moisturizers. These fragrances are often toxic chemicals that are used to mask odors or add a pleasant scent.
Avoid shampoos, conditioners, and soaps abundant in synthetic chemicals. Chemicals in our products can confuse our skin and scalp into overproducing oil. Too much oil can clog our pores and create breakouts. When we choose to use more natural products our bodies are able to function properly.
7. Apply your Hydro Matrix Immediately Post Shower
Dr. Doris Day, a board-certified dermatologist from New York informed NBC news, “Apply moisturizer right away, within two to three minutes of showering. Doing it quickly helps create a barrier to prevent “transepidermal water loss” and keep the skin plump.”
According to dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology, applying a hydrating topical immediately after taking a shower helps trap in moisture - as long as you are using the correct products.
Use your dermatologist recommended Hydro Matrix to lock in moisture immediately after drying off from a shower or washing your face. Unlike water or oil based topicals, the aloe vera barbadensis base in Hydro Matrix is soothing for all skin types. The Hyaluronic Acid and PCA in Hydro Matrix plump the skin by attracting moisture from the air, making immediately post-shower an optimal time to apply.
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