Hey friends! Do you look forward to your nightly showers as a relaxing way to wash the day’s stresses down the drain? I’m all for using that warm water for some quality self-care time. But did you know that simply standing under the downpour isn’t doing enough for the skin on our body’s largest organ? We need to build a targeted skin care regimen into shower time if we really want to nurture our skin.
It’s easy to just let water run over the body without much extra thought. But the shower presents the perfect spa-like environment to properly cleanse AND treat skin. The steam softens the surface, opens pores for deep cleaning, and hydrates – like a mini sauna sesh! Putting just a little effort into a cleansing and moisturizing regimen during regular showers leaves skin happier and healthier.
And guess what? It’s SO easy to develop an effective shower routine with just a few key products suited for damp skin. From cleansers and scrubs to masks and creams, read on for all my best tips! I’ll walk through exactly how to turn your basic shower into a pampering skin care ritual.
Why Skin Craves a Special Shower Routine
You may be wondering…why go through the trouble of carving out special “me time” during a quick shower? Excellent question! Here’s the deal:
👉 Washes away icky residue: All day long, skin deals with sweat, oil, makeup, pollution gunk, and more that leaves an invisible film. Hitting the shower allows all that grime to literally wash down the train. Skipping this cleansing step means residue stays clogged in pores.
👉 Preps skin for moisture: Exfoliating and cleansing also removes the dead skin barrier so any lotions and potions applied after towel drying can better penetrate and work their magic.
👉 Hydrates parched skin: The steam and warmth hydrates and plumps skin by opening pores to drink up moisture better. Way better than dry winter air!
See why it’s worth the minimal effort to pamper skin in the shower? Keep reading for tips on building a nightly ritual!
The Steps To Follow In Your Shower Routine
When caring for skin in the shower, it’s optimal to cleanse FIRST, then exfoliate, treat, and moisturize in that order for maximum benefits:
Step 1: Cleansing
Start by massaging a gentle, creamy body wash all over damp skin to lift away makeup, sweat, dirt and oil from the day. This preps skin for better absorption of next steps rather than just pushing residue around.
Gel Body Washes
When it comes to effectively yet gently removing dirt, sweat, and residue from skin, hydrating gel body washes are better options than traditional bar soaps that can be harsh and drying. Some star ingredients to look for include:
- Glycerin to bind moisture
- Fruit-derived AHAs to chemically exfoliate
- Skin-healthy oils like jojoba, coconut, or grapeseed
Two top-rated shower cleansers are:
- Cocokind’s Chlorophyll Gel Cleanser with omega oils
- Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Wash with hydrating botanicals
They both smell amazing and leave skin feeling refreshed without tightness or dryness afterward!
Step 2: Exfoliating
Once clean, use a konjac sponge or an AHA body wash a few times a week to lightly buff off dead cells for super smooth skin. Take it easy though and don’t overdo it!
Scrub & Sponge Duo
For smooth skin, both a konjac sponge AND an occasional sugar scrub address different needs:
Konjac Sponge: The soft, porous material gently buffs away dead skin cells. Simply massage in circles on damp skin while cleansing a few times a week. Konjac is sustainable too since it’s all natural!
Sugar Scrub: When elbows and knees need a little extra smoothing and brightening power, use Hanalei’s Kauai Coffee Sugar Scrub 1-2 times weekly to polish. The brown sugar and coffee are gentle physical exfoliants while kukui nut, macadamia and sweet almond oils nourish. Just don’t rub too hard!
Step 3: Treating
Apply a nourishing body mask to damp skin after cleansing and exfoliating – the steam helps it penetrate deeper. A favorite restoring mask has glycerin, shea butter, and oatmeal. Leave for 5-10 minutes before rinsing.
Soothing & Restoring
Applying a lush body mask after opening pores from shower steam is an at-home spa treat! Rotate between two masks:
- Soothing oat meal mask from Aveeno on sensitive skin days
- Restoring shea butter mask from My Body Experts when heavy hydration is needed
Smooth on an even layer from neck down to toes, relax for 5 minutes while the skin-loving ingredients penetrate, then rinse. Skin will thank you later!
Step 4: Moisturizing
Finally, always seal damp skin with a rich body lotion or cream to lock in hydration and counter dryness from water and heat. Look for skin-loving oils and butters in the formula
Post-Shower Lotions & Balms
Moisturizing after turning off the water is the most crucial step to nurture freshly cleansed, exfoliated skin. Skipping lotion is a rookie mistake!
Lightweight Lotions: In summer, lather on lighter body lotions packed with glycerin and aloe vera to soak right in without greasiness. Fruit of the Earth’s aloe cream is a classic.
Heavy Balms: When winter air leaves skin severely parched, break out ultra-rich balms and butters like the Ho’u Kukui Body Butter from Hawaii that’s hugely hydrating thanks to oils and cocoa butter.
Smooth products on damp skin immediately after gently patting dry so key ingredients penetrate best. Then finish with comfy cotton PJs!
Additional Tips
Follow the guidance above to establish an effective, nourishing evening shower skin care regimen. Just a few more tips to leave you with for optimal results:
Adjust Water Temperature
Bask in the steam, but don’t actually scald your skin! Hot showers over 100°F can compromise the moisture barrier and promote inflammation. Go for a warm temp around 90-95°F instead. Cool it down for the last couple minutes as well.
Limit Shower Length
As relaxing as a long, hot shower may seem after a stressful day, limit time under the water to 5-10 minutes max. The longer you soak, the more natural moisturizing factors get stripped away. Get in, cleanse/treat skin, and get out!
Consider a Filter
Hard water and residual chlorine can worsen dry skin. Investing in a shower head filter can mitigate this. Look for models that reduce mineral and metal deposits. An added perk – your hair will thank you too!
Pat Skin Dry
Be gentle on your newly cleaned, exfoliated and moisturized skin by patting dry with a towel rather than rubbing vigorously. Take care to press water into skin rather than wiping it off for better absorption.
Stick to a consistent skin care regimen during every evening shower for clean, balanced, hydrated skin from head to toe! Let me know if you have any other questions.
