Things You've Been Doing Wrong in Your Bath Shower Routine

When we are struggling with dull or dry skin, our first instinct is to set up elaborate skin routines and experiment with 10 different skin products. While this may help you fix the problem sometimes, other times it feels like nothing you are doing helps. This might be because we often forget to acknowledge one important factor of our skin care regime - our bath routine. 

It’s not just the products that you use that affect your skin, but also how you use them. You might be showering in a way that’s harsh or damaging to your skin without realising it. So go through this handy list to test your shower practices!

Did you know that your shower routine should actually start before you even step into the shower? Following a proper pre-shower routine might be just what your skin needs to rejuvenate. There are a lot of things you can add to your pre-shower routine according to what your skin concerns are, for example:

• Dry brushing
• Oil massages
• Face packs
• Mud packs for your body

Hot showers are an amazing way to unwind, and you may lose track of time when you’re in the shower. However, staying in the shower too long can strip your skin of its natural oils and make it dry and rough. You should not be spending more than 10-15 minutes in the shower, especially when you’re showering using hot water. So keep a watch on the time for healthier skin!

If you don’t use a loofah in the first place then that’s the first mistake you’re making. Loofahs are great for exfoliating your skin and getting that circulation going. However, they also need to be washed regularly and properly for hygiene. So rinse your loofah off before and after using it and hang it out to dry, preferably somewhere outside of your damp bathroom. You can also soak it in a diluted bleach solution for a few minutes once a week to kill off any bacteria that may be present.

The skin on our feet is the thickest, especially around our soles. It’s important to properly wash your feet and get rid of any dead skin. If you face problems with cracked feet, then improper washing is probably the cause behind it. Use a pumice stone to gently remove dead skin on your feet and don’t forget to wash between your toes!

If you’re used to rubbing your skin dry with a towel when you step out of the shower, it might be time to reconsider. The aggressive motion of rubbing your skin dry causes friction that can damage your skin, making it prone to dryness. Try patting it dry gently with a soft towel instead. And while we’re talking about aggressive towelling, the same goes for your hair too. For softer hair, wrap it in a cotton t-shirt post-shower instead of towel-drying.

When you’re just out of the shower your skin starts to lose its moisture content really fast. One way of keeping it packed in is to moisturize right after your shower. This will keep your skin from drying out, especially during the harsh winters. If you’ve exfoliated while showering, the moisturizer will be even more effective as it will be able to soak deeper into your skin.