Having a great shower routine can give you soft, glowing skin — while having a shower routine that doesn’t agree with your skin will make it rough and irritated. Here are six essential tips to help you get softer skin in the shower, from shaving the right way to choosing the perfect clean skin products for your needs:
Prepare for Your Shower
Certain steps of your shower routine should actually be done before you hop in the shower. For instance, most hair masks need to be left on for at least 10 minutes before you rinse it off with shampoo and conditioner in the shower. Depending on the texture of their hair, some people also find it easier to brush out before getting their hair wet in the shower.
Dry brushing should also be done before you get in the shower so you can simply rinse away the dead skin cells. (If you don’t like to dry brush, you can still exfoliate in the shower with a body scrub, exfoliating body wash, loofah, or washcloth.) Preparing your hair, face, and body before the shower will make your showering experience that much more enjoyable!
Avoid Scalding Temperatures
We love a steamy hot shower as much as the next person, but unfortunately hot water can be very drying for your skin. Exposing your skin to too much hot water can leave it dry, dull, and flaky instead of giving you the smooth, soft skin of your dreams. Instead, you should shower in cool or lukewarm water to avoid dehydrating your skin.
You should also limit your showers to 5-10 minutes whenever possible, and avoid soaking in baths for a long time as well. This is because prolonged exposure to water will also dry out your skin and make it pruney and wrinkly, even if the water is a mild temperature.
Wash Your Hair First And Your Face Last
We recommend washing your hair first, then your body, and finally your face last. That’s because runoff from your shampoo and conditioning products can stick to your skin and cause clogged pores and irritation if you don’t wash them off once you’ve cleaned your hair. Conditioners typically need to be left to sit for a couple minutes before they are rinsed out, so use that time to shave your legs, exfoliate your skin, or do something else productive.
Once you’re done rinsing out your hair, wash your face and then your body. Washing your face last also ensures that anything that splashes on your face will be rinsed away, leaving your skin fresh and clean and ready for the rest of your skincare routine.
Choose Your Face and Body Cleanser Wisely
Cleansing is the most potentially drying step of both your face and body skincare routine, which is why it’s essential to choose the proper cleanser for your needs. We recommend choosing a vegan face cleanser and a body wash that is free of silicones, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and other potentially irritating ingredients.
If you do choose to buy an exfoliating body wash, then you should also consider getting a second body wash that is more nourishing. Most people’s skin cannot stand up to exfoliating every day, and over-exfoliating will make your skin rough and dry. Instead. exfoliate your body no more than 2-3 times per week, and use a soothing body wash on the other days to nourish it.
Shave Your Legs The Right Way
Shaving your skin may make your skin feel soft, but it can also cause roughness, irritation, and nicks that leave your complexion looking anything but smooth and glowing. To shave your skin the right way, let the skin and hair soften in the shower for a few minutes first. Then lather up a section of your body with shave lotion and shave in long, even strokes, rinsing out the razor head frequently. Repeat until you have shaved all the desired area.
For best results, always use a sharp razor that is free of rust and debris; the American Academy of Dermatology recommends replacing disposable razors every 5-7 shaves. Electric razors won’t give you as close of a shave, but they may be less irritating for your skin, so you might want to consider switching if you struggle with constant razor burn.
Whatever razor type you choose, try shaving with the grain of hair rather than against it for a less irritating shave. And don’t shave on the days that your exfoliate or vice versa — doing both on the same day can significantly irritate your skin.
Moisturize While Skin Is Still Damp
The best time to moisturize after a shower is while you are still technically in the shower. Yep, that’s right: You want to apply your body lotion while your skin is still damp, to lock in moisture and keep your skin supple and hydrated.
If you don’t like the feeling of applying lotion to wet skin, blot away the bigger water drops before applying the lotion. However, you should still make sure that the skin is damp when you apply the lotion — don’t towel off completely or you will defeat the purpose of moisturizing in the shower!
When choosing a moisturizer, look for one that is free of fragrances and other potentially irritating ingredients. It should have a pleasant texture that will absorb quickly into your skin while still providing the necessary hydration. After all, you won’t be motivated to apply a lotion if it leaves you feeling sticky and greasy, so choose one that you will want to apply every single night.
Shower Routine For Glowing Skin
Now you’re ready to put everything together in your ideal shower routine for glowing, soft skin. Keep in mind that your ideal shower routine might vary from day to day and that it might take some experimentation until you figure out your perfect body skincare routine. Let us know your other top tips for getting soft skin in the shower in the comments below!