Other than knowing that you have to do it daily to keep from smelling, and to stay clean, you probably don’t put too much thought into your showering habits. Sure, we all have our own routines, some of us sing, some of like it hot and others tend to take a little longer than the average seven minutes. However you do it, you may not be aware of the beauty mistakes you’re making that are actually leaving you a little less healthy each time you step out and dry off.
Since the skin is the body’s largest organ, and its main priority is to protect us, taking care of it is somewhat important. Although this is true, many people are living with dry or itchy skin and not realizing that their cleansing routine is to blame. Take a look at some of these common beauty mistakes people make when showering, how it affects your overall health and wellbeing, and how to do them differently.
Water temperature
If your mirrors are perpetually fogged before you even enter the shower then that’s a key sign that your shower is too hot. When your water temperature is too hot it can damage the skin by drying it out, which causes it to flake and become far more susceptible to splitting and breaking. An easy way to enjoy the heat is to only turn up the temperature once you’re in the shower, and then turn the heat back down after properly washing.
Soap
You may think that because your fancy soap says antibacterial on the label that it’s doing nothing but good for you and your skin. This way of thinking is incorrect. Most soaps that leave you feeling extra clean, do so because they have taken out all of the naturally occurring oils embedded in the skin. When this happens, the skin is then more likely to be damaged, as these natural oils are needed to keep the skin healthy. Using a fragrance free soap that contains added moisturizer is the best way to go in helping keep your skin healthy.
Scrubbing
Sure, you’re taught from a young age that in order to get clean you need to scrub your skin pretty well. Now, this is a good philosophy in theory, using harsh or abrasive loofahs or cleaning tools actually strips the skin of important layers needed to keep you healthy. Intense scrubbing should only really occur in the armpits and the groin area. Scrubbing too hard can rid the skin of good bacteria it needs in order to stay balanced and hydrated.
