Please Stop Making These Shower Mistakes (& Thank Us Later)

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Some beauty rituals are second nature to us at this point, you know when your mind literally shifts to autopilot?! Today’s topic is definitely one of those rituals: showering. We’ve basically been doing it daily for as long as we can remember, and it’s simple, isn’t it? Turn the shower on, stand underneath the water, lather up, rinse, and get out… right?

To answer our own question, it’s actually not that simple. In fact, there are so many areas to slip up, from getting the temperature wrong to showering for too long… eeek #guilty. But don’t stress, as always, we’re here with all the solutions…

Shower Mistake #1: You Shower Too Often

Our skin has a fragile microbiome, which, btw, includes organisms like bacteria and fungi that work in harmony to keep the skin healthy. However, overwashing with soaps can disrupt this delicate balance of microorganisms and compromise your skin barrier, making it more prone to problems, like dryness, sensitivity, and even eczema.

Solution: PSA: Showering once a day is more than enough, and dermatologists only recommend washing your underarms and groin area with soap when you do. The only exception to this rule is after a sweaty gym sesh or if you’ve been wearing sunscreen all over and need a more intense deep clean.

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Shower Mistake #2: Your Shower Is Too Hot

We hate to break it to all of you hawt shower lovers, but piping hot showers can dry out your skin, especially in winter months. By exposing your skin to steaming hot water for a prolonged period of time, you can strip your skin’s natural oils and compromise the skin barrier, resulting in dry, cracked, or irritated skin. Derms often refer to this as the “winter itch,” AKA when your skin is so inflamed, it becomes itchy.

The solution: It’s simple, turn the temperature down. Many experts agree that lukewarm water, somewhere between 98º and 105º F, is what’s best for your skin. We realize it’s easier said than done, but we swear, your skin will seriously thank you.

Shower Mistake #3: Your Shower is Too Long

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If you spend more time singing in the shower than scrubbing, chances are you’re showering for too long! We repeat: showering for too long can disrupt your skin’s epidermis as the water strips the natural proteins and lipids that keep the barrier strong and healthy. Using a bar of soap or a harsh body wash can also aggravate the skin further as it zaps all the oils from your skin.

Long, hot showers can also worsen skin redness and aggravate concerns like eczema or rosacea. Over time, excessively hot showers can even cause your blood capillaries to enlarge, which can even lead to spider veins.

Solution: For happy, healthy skin, your daily shower should only last approx 5 to 10 minutes.

Shower Mistake #4: You Soap Up Before You Shampoo or Condition

The thing is, shampoos and conditioners are designed to work for your hair and scalp. This means if they’re left on the skin, they can irritate sensitive or acne-prone skin or can leave a greasy layer on the skin that causes blockages.

The solution: Wash your hair first and finish with your body and face to ensure there’s no residue left on your skin.

Shower Mistake #5: You’re Not Using a Water Filter

Trust us when we say a shower filter will transform your hair and body routine. Once you get one, you’ll question why you didn’t have it your entire life, and if you ever have to shower without one again, you’ll immediately notice the difference. Though you can’t see it, there are heavy metals and chlorine in the water that can irritate your skin and damage your hair in the long run, so adding a shower filter helps eradicate these issues.

 The solution: Buy a water filter and thank us later. Check out our fave water filter here.

Shower Mistake #6: You’re not Replacing your Shower Accessories Regularly 

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Don’t get us wrong, we’re loyal to our loofah, but that doesn’t mean we’re loyal to just one loofah. Past a certain point, loofahs harbor bacteria and become a breeding ground for nasties to thrive… EW! So instead of scrubbing yourself clean, you’ll be getting dirtier…

The solution: Replace your loofah every four weeks. After each shower, ensure you clean it thoroughly with soapy water and allow it to dry completely before your next shower sesh.

Shower Mistake #7: Your Aftercare Routine is All Wrong

It’s not just those in-shower moments you need to get right; what you do post-shower is also fundamental in the quest for clean, healthy, soft skin. Start by gently patting yourself dry with a towel – don’t rub aggressively. Next up, it’s time to moisturize, and FYI, A LOT of people either forget to moisturize or wait too long to slap it on their skin post-shower.

The solution: According to dermatologists, the moisturizing sweet spot is… drumroll, please… three minutes post-shower. Wait any longer, and all that delicious hydration will evaporate into the air instead of being locked into your skin.

For more beauty basics, check out these common hair-brushing mistakes.