7+ amazing shower skincare tips for healthier skin

There’s nothing like the restorative powers of a shower to help soothe aching muscles, reduce stress and induce sleep after a long work day. What’s more, taking regular showers can serve as a critical pillar of your self-care regimen, because their calming effects have been proven to help improve mental health. That’s right, the benefits of showers are not just anecdotal -- their health-boosting effects are backed by numerous scientific studies.
Avoid prolonged hot showers because you can end up depleting your skin of its natural oils, which can ultimately lead to irritation and inflammation. To maintain your skin’s natural flora, dermatologists recommend showering for no more than 15 minutes per day. If you suffer from extremely dry skin, a five-minute shower is sufficient to preserve your skin’s delicate pH balance. While marathon hot showers are prescribed by experts, they do say to consider turning your knob toward the cold temperature the next time you want to recharge, if only for 30 seconds. A cold blast from your shower head can help boost your immune system, increase alertness, reduce facial puffiness and even aid in shedding some extra pounds. Upgrade your shower routine with these easy-to-follow skincare tips, and you’ll be well on your way to smoother, healthier skin.
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Natural beauty shower tips to help you relax
Dry brushing should be an important part of your skincare routine. Work your favorite brush onto your skin in an upward motion -- remember, use light strokes to prevent any damage. The pressure from the bristles will help stimulate your lymphatic system, which is responsible for helping your body rid itself of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. Also, dry brushing is a great way to pre-exfoliate your skin before hopping into the shower.
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Life is an endless cycle of demands and stress, so why not turn your bathroom into a spa to wash the day’s dirt and grime away? Here’s a quick tip to help you cleanse with care: Since traditional soaps contain harsh ingredients that can wreck havoc on your skin, opt for organic cleansers instead -- African black soap is specially formulated with natural ingredients like palm ash and shea butter to help troubled skin. Get the full tutorial here.
Tips to streamline your shower routine
Even if you’re getting the recommended eight hours of sleep each night, getting out of bed in the morning is still a hassle. To make things a little easier on yourself, try keeping all the products you’ll need for your shower at arm’s length.
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These hacks help make your shower routine so quick you’ll be tempted to set your alarm clock to ring at a later time. Remember, cutting down on long showers doesn’t just help get you out the door quickly, it also benefits the environment. Get the full tutorial here.
Exfoliate in the shower
If exfoliation is not a part of your skincare routine, then you’re doing your skin a major disservice. In fact, it’s important to slough off dead skin cells that have accumulated onto your skin at least three times a week to reveal a smoother, more luminous appearance. Fair warning: Be sure not to overdo it, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you need a little help in the exfoliation department, give an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) shower gel a try. Beauty products that contain AHA are formulated to help speed up the exfoliation process by loosening dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.
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Achieve optimal glow with a face mask
If you want brighter, clearer skin in a flash, there’s no need to make a spa appointment -- just reach into your cabinet and throw on a face mask. They’re available at any local beauty supply store. What’s more, there are so many advanced formulas on the market to combat all types of skin issues.
Soften and moisturize in the shower
You should be moisturizing at least twice a day, especially during the winter months because the colder weather can be harsh on all skin types. Here’s a quick dermal tip: Moisturize immediately after shutting off your faucet. This step helps seal the moisture into your skin by creating a barrier to prevent what dermatologists call “transepidermal water loss” -- which is essentially when water passes from the dermis through the epidermis and evaporates from the skin’s surface.
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Shave in the shower, but do it last
There’s a science to shaving, just follow these rules to achieve a smooth, close shave every single time. Never shave on dry skin; instead, use a shaving cream or gel -- and shave in the direction your hair grows to prevent nicks and irritation. Also, if you want to prevent pesky ingrown hairs from forming on the surface of your skin, it’s important to shave near the end of your shower -- this step allows the steam to soften your hair follicles.
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Indulge in a moisturizing oil massage
After exiting the shower, pour a few drops of your favorite moisturizing oil onto your hands and rub your palms to release the fragrance into the air. Then, slather oil over your skin for a quick self-massage -- remember to pay special attention to areas like the neck and shoulders because they tend to tighten the most during stress.
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