April showers are said to bring May flowers, but if your showers are bringing you dull dryness, you’re probably doing something wrong. Keep reading for the 7 rules we swear by for a shower routine that’ll leave your skin and hair visibly healthy and radiant.
1. Keep your showers short.
While standing in the shower can feel emotionally therapeutic, it’s best to be efficient because too much water exposure can actually zap the moisture from your skin and hair.
2. Use cold (or lukewarm) water.
While hot showers have their benefits, cold showers are known to be less drying and, therefore, less likely to strip the sebum from your skin and hair. Since sebum is our naturally lubricated barrier, keeping it strong and protected is essential for maintaining radiant skin and shiny hair. So next time you reach to turn up the heat on your shower, think again.
3. Wash your face and body after your hair.
Now this one is especially important if you have acne-prone skin or are susceptible to body breakouts. The reason for this is because runoff from your shampoo and conditioner can build up — often on your hairline, shoulders, and back — and clog your pores. By washing your body after your hair is clean and rinsed, you’re able to remove any of that runoff post-hair wash.
4. Opt for a moisturizing body cleanser over a bar of soap.
This is especially true if you tend to have dry skin because traditional bar soap often doesn’t have hydrating ingredients, plus it’s prone to harboring bacteria if kept in a shared shower (gross). Instead, opt for a liquid body wash that’s formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil, and the like (bonus: they smell great, too).
5. Shave last.
Everyone wants a close shave sans nicks and bumps, right? To get the smoothest shave possible, your pores need to be open before you swipe your razor. Now, since the key to opening your pores is steam, you’ll need to shower with hot water on shave days — so you’ll want to make it snappy (but be careful, of course) to prevent any aforementioned drying.
6. Gently pat your skin and hair dry.
We always want to handle our skin and hair delicately to avoid any unintentional damage. By gently patting your skin and hair dry after you shower, you’re helping to prevent friction that can be rough, irritating, and over-drying.
TIP: Use a microfiber hair towel like this one from Act + Acre to reduce drying time and frizz while improving long-term hair health.
7. Moisturize from head to toe.
Regardless of the temperature of your shower, moisturizing afterward is essential for replenishing your freshly exfoliated and washed skin. For your face, neck, and décolletage, apply Reflekt 2 serum for instant brightening, Reflekt 3 face cream for firming hydration, and Reflekt 4 eye/lip cream for a smooth, awakened look (yes, this same routine works morning and night). Then, moisturize the rest of your body with your go-to body cream for all-over nourishment.
