We’ve all seen them; skin as fluid as liquid gold. Skin that catches light and doesn’t let go. Skins that are Pinterest-worthy and wondered, “What are they doing that I am not? How are they showering and what are they applying on their skins to make them that soft and spotless?” If you’ve ever wondered about any of that, I’ve got the ultimate exfoliating shower routine for silky smooth skin that will make it hard to stop feeling your skin and get you that liquid gold skin you desire. So let’s get into it.
Why is exfoliation important?
Skin is the largest organ in the body, shedding around 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells every minute. Some of these skin cells remain attached to your skin, forming a hard surface that’s difficult to penetrate the skin barrier making skin dry and dull. Now these dead skin cells don’t just go away on their own without some help. That’s where exfoliation comes in. However, exfoliation should be done right to ensure that the skin is not damaged in the process.
How to Exfoliate in the Shower: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Saying goodbye to dull skin is as easy as 1,2,3.
- Use a dry brush. A dry brush will loosen the attachment of the dead skin cells from your skin and make it easy to fall off. Dry brushing also improves the lymphatic drain of the body. Dry brushing should be done before introducing any wetness to the skin. Dry brushing should be done in upward motion and as gentle as possible.
- Pre-cleansing. This is the step where after you wet your skin with lukewarm water in the shower, you introduce some form of a washing cloth or a loofer. African shower net has been all the buzz recently. Use either a solid bar soap or a cleansing body wash. Use together with your washcloth or your loafer and scrub your skin. This will dissolve any sweat, dirt, body lotion, or oil applied on the body previously. My favourite pre-cleanse body wash is the Hydrating Body Wash. This hydrating body wash cleanses the skin without drying it.
- Body scrub. After the pre-wash, the skin is ready for physical exfoliation. Physical exfoliates are usually made of coarse beads or powders like jojoba beads, fine apricot shell powder, salt, or sugar. The body scrubs are creamy and texture ranging from runny to solid. Some body scrubs are made with cleansers, meaning they have cleaning properties that you can use alone without needing pre-cleansing. Others have chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, lactic acid, or glycolic acid to do both chemical and physical exfoliation. My favorite body scrub is Salicylic Acid Body Scrub which is 3-in1 with fine apricot shell powder for physical exfoliation, 2% salicylic acid for chemical exfoliation, and a cleanser. Another favorite of mine is Cleansing Coffee Scrub. The idea is to be gentle when using body scrubs and using them in a circular motion.
- Moisturizing skin. Choosing the right moisturizer is as important as washing the skin. You want to choose a moisturizer that does something for your skin concern. If you have dry skin, choose a moisturizing body lotion like Shea Butter Body Lotion. If you experience hyperpigmentation and dull skin, then Vitamin C Body Lotion will serve you better. But if your area of concern is thick skin, body acne, dark spots, or cracked heals, then Urea 20 + Salicylic Acid is your sure bet. Moisturize your skin when damp to seal in the moisture from showering.
- Body oil. This is optional, but I find body oils to complement body lotions so well, plus they have vitamins like vitamin E that are antioxidants and protect the skin from free radicals. They also have nourishing oils like jojoba, sunflower, and hemp seed oil. But the main reason I love them most is the good smell they usually leave on the skin and the glow. The Shea Nut Body Oil is one body oil I highly recommend.
If you follow the five shower routine steps, you will have glowing and even skin in no time. But leave me a comment on what your shower routine is like, whether you use a physical or chemical exfoliant or both. Also, I will answer any shower routine questions you might have.
