Showering is a typical part of a daily routine, and one you probably don’t spend much time thinking about. However, if you deal with dry, oily, or sensitive skin, you might want to consider updating your shower routine. When you wash the right way, you can obtain the healthy, glowing skin you’ve always wanted. Read on to discover the best routine for your skin type.
How to Identify Your Skin Type
Everyone’s skin is different, so what works for someone else may not produce the same results for you. This can make it harder to find an effective skincare routine. But once you know your general skin type, you can narrow down your choices and experiment to get the best results.
The main skin types are dry and oily skin. In addition to your primary skin type, you might have sensitive skin. Here are the notable qualities of each type:
- Dry: Dry skin might feel tight, rough, itchy, or flaky and have a dull appearance. Your skin produces lower levels of natural oils. If you have this skin type, you might be more prone to fine lines and wrinkles on the face and tight, scaly-looking patches on the body.
- Oily: Oily skin appears shiny and feels greasy, especially in the T-zone on the face. This comes from the excess production of sebum. With this skin type, you may have more issues with acne.
- Sensitive skin: Skin can be sensitive to irritants whether it’s dry, oily, or a combination of the two. Exposure to certain environments or ingredients, such as dyes, alcohol, and fragrances, might result in itchiness, burning, or redness.
Shower Tips for Different Skin Types
Dry Skin
When you have dry skin, your main skincare goal should be to moisturize and avoid products and actions that can dry you out further. This starts in the shower. It might be tempting to take long, hot showers (especially when it’s cold out), but stick to lukewarm water. Hot water dries out and irritates your skin and prevents it from locking in moisture.
Depending on where you live, your tap water likely contains chlorine and minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard, chlorinated water strips away your skin’s moisture barrier, causing dry, flaky skin and irritation. Installing a filtered shower head gives you smooth, clean water that won’t leave behind chalky residue.
Oily Skin
The overproduction of sebum can be caused by many factors, including genetics, hormones, and some medications. To fight greasy, oily skin, use the right products. Cleansers and shower gels are great for clearing skin and unclogging pores, and exfoliating can help sweep away buildup.
Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need harsh products for either step. These can strip away natural oils, causing your skin to overcompensate by increasing oil production. Look for cleansers with gentle ingredients like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and salicylic acid. These ingredients help decongest and soothe at the same time.
Getting pore-clogging materials off the surface of the skin and removing dead cells can also help regulate oil production and acne. Gentle exfoliation once a week buffs away dead skin cells and leaves you feeling fresh and clean. Just don’t overdo it—harsh products and over-scrubbing can increase oil production. If a physical scrub, like salt, sugar, or activated charcoal, is too rough, try a smooth lactic or glycolic acid product instead.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin from conditions like eczema or psoriasis benefits from regular cleansing, but the wrong products and habits can worsen symptoms like redness, itchiness, and scaling. When bathing or showering, only use moisturizing products that are fragrance-free, dye-free, and sulfate-free, and avoid antibacterial cleansers and soaps, which often contain irritants like alcohol.
Like those with dry skin, people with skin conditions can also benefit from a filtered shower head that removes harsh minerals and chlorine from the water.
To finish your shower, focus on two things: soak and seal. This tried-and-true trick involves getting wet in the bath or shower, gently patting your skin with a towel, and immediately applying your skin treatment and moisturizer to lock in the water. Let the moisture soak for a few minutes before getting dressed.
No matter your skin type, Canopy is your choice for reimagined household devices that effortlessly optimize your home for beauty and wellness, from your bedroom oasis to your active family spaces. And we’re ready to help you upgrade one of the most important parts of your routine—the shower. Our new easy-to-install filtered shower head reduces dissolved minerals, added chlorine, and other contaminants in your household water, providing clean water that supports healthy skin and hair. Say goodbye to dull skin, brittle hair, and flaky scalp, and hello to healthy skin and scalp and longer-lasting hair color.