After a long, tiring day of work or an exhausting workout, I love getting into the bathtub and have a nice and relaxing bath. It is a great way of releasing stress and recharging body and mind, isn’t it? Unfortunately, though the water can also strip moisture from our skin, causing it to become dry and itchy, especially in the cold winter months. Because the skin on my body is very dry, this is a big concern for me but luckily there are some small things you can do to be able to enjoy a nice, relaxing bath without harming your skin. Here’s how:
1. Use lukewarm water
When the weather is dark, gloomy and freezing cold, getting in a bath tub filled to the brim with hot water is really tempting and it feels so good! I’m actually guilty of doing it quite a lot too in the winter and then regret it when I get out and see how dry my skin has become. The hotter the water, the more moisture is stripped from your skin, leaving it dry and sometimes even itchy. Opt for lukewarm water instead, which will keep you warm and clean, without causing damage to your skin.
2. Don’t spend too much time in the bath tub
After a long, tiring day, all we want to do is just to have a relaxing bath. It feels so good (especially if you add some bath salts or oils to the water) and it’s so easy to let your mind wander or just completely relax and lose track of time. I know I’ve been guilty of spending up to an hour in the bath tub in the past but these days I get out after about 15/20 minutes. Your skin can become so dry if you stay in there for long! Don’t have a clock with you and don’t know when 15 minutes have passed? When your skin starts to get pruny, then it’s time to get out of the tub!
3. Avoid bubble baths
Don’t you just love a nice babble bath? I do, but that too is bad for skin. All those bubbles are produced by harsh cleansing agents that, together with dirt ad impurities, also strip too much natural oil from our skin. And it is this oil that keeps skin naturally moisturized, so if too much gets stripped off, skin will become dry. Instead than soap, use bath oils. They are gentle on the skin and usually have moisturizing properties as well.
4. Apply moisturizer afterwards
Once you get out of the tub, towel dry yourself gently and apply moisturizer to your skin to replenish all the moisture that has been lost. Opt for a rich (but not too rich!) one with moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil or jojoba oil and humectants like Hylauronic Acid or Glycerin that slow down water loss, helping to keep skin hydrated and soft for hours.
Do you have any more tips on how to prevent a nice bath from drying out your skin?
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
e se ti si secca la pelle ne approfitti per fare un bel magic peeling!
Olivia, eheh, vero!
Nice tips! The last one is me. When I’m done with a bath, I usually don’t apply moisturizer afterward. Its a bad habit, haha.
Dee´s last [type] ..Wet N Wild Spring 2011 Color Icon Trios
Dee, I’m lazy too at times ahah. But I love how soft and smooth skin is after applying a moisturizer.
Oops, I’m so guilty of doing number 1, 2, 3. Well, at least I compensate by moisturizing my body really really well
Dao´s last [type] ..Kiss Me Heroine Make Long&Curl Mascara is a BaAad One!
Dao, lol. It’s so unfair that all the good things (hot water, bubble bath and a long time in the tub) are bad for skin! But a good moisturizer always helps.
I have dry skin and elbows are always getting scratch marks from god knows what.
I apply oil based moisturizers on hands but for face I can’t use it as I have got bit oily skin on face.
LatestGirls´s last [type] ..Selecting a Cocktail Dress
LatestGirls, that’s too bad. I like oil-based moisturizer for hands too, they’re very nourishing.
I pretty much always apply moisturizer after!
Prettykitty´s last [type] ..Looks- Honolulu Dance
Prettykitty, that’s a great habit.
Hi,
Great website. Just wondering if you could elaborate on why you suggest using a ‘not too rich’ moisturiser after a bath… is using a rich one a problem? Many thanks,
Hay
Hay, hi and thank you! I’m glad you like my website and I hope you’ll stick around.
The problem with very rich moisturizers is that they take ages to absorb and can leave a greasy residue behind. Unless you have very dry skin, they are just too much really and may feel uncomfortable.