Why you should shower without shower gel

“Don't you use shower gel? Never?” No, that's correct. Never. I just don't use it. Well, very rarely I do grab that bottle, but that's really countable on one hand. For my face I follow ’eight steps in the morning and evening but for my body, only water. But is that actually enough? I had to investigate this and called our skin expert Annelijn van Ierland from Skin clinic and asked for her shower advice.

It's unnecessary
Standing under the shower every day is very nice, of course. Especially after a cold day, a warm shower or a refreshing one after exercising is delightful. It feels so good, but it's not a party for your skin. Showering every other day is not only better for the environment but also better for your body.

Warm or cold?
The higher the temperature, the drier the skin becomes. A warm shower is therefore really taxing. It's logical not to set the temperature to ice-cold, but if you do turn the tap towards 39 degrees, do it very briefly. Lukewarm water is the advice.

With or without?
Using local shower gel, soap, or foam is the answer, but just water is also good. You can wash your armpits without problems, but the rest of your body not too often. It becomes drier and more sensitive, and your skin barrier suffers as well. By the way, don't use the same product for your body and your face. Shower gels are often much more aggressive than a face wash. You should definitely try to avoid your groin and genital area, as this is not good for your pH level, which can then lead to infections.

What is best for the shower?
There are so many different types of products for the shower, but if you want to do it right, use a neutral, natural, and fragrance-free gel or even better: an oil. If you just bought that nice one because it smells so good, don't put it away immediately, but just don't use it too often. Your skin won't be happy about it.

Good example
When you do the dishes, you use a dishwashing liquid to degrease the pans and get the dirt off. You should see it the same way with your skin. It's often not that oily, but rather dry, right? So why would you clean it with a shower gel? You wash away your natural skin oils, which we need so much in winter.

Last tip
Always apply a cream or oil after showering, especially if you've been under a warm shower for a long time. This keeps your skin supple and healthy.

Then my tips: good products include Neutral, Eucerin, Dermolin, La Roche, or Avene. Just be careful: not the entire collection is fragrance-free, so do check the fine print.