Do you struggle with showering in winter?
A hot shower in winter not only cleanses the body, promotes blood circulation, relieves fatigue and stress, but also helps improve sleep—it's simply the greatest pleasure of the day! But, with winter skin already dry, should you still use shower gel? What shower gel is best? Today, An An will share with you the best shower gel choices.
Shower gel ingredients
Shower gels are generally composed of detergents, conditioners, and other auxiliary additives. Detergents are primarily surfactants, which create foam and emulsify to remove dirt and oil. Conditioners are typically oils that moisturize and reduce irritation, leaving skin smooth and hydrated. Other auxiliary additives include foam stabilizers, fragrances, pH adjusters, viscosity regulators, and preservatives, which help the shower gel last longer and smell better.
Some shower gels emphasize a drying effect, primarily by using sodium fatty acids as surfactants. When the ingredient list contains fatty acids (palmitic acid, lauric acid) and sodium hydroxide (potassium hydroxide), it indicates the presence of sodium stearate, a surfactant that provides a dry, refreshing bath experience.
Some shower gels use amphoteric surfactants, such as betaines (cocamidopropyl betaine). These surfactants have excellent thickening and emulsifying properties, enhance the product's mildness, and easily remain on the skin, moisturizing and lubricating it. Therefore, using these shower gels can leave your skin feeling smooth and slippery.
How to Choose the Right Shower Gel in Winter
When choosing a shower gel, it's important to consider your individual skin condition and needs.
For those with dry, itchy, or flaky skin, choose a moisturizing body wash If your skin isn't particularly oily, or even experiences flaking and itching, avoid soap-based shower gels with strong cleansing properties. Instead, choose a moisturizing, mild shower gel containing amino acid surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, or nonionic surfactants. These shower gels can moisturize the skin and alleviate symptoms such as dryness and itching. Alternatively, try bubble baths and bath oils. These are gentler cleansing options, so they won't strip away the skin's natural moisturizers and exacerbate dryness, making them a good choice for winter bathing.
For those with oily or acne-prone skin, opt for a stronger cleansing bath, such as a soap-based one or one with fruit acids. These baths deeply cleanse the skin, removing excess oil and dirt, and preventing pore clogging.
In addition, regularly exfoliate with an exfoliating product like a scrub. A thick stratum corneum can hinder the absorption and effectiveness of subsequent moisturizers. Exfoliation can make the skin smoother and more refined, facilitating the absorption and effectiveness of moisturizers.
After bathing in winter, it's recommended to apply moisturizer as soon as possible to lock in surface moisture and maintain skin's hydration.
This method of using bath gel is more effective.
When using bath gel, squeeze the bath gel onto a shower gel or towel, work it into a rich lather, and then apply it to your body. Massage the lather all over your skin, especially areas prone to dirt accumulation, such as your back, chest, underarms, and thighs. Massage can help remove dead skin and dirt. Be careful not to leave the foam on your body for too long; ideally, it should be kept within 1-3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, ensuring all shower gel is removed. Avoid any residual shower gel on your skin to avoid irritation.
After showering, apply a moisturizing body lotion all over your body to keep it moisturized and smooth.
Frequent bathing or prolonged use of highly alkaline shower gels can damage the skin's stratum corneum, accelerating the evaporation of water within the cells, leading to dryness, itching, and even excessive keratinization of the hair follicles. Therefore, if your skin is not very oily, it's best to choose a neutral shower gel and control the amount used.
Everyone's skin condition is different, so choosing a shower gel that suits your skin type and how to use it can ensure optimal care while enjoying a comfortable bath.
