BEFORE, DURING, & AFTER YOUR SHOWER DEAL BREAKERS.
It's been a minute since I've done a beauty blog...mainly because it's been cold and all things beauty related have been pushed to the side. I also left my ENTIRE make up bag in San Diego last time I went home so that also hasn't been very inspiring.
BUT I realized the other day (while I was in the shower) that there's actually a lot of things that we should be doing before, during and after a shower that we might me missing.
I think I brought all of this up again when I was talking to my boyfriend about how annoying it is for a girl to shower. He'll literally shower before the gym like he's just brushing his teeth or something. I put it off for as long as possible and praise Jesus for dry shampoo.
When you really think about, it's like a chunk of time that we have to put aside so let's go over it.
PS: This is the ideal, Sunday morning, nothing to do, relaxing, 1 hour shower process. Not the, " I have 20 minutes to get ready for work" shower. Got it?
Okay. Let's talk
PRE SHOWER.
1. DRY BRUSH
I've talked about this in it's own blog before, which you can find here, but ideally before you jump in the shower you want to take advantage of a dry brush. It helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, drains your lymphatic system, removes dead skin and really helps to smooth and exfoliate the skin. AMAZING.
2. LEAVE IN CONDITIONER TREATMENT
I think once a week for something like this would be ideal. (You can check out this article to find good drugstore treatments). Throw something like the Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque into your hair before stepping int the shower and let it sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing it out. This will help with breaking, dryness and split ends.
DURING YOUR SHOWER.
1. USE THE RIGHT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER.
You want to make sure that you are not using a brand of shampoo and conditioner that has sulfates, parabens, or sodium chloride in them. These are the secret ingredients that make our hair dry and fall out, nooo thank you.
Honestly, I've been finding really good products at good prices at Marshall's. You want to look for products that say SULFATE FREE. PARABEN FREE. And look for stuff that has natural oils in it like coconut oil, avocado oil. argan oil and almond oil.
2. FINISH WITH A COLD RINSE
I know this isn't ideal now that it's winter time but if you can man up and do it really quick then you'll be golden. I obviously found that it was not only easier but kind of ideal to do this during the summer.
Finishing your hot shower with a cold rinse closes up the pores in your skin as well as the pores in your hair.
AFTER YOUR SHOWER:
1. PAT (YOUR FACE) DRY
Unless you want to give yourself some wrinkles pretty soon then you're going to want to make sure that you neverrrr dry your face by taking your towel and pulllling it down your face. You want to be extra gentle with your face so just pat dry.
2. LOTION UP
ESPECIALLY since it's winter time, you want to keep you skin as hydrated as possible. Lather up from your neck to your ankles with a moisturizing lotion.
TIP: I like to add a gradual tanning lotion to my moisturizing lotion so that I can also get a little base tan. I start to glow whiteness during the winter which is no bueno so I try to avoid that for the sake of others.
3. TONER
I've talked about this toner like 8 million times but it's because I'm actually in love with it. And it works. And it's cheap. I put it on after a shower and it's SO helpful as a skin toner.
ALSO it's an amazing aftershave.
So if your guy is confused on why it takes 32 hours to take a shower and why we need ALL the hot water, give him this breakdown.
XOXO
THE TONER YOU SHOULDN'T BE LIVING WITHOUT
(Currently Listening To: From Time by Drake)
Okay, I meannnn, have I been living in a hole or are you guys also new to this witch hazel thing? It kinda scares me when I find something incredibly useful and cheap that's been around for forever. Makes me wonder what else I'm missing out on...
But while we wait to figure that out, let's talk the MAGIC that is Witch Hazel.
I was telling a friend the other day that I feel like my skin is basically a light pallet of reds, whites and blues when I don't have make up on. Awesome. My under eye is blue, my cheeks get a light red-ish pink and then I have been avoiding the sun so this white skin is just glowing, and not in a good way.
He (yes he) said three things.
WITCH HAZEL. ALOE VERA. & ROSE WATER.
I thought to myself, witch hazel sounds scary, I got aloe, and I've heard rose water is good for your skin but I've never used it in anything else other than a cocktail sooo. (But this man has the most impressive skin and bald head you've ever seen so, I trust him).
I was thinking I had to go buy all three ingredients and get down on some kind of serious drill line for my nightly skin routine but then he told me it's all in one bottle and it's SO EASY.
I literally just get out of the shower, leave my face a little damp, and then rub a little bit of Thayer's into my hands and rub it all over my face. DONE.
I do the same thing in the morning when i wake up and I've ALREADY noticed that it's working as a toner.
Who else is excited for me?! SO EXCITED OVER HERE.
Okay so here's a little background on what the hell I'm talking about.
+ Witch hazel has been around for years and it is a topical astringent that comes from a shrub, kinda looks like a lavender plant, but yellow.
+ It's most commonly known use has been for skin because since it has a high concentration of tannins, it is capable of not only removing excess oil from your skin but it also shrinks your pores! SERIOUSLY WHYYYY AM I JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS?!
+ So since your pores are smaller, less shit from the environment is getting trapped in your face which means LESS BLEMISHES, AND LESS BLACK HEADS. (Black heads are pores that are congested with pollution and toxins, ew.)
+ Obviously if it helps prevent blemishes it also helps TREAT current blemishes you may have or irritated skin and acne. Use a cotton pad to apply to the face to reduce irritation.
AFTER SHAVE
Since it tightens the skin and reduces inflammation it's literally THE PERFECT thing to use after you shave. Bye stupid ass razor burn, we all hate you.
BRIGHTEN AROUND EYES
I could cry. Isn't brighter looking eyes without concealer and 75 dollar eye cream everyones dream? Witch hazel will tighten and brighten your under eye, just make sure you don't get it IN your eyes.
I mean , I could go on for forever. It's also used to treat minor cuts, sunburns and varicose (spider veins). So that's JUST the witch hazel part! This little magic tub also includes doses of aloe vera and rose water.
I've tried SO many different skin products to try and tone my skin and they always end up making me dry out or get oily or I get little bumps on my face, kinda like acne, but not. I'm telling you you guys, iv'e oonly been using this for a few days and my face feels tighter, it's glowing IN A GOOD WAY and isn't oily or dried out.
AND IT'S CHEAP !!
I'll attach a link for you guys so you can buy like a million right now. This one was given to me by my friend but he said he got it at Sprouts so maybe places like Whole foods has it too.
Buy witch hazel:
https://thrivemarket.com/thayers-alcohol-free-witch-hazel-toner-rose-petal?utm_source=ebay&utm_medium=pla&CAWELAID=120220540000000783
Let me know how it works for you guys because I AM OBSESSED.