The great bath of Mohenjo-Daro, Turkish bath or hammam, Cleopatra’s bathing rituals, everything evokes specific associations with bathing. A good bath makes you refreshed. It takes away the grime and sweat that settles on your skin. It helps us to remain germ-free and healthy. The tangible benefits are many. But the intangible? A great bath can make you feel like a royal.
Bathing is not a simple ritual anymore. From different shower attachments to soft towels, handcrafted soaps, oils and diffusers, baths can be made into an experience that can take away all your stress.
We love the soaps infused with beautiful oils, soft textures, and the goodness of natural ingredients like almond extract, walnut kernels, coffee beans, chocolate, and the list is endless.
What’s a soap?
Soap is a cleanser that helps in cleaning and emulsifying your body. It treats your dirty skin by removing dead skin cells, dirt, and other impurities from your skin. In addition, soaps remove foul body odour and repair damaged skin with healing ingredients. Various options are available in the market. Yet, you should choose soap as per your skin type.
How to use it?
- Wet the skin area where the soap needs to be applied.
- Lather taking a bit of moist area, and gently scrub with a loofah or a sponge.
- Wash the foamed area with water.
- Dry yourself gently with a towel.
Types of Soaps:
Glycerin Soaps
They’re translucent in texture due to the combination of glycerin, sugar, and alcohol as ingredients. Glycerin is a water-soluble fatty compound commonly used in making bathing soaps and also in skincare. They’re ideal for treating dry skin as it lacks moisture. You can find them in a variety of different flavours and scents in pharmacies and grocery stores. If you suffer dryness and flakiness, then it is an option to consider.
Beauty Soaps
They’re available in any store or supermarket very quickly. They are specifically designed for skin health. For example, they have light fragrances that help you smell good for a more extended period. According to its composition, beauty soaps have a specific purpose like exfoliating, moisturising, restoring, etc.
Organic Soaps
Many people have too sensitive skin or combination skin. Some have to face allergic reactions with some standard components in commercial soaps during use. In these cases, organic soaps are the best to use. Despite glycerin, organic soaps are made using goat milk. This substance is rich in vitamins and minerals and has moisturising properties as components. In addition, it doesn’t cause allergies of any kind. Organic soaps consist of natural oils and fragrances that are freshly used to hydrate, nourish, and soften the skin.
Commercial Soaps
Commercial soaps are soaps made with chemicals and artificial fragrances. Such soaps are packed with potent foaming agents, synthetic fragrances, and chemical hardeners. These are highly available in markets and even dry the skin during usage.
Advantages of bathing soaps
In every hygienic routine, bathing soap is necessary to maintain good skin health. The list of advantages of using these products daily is long. Here are some:
Prevents skin diseases and problems
Common skin diseases, such as acne, are the result of pathogens’ proliferation on our skin. Bathing soap every day helps eliminate most of these microbes, preventing infections, swelling, and other skin complications.
Eliminates foul odours from time to time
The combination of sweat, fungi, and bacteria is a scent bomb for everyone around. No one wants to smell bad and feel embarrassed. Bathing soaps helps to remove the causes of bad smells. In addition, their pleasant fragrances keep you fresh for a more extended period.
Moisturises the skin surface
Dry skin can be rough and sensitive. Many people suffer from dry skin issues; dry skin loses moisture quickly. Fortunately, bathing soap helps restore the water and natural oil balance in the skin. It keeps it supple, soft, elastic, plumpy, and shiny.
Exfoliates the skin surface
If dead skin accumulates on skin, the skin looks rough. Therefore, people with all skin types need to exfoliate facial and body skin. Once in 7 to ten days are a reasonable interval for you to repeat exfoliation. In addition, some bathing soaps come with exfoliating microspheres that help remove dead skin from the surface. Thus, they help in skin regeneration.
Soap preference for different skin types:
Dry Skin
Dry skin tends to be flaky and dry in texture. It is because it needs a considerable amount of moisture to have a plump texture and look healthy. For dry skin, make sure that the soap you choose contains ingredients that have moisturising properties.
You can go for glycerine or organic soaps as they are the best for dry skin. Also, look out for vegetable oils, cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and avocado for dry skin. They create creamy lathers and contain moisturising properties that help in keeping your skin moist and hydrated for a more extended period.
Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, go for a soap that effectively removes excess oil, dirt, and other impurities. Look out for anti-bacterial soaps containing ingredients such as sea salt, oatmeal, thyme, lavender, chamomile, brown sugar, or peach pits. These are gentle on the skin and clear excess oil while reducing damage to the skin.
Combination Skin
If you have combination skin, look for a soap with cleansing and clarifying properties such as glycerin, shea butter, oats, and aloe vera. They hydrate and soothe the skin while absorbing oil effectively, without drying the skin out, and reduce blemishes.
Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, go for soaps that contain little to no perfume and colourants. Look out for soaps made from goat’s milk as they are friendly to allergies or rash prone skin. Even jojoba oil and vitamin E can be suitable for this skin type. They help reduce skin irritation, keeping the skin well moisturised.
Normal Skin
If you have normal skin, keep away from harsh soaps with too many chemicals with added fragrance, and avoid soaps made for dry and oily skin. Instead, go for soaps that contain gentle cleansing formulas. They moisturise the skin and eliminate dirt and excess oil without leaving the skin dry or irritated. Look out for herbal soaps as they are the best for normal skin.
What is a Loofah?
Loofahs are popular bath and shower accessories used to apply soap to the body and face and are hailed as skin care heroes. They are made of plastic and other colourful synthetic fibres. These materials are gathered together to form loops of mesh and are turned into fluffy balls.
How to use a Loofah
- Immerse the loofah in warm water for a few minutes.
- Add soap onto the loofah and lather it up.
- Gently rub the loofah onto the skin in slow circular motions.
- Rinse after use and let it dry.
Advantages
- It makes you feel relaxed during the shower, reducing stress and tension from day-to-day activities.
- Loofah helps exfoliate the skin as it is composed of slightly rough fibres.
- The gentle scrubbing helps remove dirt and bacteria from the outer layer of the skin, to reveal naturally glowing skin.
- It eliminates dead skin cells, giving you smooth, youthful, and glowing skin.
- It stimulates blood circulation, giving a soft, smooth, and healthy glow to your skin.
Caution
- Before using a loofah, make sure it’s clean and completely dry since it would contain bacteria from the previous wash.
- While using a loofah, be gentle with it on your skin and do not over-exfoliate, as it could lead to redness and itchiness, causing damage to your skin.
- Avoid using a loofah regularly as your skin doesn’t need exfoliation every day.
- Avoid sharing your loofah with others to reduce the risk of skin infection.
Good hygiene is an essential part of health, so it’s necessary to have a solid and consistent showering routine.
It’s also important to have fun while taking a shower to get rid of stress and tension. So make it your me time, make your own spa in the comfort of your home and add different soaps, oils and loofah that would give you healthy and younger-looking skin within your budget.
