Before you even ask, no! I’m not talking about having a drink in the shower, even though I’ve been known to enjoy a shower beer after a day at the beach. For this article, shower cocktailing refers to the trend that incorporates multiple body products/steps in one bathing session. The idea being to amp up your basic daily ritual by implementing a concern-specific regimen to improve the look and feel of your skin from the neck down. Different skin issues require special attention, and choosing the right product formula is only half the equation. Water temperature and the length of your shower also influence skin hydration, cleanliness, texture, and even acne and eczema. Hot showers can dry out the skin, while too-cool water may not soften the skin effectively to rinse away dirt, oil, and debris. So, here’s a breakdown of how to create a skin-specific recipe for your shower cocktail, whether shaken or stirred.
For body breakouts, which are more frequent in the summer, it’s important to shower with effective anti-acne body washes that contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, or retinol. Misumi’s Blemish Clear body wash also contains glycolic acid and lactic acid to create a powerful treatment that deeply exfoliates the skin. Combine your body wash with a sulfur-based detox or clay mask, like Cetaphil’s DermaControl Purifying Clay Mask, which is helpful for banishing breakouts, especially when the skin gets sweaty. Massage this onto areas with pimples, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse off. Another ingredient to a body breakout shower cocktail is timing. So often, residue from shampoo and conditioner can contribute to breakouts on the neck, chest, back, and shoulders. Be sure to wash head-to-toe, start with hair, then face, then body, to avoid any potential irritation from hair and face products.
Next up, dry skin. The common denominator that causes dry skin is insufficient oils. Taking excessively long or hot showers and harsh soaps or cleansers can strip away your skin’s natural oil, leading to dryness and even eczema flare-ups. So rather than using bar soaps, try fragrance-free, hydrating cleansers to help reinstate moisture, like CeraVe’s Hydrating body wash, which the whole family can use. Or, if you want to get a bit fancy, try Kiehl’s Bath and Shower Liquid Body Cleanser in “Grapefruit .”Whichever product you choose, make sure it contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, and shea butter, which help combat dryness. You can then layer a body conditioner onto wet skin in the shower. Check out Kiwi Botanicals’ Soothing Body Conditioner, available at Walmart. Once out of the shower, lock in moisture while the skin is still damp with a lotion rich in ceramides, petrolatum, or glycerin. Again, keep the shower short and lukewarm.
Eczematous skin also falls under the dry skin category. My oldest child suffers from eczema, and we’ve been exploring various body washes as recommended by a pediatric dermatologist. The best we’ve found is Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Cream & Body Wash while reassuring her that she is NOT a baby herself. The adult Eucerin Eczema washes, like the baby version, are super-hydrating and enriched with colloidal oatmeal, which is a key ingredient in any eczema-branded body wash. Combine this with scent-free shampoo and conditioner and wash head-to-toe to help prevent flare-ups.
Another way to avoid irritation on eczema-prone skin is to wash by hand. Avoid loofahs, washcloths, or sponges that could scrape or break the skin barrier. Once you’re out of the shower, have your follow-up creams or lotions ready in the bathroom to apply as soon as possible. Think of them as the garnish to your shower cocktail, olive, or twist.
For bumpy skin, aka those annoying little goosebump-like bumps on the legs and the backs of the arms, are what dermatologists diagnose as keratosis pilaris, which is technically a harmless skin condition but can feel rough to the touch and can be unsightly. Body washes with keratolytic agents, like alpha hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids, help break apart the build-up of keratin that clogs the hair follicles, creating bumps. Aveeno’s Skin Relief Body Wash is also enriched with a triple oat blend to soothe and nourish skin while working to maintain your natural moisture barrier.
After using cleanser on bumpy areas, reach for a traditional scrub — nothing too abrasive — since cleanser alone will only do so much. Then, apply to damp skin an exfoliating moisturizer, like First Aid Beauty’s KP Smoothing body lotion, which contains keratolytic ingredients plus colloidal oatmeal and ceramides for added moisture. Body lotions with retinol can also help speed up cell turnover to tame the look of bumps.
Lastly, dull skin. First, lift away dead skin cells with a dry brush over the body before getting into the shower. This will rev up the blood flow to regenerate the skin. Once in the shower, use an exfoliator rich in alpha hydroxy acids, like Frank Body’s Glycolic Body Scrub, which also boasts pumice, witch hazel, and niacinamide to help reduce redness. For post-shower body care, apply a moisturizer that contains gentle exfoliants, such as Olay’s Nourishing & Hydrating body lotion.
Shower cocktailing is a fun approach to address serious to semi-serious skin problems in the shower. How we wash our skin is a big factor in its appearance, texture, and health. While a rigorous skin regime with pre and post-bathing steps may seem like overkill, a shower cocktail, like actual cocktails, is not meant for every day. Shower cocktailing is similar to a weekly happy hour, reserved after a hard work week or a weekend indulgence when time permits. Cheers to healthy skin!
