Young woman using Nivea Creme Care Soft Care Shower

How to Take a Shower: The Perfect Routine

Find out how can you make the most out of your shower routine to keep your skin radiant and happy.

What’s in this article?

The Perfect Shower Routine

Most of us shower so often we may never stop to think about whether we’re making the best of our shower routine. The right shower leaves you not only clean but with soft, glowing, moisturized skin. Learn tips for creating the perfect shower routine that can not only help you look and feel great but also help you save water and time.
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NIVEA Nourishing Care Body Wash

Steps for the perfect shower routine

1

Before stepping into the shower, adjust the temperature so that it's lukewarm to warm, not hot.

2

Exfoliate your skin with a dry brush to help remove dead skin cells.

3

Step into the shower and start by shampooing your hair and scalp thoroughly, making sure to massage your roots - this helps to make sure you're fully distributing your shampoo and also feels nice for the scalp.

4

Rinse thoroughly till your hair feels 'squeaky'.

5

Apply hair conditioner if desired.

6

While the conditioner is soaking into your hair, apply a moisturizing body wash to your whole body such as NIVEA Nourishing Care Body Wash.

7

If desired, apply shaving foam or shower gel to areas of your body you want to shave and shave in the shower. If you want to shave your face, follow these tips for how to shave your face after showering.

8

Rinse thoroughly.

Young man having a shower

How to wash your body in the shower

Our skin protects us and so it’s our job to help nourish and protect our skin. One major way to do that is to take care of it properly in the shower by choosing an appropriate body wash and knowing how to properly apply it. Here are some tips for how to shower using body wash:

  1. Rinse your body to wet your skin before you apply the body wash of your choice.
  2. Squeeze some body wash onto a loofah, pouf, washcloth, or even just your hands, and gently lather your whole body.
  3. Start at your neck and shoulders before working your way down the rest of your body.
  4. Rinse thoroughly, rubbing soapy areas with your hands or a clean washcloth to ensure any remaining suds are rinsed away.

Things to avoid when showering

  1. Water that's too hot – Showering with hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils and contribute to dry skin.

  2. Spending too long in the shower – Long, continuous water exposure has been shown to damage the skin’s protective barrier, so the longer you spend in the shower, particularly if you’re showering with hot water, the more you will risk drying out your skin.

  3. Showering too often or not often enough – Should you shower every day? How often you shower is going to be unique to each person, but there are some general tips to help you determine if showering every day (or more or less often) is ideal for your skin. Learn more about how often you should shower. 

Water temperature and skin health

Water temperature plays a role when trying to achieve the perfect shower routine and can have an impact on your skin.
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Showering with hot water:

Although a hot shower feels amazing to help relax or wake up to on a cold morning, it can cause problems for your skin. Showering with hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils (sebum), leading to dry skin that can then become tight, itchy, flaky, or rough. The same thing can be said for your hair, in addition to the skin on your scalp potentially feeling dry and itchy. As a general rule, if your skin stings in the shower or starts to turn red, your shower is too hot.
Young woman having a shower
Young man having a shower

Showering with cold water:

Many people feel they experience benefits from cold showers, though scientific research on the benefits of cold showers is fairly thin. Many find that taking a cold shower or ending a warmer shower in a cold rinse helps them feel invigorated, and if retaining the skin’s natural oils is of concern, taking a cooler shower may help protect the skin’s moisture barrier, so long as you keep your showers short on average (5-10 minutes).

How to Choose a Body Wash

Make your shower a pampering experience that helps support your skin by choosing the right body wash for your skin’s needs. If you’re used to using bar soap, give body wash a try! Using body wash instead of bar soap can help your skin feel not only clean and refreshed but also adequately moisturized and nourished.

What body wash is best for you will depend on things like your skin type or your fragrance preferences. NIVEA provides a wide range of body washes to suit different needs and preferences so you can easily find the perfect one for you.
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NIVEA MEN Sensitive Body Wash

Choosing a body wash for your skin type

When considering which body wash is best for you, prioritize your skin type. If you have sensitive skin, for example, you’ll want to look for a body wash that caters to sensitive skin on the label. Look for phrases like “hypoallergenic” and formulas without soap or drying alcohol to ensure that you’re finding body wash with a formula that is gentle to sensitive skin.

NIVEA MEN Sensitive Body Wash is specifically developed for sensitive skin with soothing Bamboo Extract and Almond Oil. The formula gently cleanses skin and provides nourishing moisture. It's free of soap and any drying alcohol.
NIVEA MEN Sensitive Body Wash
If you have dry skin, look for a moisturizing body wash that can nourish your skin and help restore and retain skin’s moisture. 

NIVEA Nourishing Shea Butter Body Wash with Nourishing Serum has a moisturizing formula enriched with a blend of naturally derived oils, Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E that gently cleanses without drying skin. NIVEA Shea Butter Body Wash provides nourishing moisture for skin that feels soft and smooth all day, and can also be used for shaving!
NIVEA Shea Butter Body Wash

Choosing a body wash for fragrance

Fragrance is a big component of choosing a body wash. Perhaps you like a floral scent or something warm and comforting like vanilla. Maybe you like a lot of fragrance or prefer something more lightly scented. NIVEA’s collection of body washes offer different fragrances to suit different preferences. Regardless of the scent you choose, all NIVEA body washes are formulated with Nourishing Serum to leave skin feeling soft and refreshed.

If you enjoy floral fragrances, try NIVEA Nourishing Botanical Body Wash. This body wash offers a sweet, floral scent while providing moisture to skin that feels soft and smooth all day.

If you like more zesty, herbal scents, try NIVEA Refreshing Basil & White Tea Body Wash with Nourishing Serum.

If fruity scents appeal to you, enjoy the fruity and floral balance of NIVEA Refreshing White Peach and Jasmine Body Wash or NIVEA Refreshing Wild Berries and Hibiscus Body Wash. 

If you enjoy warm, comforting scents, consider NIVEA Pampering Vanilla & Sweet Cream Body Wash, NIVEA Pampering Cocoa & Shea Butter Body Wash, or, for a more tropical scent, try NIVEA Pampering Coconut & Almond Milk Body Wash. 

Find the right scent for you with our full collection of NIVEA body washes with Nourishing Serum.
NIVEA Body Wash
NIVEA Refreshing White Peach and Jasmine Body Wash

Wrap up your shower routine with moisturizer

Once you’ve finished rinsing off in the shower, gently pat your skin dry and help seal in your skin’s moisture by applying a moisturizing body lotion while your skin is still damp. 

NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion with Deep Nourishing Serum, Hyaluronic acid and Almond Oil provides 72 hours of deep nourishing moisture and a smooth skin feel without any greasy residue. NIVEA offers a variety of body lotions for different skin types that are designed to nourish, soften and smooth skin, ensuring your skin gets the care it deserves.
NIVEA Body Lotions
NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion

Your perfect shower routine – Summary

You’ve learned the ins and outs for how to take a proper shower, from water temperature to washing technique, choosing a body wash, and following up with a moisturizing body lotion. In addition to just being a routine part of your day, showering can be a self-care retreat with the right products and protocol. Enjoy nourishing, refreshing showers with NIVEA!
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The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin
2. Improve the appearance of the skin
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin

Sources:

1. Mogg, K. Are Hot Showers Bad for Your Skin and Hair? The New York Times. November 12, 2024.

2. Herrero-Fernandez, M.; Montero-Vilchez, T.; Diaz-Calvillo, P.; Romera-Vilchez, M.; Buendia-Eisman, A.; Arias-Santiago, S. Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function. Journal of Clinical Medicine 2022, 11 (2), 298.