THEbath time, as well as shower time, it is a real beauty ritual. With the right products, it allows you to feel like you are in a spa even at home. The ancients already appreciated its benefits: Cleopatra, for example, went down in history for her famous baths in donkey’s milk. While the Romans were among the first to recognize the benefits of thermalism. Today, in our homes, yes to relaxation, perhaps with an eye to sustainability.
Bath and shower: two increasingly sustainable rituals
The goal is to pollute wastewater less and less. For this reason, even one of the fundamental steps for a nice relaxing bath or shower, scrubs, have become gentler.
«Inside, the micro-plastics have been replaced with exfoliating particles derived from salt, sugar, fruit shells and pits, coffee and volcanic rocks“, explains Saint Raphael Mercurihead of the Dermatology Unit of theIRCCS San Raffaele Hospital from Milan.
The “bathroom selfie” is very popular among celebs (Instagram/@jlo)
The same thing goes for bubble bath and shower gel. Melvitafor example, created three “gentle” formulas – shower gelface-body cleansing milk and micellar water – with over 99% ingredients of natural origin.
«Our love for the essential inspired us in the creation of this new trio of products – he comments Didier Thevenin, Brand Advocate by Melvita -. Our team of research and development analyzed, sorted, broken down, cleaned and perfected the formulas. Objective: to keep a minimum of ingredients to offer maximum naturalness. Result: the essential for the bathroom that is delicate, sparkling, fresh, enriched with organic aloe vera and ultra-delicate for all skin types but also for the planet».
Also Adidas has launched a range of body products from formulas veg and 98% biodegradable. Is called Active Skin & Mind and includes deodorants, shower gels and solid soaps that act as an active support system, helping athletes prepare the skin before physical activity and refresh and rebalance the senses post workout. All with a mix of glycerol and hyaluronic acid on one side they promote the rapid recovery of skin hydration and on the other they stimulate or relax the mind and muscles with essential oils.
Bathroom: a real moment of relaxation but not without rules
The delicacy of the new body cleansing formulas should not, however, be nullified with incorrect habits in the bathtub.
Soaking for hours is not good for you. «The bath is a real calming ritual, especially if enriched with a few drops of essential oil, but be careful not to extend it beyond 20 minutes – explains Corinna Rigonipresident of Women Dermatologists Italy – it’s at keep the water temperature around 37 degrees in order not to relax the tissues too much, dry out the skin and lower blood pressure».
Furthermore, the bath, more than the shower, stimulates cell turnover. «The steam released by the hot water promotes vasodilation, opens the pores of the skin and is also good for the respiratory tract», continues the expert. Always, however, without exaggerating! “Better, in fact, not to bathe more than twice a week.”
The ideal time of day? In the evening and on an empty stomach, perhaps before dinner. “If you really prefer to do it in the morning, better to end it with a cold shower so as not to feel too exhausted in the immediately following hours» concludes the expert.
Bath and shower: the right sponges
During the shower and bath, you can take advantage of the sauna effect due to the water vapor to massage the skin with a scrub or a sponge with natural bristlessuch as hemp and sisal, in order to eliminate impurities and keratinized (ie “dead”) skin cells.
In the case of sensitive skin, however, bath oil or milk are preferred. On the other hand, foaming cleansers that dehydrate the skin barrier should be avoided.
After the ritual, the pores of the face are more dilated and you can proceed with a clay mask to purify them in depth.
While on the still wet body you can apply oils and creams capable of retaining hydration. Among the star active ingredients to look for in the INCI: olive, avocado and wheat germ extracts.
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