For many Filipinos, self-love can be a hot or cold shower bath with soft music playing in the background. What many people don’t know, though, is the activities they do after they step out of the bathroom matter, too.
Here are five after-bath self-care tips to continue nourishing your skin and hair:
1. Use a Non-Greasy Lotion
Not all lotions feel amazing on the skin. Some of them leave your skin oily, and they can even stain the clothes. For better skincare, Filipinos can use non-greasy whitening body lotion instead.
An excellent kind usually packs a one-two punch: vitamin C and glutathione. Both help protects the skin against free radicals that can cause significant DNA damage that can speed up aging.
The best time to apply lotion is within three minutes after a shower. This way, the lotion’s ingredients can still penetrate the skin’s barrier better and even help seal moisture.
2. Lather Some Sunscreen
Consistent and prolonged exposure to the sun doesn’t only raise the risk of skin cancer but also worsens photoaging or premature skin aging. Sadly, changes to the skin may already occur even before they become visible.
Filipinos can reduce these risks by lathering up on sunscreen every time they go outdoors. Although the ideal SPF depends on many factors, users can already benefit from a lotion with SPF25.
All these don’t mean that the sun’s rays are harmful all the time. They are still necessary for helping the body create vitamin D. Consider spending at least 20 minutes outside in the morning without sunscreen before taking a bath.
3. Pat and Don’t Rub the Towel
Many Filipinos seem to prefer rubbing their towels, believing it helps dry their hair and skin fast. This habit, though, is counterproductive. Take, for example, the damage it creates to the skin.
Rubbing a towel can only remove whatever skin moisture is left, so it becomes extra dry. Dryness can increase the risk of itchiness and inflammation. Towel rubbing even worsens skin diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis.
The better way to dry oneself is by patting the towel. After that, you can apply some lotion. Note, too, that for safety, you need to wash your bath towel once every three days.
4. Be Careful with Air-Drying Your Hair
Hair strands are weaker when they’re wet, making them more prone to breakage. Rubbing the towel can uproot them, as well. Thus, many Filipinos may prefer to air-dry their hair. In other words, they don’t do anything until the hair is dry.
Air-drying, however, can also be problematic. It may cause split ends, which can further weaken the strands. Hair may also form knots.
The next best step is to use the bath towel to squeeze excess water and then to pat the hair until it dries.
5. Don’t Abuse the Blow Dryer Either
Now, for those who like a quick fix, they may grab a blow dryer. While blow dryers hasten the drying process, they may still be harmful to the hair. The heat can damage the cuticles, which are the protective layer of the strands. Blow drying may only result in breakage and brittleness.
Hair experts are not saying you should not use a blow dryer, but you can take steps to reduce its harmful effects. These include using the dryer farther from the hair or applying a hair protectant.
These habits are simple, but they can already do wonders for improving a Filipino’s hair and skin. When they look good, they feel good.
