Wondering the best way to wash your body in the bath or shower? There are loads of bath accessories you can choose from including shower puffs, loofahs, washcloths and exfoliating mitts to help boost the power of your soap and give added exfoliation.
But which is the best option? What are the pros and cons of using a loofah or a washcloth? And do you really need to use anything other than your hands?
What is the Best Thing to Wash Yourself With?
We might think we can’t really go wrong washing ourselves. And yet there’s more to looking after your skin than simply jumping in a hot shower every morning. In fact you might not want to shower every day, especially in winter as it can actually have a drying effect on the skin and you might want to turn down the temperature, not just because it’s better for the planet but because it’s better for your skin. Using very hot water can strip the skin of more of its natural oils again leading to dryness.
What you wash yourself with is also important. Within that is the type of soap you choose and how you apply it to your skin. There are many types of soap available that are tailored to different skin types so spend time trying out different types until you find one that is right for you.
When it comes to choosing your bathing accessories there are a number of things to consider. The differences between a washcloth and loofah include how good they are at exfoliation, how easy they are to clean, what they are made of.
There is some debate about what is the best thing to wash yourself with, and many will say your hands are the best bet, but using something like a loofah or an exfoliating glove can improve circulation on the skin and help get rid of dead skin cells as well as helping the soap to foam.
Washcloth vs Loofah
There are a number of pros and cons to using both loofahs and washcloths.
A loofah is completely natural. It’s a dried gourd from the cucumber family. And the spongy texture makes it a great natural exfoliator. However, the structure of a loofah can make it a great place for bacteria to grow.
To avoid bacteria growing on your loofah make sure you rinse it thoroughly with hot water after use, wring it out as best you can and hang it up so it can thoroughly dry out between uses.
Washcloths tend to be gentler in terms of exfoliation than loofahs so they may be better for those with sensitive skin. They are also easier to clean as you can simply use them once and put them in the washing machine. Once again though they can harbor bacteria so you need to make sure you clean them regularly and probably don’t use the same one for your face as you do the rest of your body.
The Benefits of Natural Skin Care
