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Your skin is covered in a layer of dead skin, oil, and good bacteria that help prevent harmful things from entering your body. Showering washes this layer away. Clean skin is important for good hygiene, but washing too frequently is unnecessary and can make it more difficult for your skin to protect your body from contaminants and infections. Generally, people don't need to shower more than every other day or every three days. You may want to consider showering more often if you work with the public or the infirm, take public transit daily, or have a physical job that requires exertion. Bathing in hot water and for too long strips helpful and necessary oils from your skin, and it can aggravate certain skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. Just like hot water, strong soaps will remove oil from your skin and leave you feeling tight and dry. When you do bathe, choose mild soaps or cleansers that don't contain artificial fragrances. Look for soaps that: Contain soothing and moisturizing ingredients like aloe, witch hazel, and vegetable oils, and herbs or botanicals such as chamomile, lavender, rosemary, and peppermint. Don't contain sodium lauryl sulfate or alcohol, which can both dry out your skin. Match your skin type. For instance, if you have dry skin, look for moisturizing soaps. For sensitive skin, look for fragrance-free and hypoallergenic soap. Clean your skin without stripping away skin and oil. Instead of rubbing dry with a towel when you've finished bathing, gently pat your skin with a towel and let the remaining moisture air dry. This will ensure you leave a layer of oil on your skin that will help keep in moisture and prevent dryness. This will remove the top layer of dead skin and reveal the fresh, new, radiant skin below, giving your skin a healthy, glowing appearance. Avoid using acidic substances such as lemon or tomato juice on your skin and especially your face, as they can strip away your skin's natural oils and make you more sensitive to the sun. However, products with alpha hydroxy acids, which are specially formulated for use on the skin, can be gentle and effective exfoliants. Try dry brushing to stimulate and invigorate your skin. Regular cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturizing can help prevent breakouts and blemishes, and keep your skin looking young and healthy. For dry skin, look for an exfoliating product that has no additional cleansing agents (or very mild ones) and a moisturizer. For oily skin, choose a balancing exfoliating product that also offers deep scrubbing. Along with keeping moisture against the skin, which keeps it from drying out, moisturizers also protect the skin and improve its tone and texture. Consider using a moisturizer that has an SPF rating for some additional sun-protection. As an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, olive oil can also be applied topically to the skin as a natural moisturizer. Sweet almond, coconut, jojoba, and argan oil also work as moisturizers, as do Shea and cocoa butter. You can use these products on their own, or look for moisturizers that contain them. Note that coconut oil, olive oil, and shea and coconut butters can be comedogenic and are not advisable for use on the face in people with acne- or blackhead-prone skin. Look for lotions or gels instead of creams if you have oily skin, but opt for creams if you have dry skin. For acne-prone skin, look for moisturizers that contain salicylic acid. But if you have sensitive skin, look for calming ingredients like green tea, vitamin C, and aloe.
Wash regularly, but not too often. Have short showers or baths in warm water. Use mild hypoallergenic cleansers. Pat your skin dry. Exfoliate once or twice a week. Moisturize regularly.