Shower yourself in self-care: the best body washes for summer

Given the – ahem – warmer weather recently, I’m assuming that I’m not the only one doing more washing than normal. Suddenly, the easiest, most mundane and tolerable London tasks – a 10-minute trip on the Central Line, a stroll down Shoreditch High Street, a quick Lime bike to Kensington – can leave a city dweller exhausted, sweaty and dirty as hell.

As it happens, showering has been big news this year. At least in wellness circles. Yes, one of the most documented wellness fixations is “dark showering,” otherwise known as taking your pre-bed shower with the lights off in an effort to dial down stimulation and encourage better sleep.

Broadly rooted in principles associated with Chinese medicine and circadian wellbeing, the theory, which makes good sense, is that by minimising sensory input, the body can transition more easily into rest, repair and recovery mode.

In practice, however, I can’t help but think that navigating a slippery, confined space in the dark while nude is an embarrassing accident waiting to happen. One misplaced shampoo bottle, and you’ll be explaining an entirely avoidable, possibly ghastly injury to friends, family and A&E staffers.

So I will be turning my attention instead to elevating my shower with hard-working skincare-charged treats. After all, the aim of the shower game isn’t just to get clean; it’s to smell fantastic, feel fresh and make the most of all the extra time we’re currently spending under the spout.

Besides, summer is surprisingly demanding on our bodies. Between UV exposure, air-conditioning, chlorine, salt water, fake tan, more shaving and the like, our poor old limbs are subjected to a relentless onslaught of stressors that can leave them rough, dry, irritated and less than appealing to look at and to touch.

As such, while summer tends to see us reaching for lighter facial skincare, the opposite is true below the neck. Yes, ’tis is the season to double down on your nourishing body care. So, consider the selection of skincare-powered shower heroes below just the things to elevate your routine from quick rinse to joyful, effective treatment and see your skin much happier for it. As for showering in the dark? I wish you well…

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