Skincare Routine Before or After Shower: When You Should?

If you’ve wondered whether it’s better to skincare routine before or after shower, you’ve likely seen conflicting information online. The key to this answer depends on the type of mask you use, as well as your skin type — it’s not necessarily based on timing.I’m definitely someone who loves squeezing as much multitasking as humanly possible into my morning routine. It’s not strange for my toothbrush and facial cleanser to both end up in the shower after a rushed morning routine.I had to stop myself and think, is it better to apply skincare before or after showering? Or on the other hand, can you get away with actually doing your skincare inside the shower?Yes, you can do almost all of your skincare routine in the shower! But there are some skincare steps that should be left until after you have dried off. Let’s break it down step by step so you can save as much time as possible during your daily skin routine.Should You Apply skincare routine before or after shower?You can use almost any rinse-off skincare product before or during your shower. I personally use all my rinse off steps during my shower while I wait for my conditioner and shampoo to work their magic. The one exception to this is with chemical peels and chemical exfoliants that need to be rinsed off.Chemical exfoliants like glycolic or lactic acid are rinsed off with cold water to neutralize the formula and stop the exfoliating process. When used carefully, these products will not cause irritation to normal skin types. But if you were to rinse them off using hot water during a steamy shower it could seriously irritate your skin.Here’s a quick cheat sheet:You can use these products in the shower:Mud masksRinse off face masksCleansers and cleansing balmsBut, do NOT use these skincare products inside the shower:Chemical exfoliants/peelsSheet masks + overnight masksSerum, essence, ampoulesMoisturizer/eye creamDon’t Land Yourself In Hot WaterA long scalding shower may be tempting on a chilly day but extremely hot water can actually dry out your skin! This scientific study monitored patients’ skin after cleansing with different temperatures of water and proved that skin can easily be damaged when washed with overly hot water. It strips away the healthy fats and oils in your skin barrier and actually causes your skin to lose hydration through Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL).If you take intensely hot showers it would be best to save the skincare for afterward. These high temps can also affect the rest of your body, it’s not just your face that can be damaged. It’s especially tempting to relax with a steamy shower during the dry winter months but this is when we need to really watch out!Lengthy hot showers can worsen eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, and even cause otherwise healthy skin to become irritated and dehydrated. But hey, your water/electric bills will also be glad if you turn down the temperature and shorten those 45-minute long shower sessions!Should You Cleanse During or After Showering?Your cleansing step