A lot of thought goes into our skincare routines. Cleansers that melt away the day, serums that target fine lines, moisturisers that support the skin barrier – we could go on. So why does anything from the chest down feel like an afterthought, and particularly what we do in the shower?
The truth is, our shower habits often go overlooked, but according to founder and top dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting, our body cleansing deserves just as much TLC and thought as our face. Get your shower regime wrong, she cautions, and you’re actually ageing your skin. But get it right, and you’ll be washing your way to a smoother, younger-looking body.
Here’s everything you need to know about creating the best daily shower regime in your 50s.
Why is it important to rethink your shower routine as you get older?
As we age, it’s no secret that our skin undergoes changes, and that’s true for both the face and body. We evolve our skincare regimes as we get older, so it only makes sense to apply the same thinking to your bodycare routine.
As Dr Sam explains, ‘Skin changes significantly with age. Sebaceous gland activity slows, the skin barrier becomes less efficient, and the rate at which cells turn over decreases.’
‘What worked in your 20s and 30s can actively work against you as skin matures,’ she adds. ‘The result tends to be dryness, irritation and a dull, crepey texture that’s harder to reverse than it is to prevent. Small adjustments to a routine most people do on autopilot can make a real, visible difference.’
What common shower habits can age the skin?
As Dr Sam puts it, there are several shower habits that could be quietly damaging your skin as you get older. ‘Most people don’t connect them to their skin concerns at all,’ she says.
While a hot shower might be part of your daily ritual, according to Dr Sam, it’s one of the biggest offenders. ‘Temperature matters more than most people realise. Hot water strips the skin’s natural lipids far more aggressively than lukewarm water, and mature skin has fewer of those lipids to spare.’
It’s worth keeping an eye on the products in your shower caddy, too, when you’re in your 50s. ‘Over-cleansing is another common habit. Using a heavily foaming body wash from head to toe every single day isn’t necessary, and the surfactants in those products can disrupt the barrier over time.’ She also warns to be cautious of heavily fragranced products, noting that ‘it’s a common sensitiser and skin becomes more reactive with age.’
Can I still exfoliate?
There is something oddly satisfying about scrubbing dead skin away, but Dr Sam warns it’s important to not overdo it. ‘The instinct to exfoliate mature skin can do more harm than good. As skin ages, the barrier is already more vulnerable and slower to recover from disruption. You risk stripping away what the skin is working hard to hold on to,’ she explains.
If you can’t give up the habit completely, she recommends keeping exfoliation to one or twice a week at maximum, and opting for a chemical rather than physical exfoliant. ‘On the avoid list is aggressive physical exfoliants such as walnut shell powder. The skin microbiome matters and chronic disruption to it isn’t harmless,’ Dr Sam adds.
‘The best approach is to let good skincare do the work passively,’ she says. ‘A well-formulated cleanser will gently lift dead skin cells without the need for any additional scrubbing step.’
What does an ideal shower routine for mature skin look like?
With hot water, fragrance and abrasive scrubs firmly on our no-go list, what does the ideal shower routine look like? ‘Keep it simple and purposeful,’ says Dr Sam.
‘Start with warm water, not hot. It should feel comfortable, not like a test of endurance,’ she adds. ‘You don’t need to lather every inch of your body every day. Just focus on the areas that actually need it, underarms, groin and feet – and let the rest have a rinse.’
‘Where you do cleanse, choose a gentle, non-stripping wash. The Flawless Body Cleanser is a strong option here. It’s soap-free, won’t strip the skin’s natural moisture and is free from the unnecessary extras that cause irritation over time.’
Dr Sam's Flawless Body Cleanser
Your timing matters, too. ‘Showering in the evening means you can apply your body moisturiser and let it absorb overnight, when the skin’s repair processes are naturally more active,’ Dr Sam explains.
That said, if you’re committed to morning showers, Dr Sam advises keeping one thing in mind: ‘Try to avoid showering and then going straight out into cold, dry air without moisturising first. That kind of rapid moisture loss is particularly harsh on mature skin and undoes the benefits of the shower entirely.’
What should you do immediately after showering to best support mature skin?
Your bodycare routine shouldn’t stop once the shower is off. ‘Pat dry and apply a moisturiser within two to three minutes of stepping out,’ says Dr Sam.
Ceramides are a key ingredient for post-shower bodycare, she says. ‘Ceramides are the building blocks of a healthy barrier and levels decline with age. Urea at 5 to 10% concentration hydrates and helps with rough or thickened skin.’
For a brighter, more youthful-looking body, she recommends lotions with lactic acid (‘this improves texture and hydration over time) and also niacinamide. ‘Increasingly found in body care, it supports the barrier and has a subtle brightening effect on uneven tone.’
Think you can skip body moisturiser? Think again. ‘This is the single most impactful thing someone can do for dry or mature skin on the body,’ she explains.
‘The skin is still slightly damp and the barrier is primed to absorb. Waiting until you’re fully dry and then remembering to moisturise is not the same thing. Dr. Sam’s Body Therapy is excellent here. It’s rich enough to make a real difference on dry and mature skin without feeling heavy, and applied at that two to three minute window, it locks in the moisture the skin has just absorbed. It preps the skin and boosts the effect of whatever goes on top.’
Showering has never been smarter.
