3 Must-Have Shower Products

Thursday, September 03, 2009

--By Kim Moshtaghi

Swissco Natural Pumice Stone
Swissco Pumice Stone

$1.49
Available at: drugstore.com

There are three shower must-haves that I think everyone should know about. These three products have not only made me more appealing, they have made me feel more confident when I step out of the shower. When you get in the shower you should come out of it clean and scrubbed all over, in addition to clean hair. I have put together a list of classics that should never be forgotten, and will never be replaced by anything simpler. If you don’t have any of these three items you may want to buy them pronto.

It is very important to have a sponge. There are different kinds of sponges-- I recommend a gentle one from Bath and Body Works that doesn’t irritate the skin. Buying a rough loofah can cause a lot of damage by drying skin out, which would defeat the whole purpose. The Body Sponge from Bath and Body Works is a nice because it’s bigger and covers more surface area, getting parts of the body that are hard to reach. The sponge cleanses and rejuvenates the skin when used in circular motions, while simultaneously cleaning and freshening up the skin.

My must have numero dos is a Pumice Stone. Some may have this, but they should be using it! I have seen some cracked heels lately and I’m a little scared to think that they have never heard of a pumice stone. There really is no excuse, unless you have some kind of skin condition. Otherwise, it’s the most affordable way to get rid of dirty, callused feet. The other solution is getting an actual callus cutter that razors them off -- you choose what seems more enticing. The pumice stone is great for scrubbing away on the balls of your foot and heels to help release stress, and restore the skin’s softness.

Dermalogica - Exfoliating Body Scrub
Dermalogica Exfoliating Body Scrub

$23.99 (was $32-- save 25%!)
Available at: amazon.com

I use my pumice stone with some berry foot scrub, but you can get more bang for your buck if you get the Callus Care Complete Callus Care Kit, which comes with a pumice stone. It also comes with a specially formulated aloe vera and tea tree oil lotion-type thing that absorbs into the calluses and makes them easier to remove. It’s up to you to gauge whether you have a small or big problem, but either way please scrub your feet. I’m tired of seeing dirty cracked heels, and I know not everyone has a serious skin problem.

The third must-have in my shower is a legitimate, miracle working exfoliant. Dermalogica is very credible, and has proven to be a line that really does work when it comes to their claims. The business was started 25 years ago in Los Angeles by Jane Wurwand, a United Kingdom trained skin therapist who set out to change skin forever. The Dermalogica Exfoliating Body Scrub is a creamy, lightly-foaming body scrub that polishes the skin and gives it a shiny healthy glow. It’s got all the right ingredients to awaken the body, including certain essential oils that are contained in the product. I recommend using this product a few times a week, but not everyday.

Interestingly enough, the Dermalogica website has a write-up on how much exfoliation is too much. The answer was based on what kind of skin you have, and how it reacts to the exfoliating. If you get red, patchy dry areas, and overall irritation, you may want to minimize the use. I can only exfoliate 3-4 times a week. Once you get your routine down, you can look forward to tighter, firmer, and smoother skin. Not bad!
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Kim Moshtaghi
Kim Moshtaghi is a contributing writer for Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle. Born in Germany, Kim is currently based in sunny Del Mar, California, where she also serves as Stiletto Jungle's Director of Sales and Promotions. Kim has a communications degree, a third degree black belt, and a totally covetable Gucci handbag collection.