“I think water dripping down or soap dripping down [your legs] is okay [for cleansing],” she said, adding that it's actually better not to manually wash our legs because that keeps the skin from drying out or becoming irritated, which can happen when we cleanse too aggressively and too often.
Wash Your Legs: Begin at your thighs and work your way down. Use circular motions or long strokes to clean your legs thoroughly. Clean Your Feet: Focus on one foot at a time. Make sure to wash between your toes and the soles of your feet. You can use your hands or a foot scrubber for better exfoliation.
Rather than using just a washcloth, or most likely just your hands or bar soap, get a loofah or scrubby cloth and apply the soap to it and scrub your skin gently each time you shower. You can also use a body scrub product that has small beads, etc. in it that help to slough off dry, dead skin cells.
Consider using a body brush, sponge, loofah, or body scrub to exfoliate your skin and get a deep clean. If you're using a scrub, apply the product using small, circular motions for about 30 seconds, then rinse off with lukewarm water. If you're using a brush, scrub, or loofah, use short light strokes.
Exfoliate. Removing dead skin cells and deep-seated dirt may require scrubbing with an exfoliant. An exfoliant is a skin care product with grainy ingredients that remove dead skin cells. A quality exfoliant or face scrub can unclog the skin pores while removing dee-seated dirt and dead skin cells.
The verdict: Using your hands is perfectly fine as long as you wash them first to avoid spreading bacteria. Dr. Schlessinger also recommends using gentle circular motions when massaging cleanser onto your face or body.
One of the most common ways is with a physical exfoliant or a scrub. Both products work to eliminate dead skin cells from the skin's surface. A dry brush can also help with lymphatic drainage and circulation.
This has traditionally been done through bucket washing, which involves: ■ Soaking the leg in a clean bucket of warm water ■ Removing dry scales and wound edge encrustations ■ Gently cleansing the leg using soap substitutes ■ Thoroughly drying the limb, particularly between the toes (Cooper et al, 2016).
You can create a pack of lemon juice and honey and apply it to your hands and legs. For extra exfoliation, add some sugar to the mix. Leave it on for 10 minutes and wash it off. You can also soak your hands in a mix of warm water and lemon juice for fifteen minutes.
The head was a stand-out favourite. With over 50% of people stating they wash their bodies from the head downwards, our noggins take pride of place as the perfect cleaning starting point. There's also no surprise that actively washing hair came out at 57%.
It helps to improve the sleep cycle and relaxation
Improving the quality of your sleep is one of the main Ayurvedic benefits of bathing your feet. Because feet are so sensitive, cleaning them before going to bed at night helps to calm the nervous system as a whole.
If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
Personally, I'm on Team Loofah. Not only does the pouf fabric make it visually more fun than a washcloth, it's a great physical exfoliator. Compared to a washcloth, a loofah gets super sudsy. This way I know that I'm squeaky clean.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.
While skipping a scrub is generally fine, Dr Shokeen emphasised that we should wash our legs if they're visibly dirty or if we've been involved in activities like swimming in a lake. Otherwise, letting the soap and water cascade down to your legs is sufficient.