The modern age is obsessed with personal hygiene. Like most folks I used to lather up with soap and shower gel every day. No more!
It's well known that soap and shower gels can strip the natural oils from our skins that act as natural moisturisers.
Scientists are now telling us that these oil-based chemicals can remove trillions of tiny organisms that live on our skin.
It's been shown that excessive washing affects that balance, so that is why I choose to shower every 2-4 days. Maintaining our skin balance allows us to have a greater defence against skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
So what did I do? I didn't use any kind of soap, deodorant or lotion at all, but only water.
I did use natural soap to wash my hands before food preparation though.
So how did it all go when I started?
All went well until around day four when my partner said that I smelt a bit sweet ... like fish sauce sweet! I'd found out my four day limit, so I now shower with just water at the end of every third day.
I gathered up my deodorant, binned it, and used up the last of my soap for hand-washing before cooking. I felt liberated being a slave to Unilever and other corporate FMCG names that sounded very American.
I took my shower gel and gave it to my brother. My shower room is now an empty zone!
And how is my skin now? It's more supple and less dry than it ever used to be. Undoubtedly this has all been better for my skin ... (as well as for my wallet!)