One of the most guaranteed ways to gain confidence is by smelling good. The ‘You Smell Good’ compliment hits different! To smell good, it starts from the shower. In this blog post, I share a simple eight-step shower routine that will leave you feeling clean and smelling amazing. Read till the end of the blog post to get a checklist of all the products I mention, their prices, and where you can get them. They’re all locally found in Kenya, affordable and they work!
Step 1: Gather what you need
This is a list of what you’ll need;
- Cotton Washcloth
- Anti-bacterial/Glycerine Soap Bar
- African Net Cloth/Exfoliating Gloves
- Shower Gel
- Feminine Wash (For the girlies)
- Body Towel/Lesso
- Access to warm water
Step 2: Wet your skin completely
Whether using the shower or the classic basin and jug combination, you should ensure your body is well-soaked. The best temperature water to use is warm. Warm water softens your skin and opens up your pores. Your products like soap will also lather easily therefore a little will go a long way. Also, feeling warm water against your skin is luxurious, considering the weather has been cold and gloomy lately.
Step 3: First Cleanse & Rinse
Next, wet your cotton wash cloth, and rub your soap bar against it to lather. Then massage the washcloth all over your body, paying close attention to the areas where your skin folds. For example behind your ears, your neck, armpits, and between the toes. This step aims to rid your body of sweat, dirt, and bacteria accumulated throughout the day/night, especially during the day when you’ve been out and about. The best type of soap to use in this step is a soap bar. My favorites are the Dettol Anti-bacterial soap bar or Pears Soap Bar. After all areas have been thoroughly cleaned, rinse.
Step 4: Second Cleanse & Rinse
Yes, you read that right, there is a second cleanse. Its purpose is not only to give your body an additional thorough cleanse but also to leave a lasting fragrance even after you’ve left the shower. In this step, you will need your favorite shower gel and an African Net cloth, or exfoliating gloves. An African Net Cloth/Exfoliating Gloves are a bit rougher than a cotton washcloth. Their exfoliating effect on the skin will ensure the fragrance of the shower gel lasts longer on your skin. My current favorite body washes are the Imperial Leather Japanese Spa or Cherry Blossom. They smell so nice! After thorougly cleaning all areas, rinse.
Step 5: Feminine Wash
This applies to my girlies. Let’s talk about our downstairs area. Since time immemorial, I have been told that you should only use water to clean because it cleans itself, which is true. However, I believe it is important to clean the outside, preferably with a non-fragrant soap. I have had a difficult time finding what works for me. Anytime I used anything fragrant like my shower gel, it would set everything off. I’d feel irritated, my discharge would get weird plus other numerous issues. Someone on the internet once mentioned that you can use your facial cleanser to clean. The logic behind it is that if it’s gentle enough to use on your face, then it’s gentle enough to use down there. I tried it and ever since I used The Garnier Vitamin C Cleansing Foam as my feminine wash, I have never had any issues. It leaves me feeling clean and fresh especially when I am on my period.
While we are down here, please remember to clean your backside, thoroughly. Yes, between the cheeks! A lot goes on there and it is important to ensure any residue left after using the bathroom is cleansed and gone. You can use your washcloth and feminine wash for this step. Once done, rinse thoroughly.
Step 6: Pat Dry
After done in the shower, pat dry your body with your towel or lesso. Pat drying is better than rubbing dry. This method is gentler on your skin, also, it preserves some of the moisture from the water in the shower, therefore when you apply your lotion/oil, it enhances the moisturizing effect. If you have dry skin, you may want to pat dry your skin and apply your lotion when your skin is slightly damp.
Step 7: Moisturize Your Skin
Speaking of moisturizing, while your skin is still slightly damp from the shower, apply your lotion all over your body. To seal the moisture, apply petroleum jelly to top off. My favorite lotion to use is the Nice and Lovely Cocoa Butter and my favorite petroleum jelly is either Vaseline or Arimis.
Step 8: Deo and Fragrances
Now to the fun part! The last step in this routine is applying your deodorant and fragrances/perfume. You have followed all the steps to prepare a clean and well-moisturized base for your fragrance to settle. This will guarantee that the scent lasts most of the day, if not the whole day. Nobody likes the smell of sweat, so start by applying your deodorant under your armpits. My favorite at the moment is the Garnier Even deo. Then spray your perfume. Focus on your pulse points like the neck, behind the ears, wrists, inside the elbow, and behind the knees.
Also, spritz your clothing as perfume lasts longer on cloth texture than skin. My favorite perfume at the moment is Yara Lattafa, or Yara Pink as I like to call it. It’s sweet, feminine, and lasts all day.
Follow these steps on a daily, and you are guaranteed to smell delicious!
Thanks for reading this post. Please see the checklist below with the products and items I mentioned in this post, with prices and places you can purchase from.
|
Item/Product |
Price |
Where to buy |
|
H & B Cotton Wash Cloth |
Sh. 70-100 |
Naivas or Home & Beyond Website. |
|
Dettol Anti-Bacterial Soap |
Sh. 200-250 |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
Pearls Glycerine Soap |
Sh. 300-350 |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
African Net Cloth |
Sh. 400 |
Nimo Naturals Shop at Sawa Mall Shop A30 or www.nimonaturals.com |
|
Exfoliating Gloves |
Sh. 100-150 |
Most shops or stalls in Nairobi CBD. |
|
Imperial Leather Japanese Spa Shower Gel |
Sh 590 (500ml) |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
Garnier Vitamin C Face Wash |
Sh. 500-700 |
Naivas/Carrefour/Jumia |
|
Body Towel |
Sh. 700 |
|
|
Nice & Lovely Cocoa Butter Lotion |
Sh. 295 (400ml) |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly |
Sh. 145 (95ml) |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
Arimis Petroleum Jelly |
Sh. 126 (200gm) |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
Garnier Deo |
Sh. 350 |
Naivas/Carrefour |
|
Yara Lattafa Perfume |
Sh. 2500-3000 |
Leave a comment below with the item/product you will add to your routine. Also, feel free to mention a step in this routine that was surprising/intriguing. I delight in reading your thoughts and engaging with you!
Till next time,
xoxo
Miss Kambe. 🙂
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