THE BIRD BATH
A warm washcloth, a few pumps of oil and two minutes. A quick skin nourisher for the days inbetween…
We are living in the age of the Everything Shower. The hour-long, full-production ritual with the exfoliating scrub, hair mask, etc etc… I actually love an Everything Shower without the 17 steps: dry brush, shower, apply body oil before toweling off, massage with water into skin, wrap in robe.
But on the other days when there’s less time (and you are plenty clean) I do what I like to call a bird bath. Start by dry brushing, then wet a hand towel with hot water and squirt a few pumps of body oil into the cloth and give yourself a head to toe wipe down. Or wipe up. Whatever… either way, it takes 2-3 min, feels great, gets you where you need to be, and with the addition of the body oil or body serum, gives your skin a nice dose of daily hydration.
Let’s see if it catches on… remember, you heard about a bird bath here, from me, first.
Here are the steps:
start with your dry brush ritual - long strokes toward the heart always, then
run a hot washcloth under the hottest water you can comfortably stand. Wring it out well.
give yourself 2-3 (at least) pumps of body oil/serum directly onto the warm cloth
work from the ground up using the cloth to clean, moisturize, and also wipe away the exfoliated skin from your dry brushing
chill for a minute or 2, admire your beautiful self or toss on a robe, letting the oil fully absorb.
Why this works:
Dry brushing moves things - your lymph, circulation, dead skin cells sitting on the surface. I’ve also recently read that dry brushing, because of it’s positive effect on circulation, promotes cardiovascular health (see other benefits here.) The bird bath cleans it all up. The warm cloth lifts what the brush loosened, the oil nourishes - together they become a complete, if not mini, ritual.
Make sure to use a body oil or serum that quickly absorbs without leaving a film and with healthy, plant-focused ingredients. My body serum is infused with rich oils like coconut, olive, argan, jojoba, and buriti; it also features anti-inflammatory botanicals such as chamomile, calendula, and green tea extracts. These ingredients, rich in fatty acids, work together to hydrate, protect, and restore your skin’s natural balance.
LMK if you try it? And how you feel about it. Especially if you’re so happy with it that you choose to incorporate it into your weekly routine.
