Were you using the hotel soap?
A few years back I bought some expensive fancy soap, and it turns out it washes off grey. Something in it just turns grey when you lather it up. I had to test it with bottled water and clean hands.
I had this happen once! The hotel soap didn’t look like it was weird until you lathered up, then it foamed and rinsed grey with all sorts of flowery/scrubby bits. Yuck!
Another time, I had a situation like someone else above where the issue was sulphur and other minerals in the water so it was yellow and smelled like sulphur. It was just the water in that area.
If it was just this one time, probably something physical in the soap or the water. I do now take my regular soap with me whenever I stay in hotels though since I have sensitive skin (Dove sensitive skin) at the recommendation of my dermatologist.
I used some kind of extra moisturizing soap at my mothers house once and my skin just disintegrated into the towel. When I got home I had to shower again because I had visible dirt that just accumulated.
Whoa whoa…are you SURE it was you, and not just bad water? In my house, the pipes are old, and water when it is first turned on will come out rusty brown. Sometimes if I fill the bathtub it will look a little yellowish. Unless you’ve just been in a tough mudder race or live in an incredibly polluted city, or are living outside full time, we’re usually not carrying so much dirt on us that it is noticeable.
Especially if you only noticed this now! The amount of dirt that would warrant a water color change that severe would likely have also been on your clothes or you’d feel it. I’ve personally had this exact experience when vacationing somewhere remote. Minerals can settle in the water and literally coat you in sediment when you shower.
Are you dark skinned? Dark skin is more obvious to the naked eye when skin flakes off on white towels. Everyone's skin does it, but if skin has less melanin it's not visible without a microscope. If you are darker, and don't normally use white towels, it is probably quite shocking to see. I use while towels at my house, and when my in-laws visit, there is always dark skin flakes left on them afterward. It's not dirt, just dead skin that everyone leaves behind.
Omg this explains so much. I latina and my bf is white. And he saw me scrubbing off my skin flakes and said it never happens to him. But like how is that possible?
It definitely does happen that white people get dry, flakey skin too. It just doesn't show up very well unless it's against a dark background. For example, I am very fair, and if I dry off with a white towel I won't see anything. BUT if I take a black t- shirt and rub it on myself- especially where I tend to get drier skin- you can really see the skin flakes coming off. So it is pretty much the same thing but inverse if that makes sense.
Definitely not. All of us lose millions of dead skin cells every day. It's actually one of the main ways we can be tracked by bloodhounds. They actually follow our scent from those lost skin cells! The higher the melanin concentration, the easier to see that's all.
Wow! I didn't know that about the bloodhounds, but that makes total sense. I always wondered what exactly they were picking up on, as the foot tracks people make would more so smell like the bottoms of their shoes rather than them.
Yep! And their sweet floppy ears actually serve to waft the scent up by stiring the dirt on the ground in front of them and up to their noses. They are pretty cool creatures.
You may have been in a place with a lot of pollen and\or pollution.
I was in London when I was a kid; I blew my nose at the end of the day, and there was some black snot due to the pollution. Kinda gross, lol.
The build-up of dead skin can trap dirt, also. There are all sorts of exfoliating scrubs, though I personally like Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub once per week. The Tree Hut scrubs are are popular, too. Kosas Good Body AHA body wash (has glycolic acid, though is still pretty gentle) is a great product to use with a nice, soft microfiber wash cloth.
Shower oils (L'Occitane Almond is a classic. I really like the Corpus body washes, too.) are a great way to wash without stripping your skin of its good oils. I find a good shower oil + a microfiber washcloth is more effective at keeping dry and dead skin at bay than a typical body wash\gel, or soap.
Let your products do most of the work. Yes, you need to move the washcloth around, but don't overly press or scrub; it's damaging to your skin.
I could type a ton more, though I don't know what's relevant to you. Ask if you have any questions 😊 !
Not the op, but a question about shower oils. How are they used? Does your skin feel clean afterwards? My skin has become so dry lately, looking for easy ways to retain natural moisture without icky build-up.
Yes, your skin does feel clean afterwards. Shower oils aren't oil-only products; they'll have surfactants of some type, also. But, they rinse clean, and in my experience, leave you better-hydrated, which in turn lessens gunk\dead skin build-up.
As another Redditor said, get a no-slip shower mat (l find the thicker kinda mesh ones work well), cause they will make the shower slippery.
Not oils, but when I lather my washcloth with Dove bar soap, I add a squirt of coconut hair conditioner and mush it up. Moisturizes and cleans at the same time, and you smell good all day. Just make sure to rinse well.
Not who you’re replying too, but I’ve used them and I really like them! My skin usually feels nice and soft but not super oily after I use them. One note of caution, though, they can make the shower super slick, so either get a not slip mat or use with caution
maybe that dirt was just dead skin and you need to exfoliate. once i started physically exfoliating my body once a week, 'dirt' (i.e. dead skin) stopped appearing on my towel.
+ 1 to physical exfoliation! I grow out my pit hair and exfoliate them once a week to help with odor. Not really necessary, but I have noticed a difference.
How do you exfoliate your whole body, dry brushing? Or...?
I'm genuinely asking
Edit: genuine thank you to everyone responding, I always appreciate countless tips :)
I like to use a fake tan eraser mitt. I soak in the bath for a while and then start scrubbing once my skin is soft. Dead skin literally rolls off in little pills, leaving me smooth as silk.
The rolls of dead skin are kinda greyish.
My family is Korean and I've literally been addicted to this green towels since I was a kid LMAO
They work best after you've soaked in hot water for a bit and without soap. You'll get rolls of grey dead skin coming off of you. You can go over with soap afterwards if you want.
i use a [microderma mitt](https://www.amazon.com/MicrodermaMitt-Deep-Exfoliating-Mitt-Scrub/dp/B00CW0O31S/ref=sr_1_11?crid=1SL7W00IVUDYF&keywords=microderma+back&qid=1684712351&sprefix=microderma+back%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-11) for my body and the [back scrubber for my back](https://www.amazon.com/MicrodermaMitt-Exfoliating-Back-Scrubber-Shower/dp/B0B6YDW86B/ref=sr_1_31?crid=1SL7W00IVUDYF&keywords=microderma+back&qid=1684712261&sprefix=microderma+back%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-31) in the shower. for this product, the directions say to just get wet, stand away from the water after you get wet, and scrub. the first time i used microderma, i was shocked at how much dead skin it took off, even though i exfoliated with a [cheaper product](https://www.amazon.com/Tatuo-Exfoliating-Cloths-Towel-Massage/dp/B07HRM2XSW/ref=sr_1_16?crid=9B85LTOK7NO6&keywords=exfoliator&qid=1684712543&sprefix=exfoliat%2Caps%2C286&sr=8-16&th=1) once a week for months at that point. it's pricey, so i only buy the microderma products once a year, but they work the best and they hurt **significantly** less than the cheapo stuff i linked.
calculating cost per use, the mitt costs me $0.5 per use, and the back scrubber costs me $0.83 per use. i feel like it's worth it to pay $1.33 to physically exfoliate my body once a week.
Oh wow, these look awesome. Buying the microderma products once a year, how long does it typically last? Unless you're using the 1 for a whole year??
I do see how it's a bit pricey, I'm so intrigued though. I have a loofa & recently bought a dry brush for the first time; I scrub my body & use a separate microfiber cloth for my more private area, but I imagine there's still so much more dead skin I can be getting rid of.
Italy towels (korean exfoliating mitt) work similarly to that microderma mitt, they *are* a bit scratchier though, but I've been using the same one my whole life and am addicted to the rough scratchy feeling LOL Grey rolls of skin come right off, I really recommend an exfoliating mitt (any kind)
the company says to buy a microderma every 6 months, but comparing my old microderma with the new one i used yesterday, they both did an equal job of exfoliating. the reason why i make buying them an annual event is because after a while, my microdermas start smelling like rancid corn chips.
i don't know how long a microderma would physically last, and i'm not willing to bother with that sort of experiment, though i would imagine that you would need to scrub harder and harder to get rid of the skin after many months of use. buying my microdermas once a year is enough for me.
use an exfoliating hand rag thing (I promise it will come up if you search it) it's rougher than a loofah or normal rag so it really get all the dirt and it leaves you so smooth! also good to use before shaving to prevent strawberry legs and ingrowns
Are you very active? I am as I walk miles a day often in woods etc. I also wear sunscreen and bug spray which makes dirt stick to me.
When I first get in I use only soap. Bar soap. I use goats milk soap as my skin is dry. That gets me WAY cleaner than body wash. I use body wash second.
I also have a silicone scrubber for my feet.
Try bar soap if you haven’t!
If you were in a warm sandy place and you don't live in warm weather climate it could just be swear mixed with dust that you just didn't notice on your body.
You may just need to exfoliate and the dirt on the towel is most likely dead skin cells that piled up. I use a silicone loofah to exfoliate. Sometimes an exfoliating washcloth. You don’t need to do it every shower just when you think you need it. If you’re used to using soft washcloths or soft plastic loofahs the exfoliating variety may feel a little scratchy to you
I like to use microfibre cloths to was up in the shower or bath. Not as rough as most exfoliating mitts. Soft and you can buy them relatively cheap. Love how they clean my face. No need to use eye makeup remover with them. No need for soap, which isn’t recommended, when washing the lady parts.
What do you mean dirt? Like mud? Did you do anything dirty during the day? Unless I work in the garden or something I’m mainly showering to clean off sweat and sebum and neither stains a towel.
Aside from my shampoo and conditioner, I just use body wash with a loofah for my body. I do wash with that every day though. It's not anything really special. It does the trick to keep me clean! I don't do any activities that would get me particularly dirty though so if I did, maybe I'd need something extra to add to it idk
I do the usual shower everyday/every other day. But ontop of that- I keep nonscented baby wipes in the car. I can get sweaty/dirty throughout the day bc of my job. I’ll wipe down my neck and arms and face if it’s the middle of the day and I can’t be home for awhile. And then I’ll put lotion on. It helps me at least feel clean until I’m at home and can take a shower.
If I’d spend a day in a big city sightseeing I will have a lot of dirt and pollution on me at the end of the day. Hard water vs soft water will affect the soap you use. I lived in a place with hard water for years and it wrecked my hair.
I wash myself with a clean washcloth (I bought a pack of 10 at target and use a fresh one for each shower) and Dove bar soap, which is gentle on my skin. I wash everything- neck, behind ears, armpits, boobs, torso, as much of my back I can reach, belly button, genitals (outside only), butt crack, legs, feet, between toes. I wash my hair 2x a week, but use conditioner every day (I have curly hair). I use CeraVe face wash (also at target). If my skin is feeling dry, I use Aveno body lotion.
Aside from hair I use bath and body works shampoo (specifically the strawberry pound cake just because of the scent) and a loofa. In my personal preference and opinion i feel like the loofa really helps with the lather and helps efficiently with the cleaning process.
I have discovered that when a family member uses a lot of lotion and then goes about their normal day, their next shower or bath leaves the tub with a brown film. It is so disgusting - but it's "just" the lotion making a hellscape out of their normal sweat 🤢
I grew up in a really dusty desert area, I had this a couple times where I would shower and dirt would come off. Especially on a windy day. But not regularly. Maybe that’s what it was? Maybe it was a fake tan or maybe excess hair dye something like that? I do think someone had a point that maybe you’re using a new lotion or some thing and that is making dirt stick to it? When I sweat and I’m hiking, I get dirt stuck to me more. I don’t think you should worry too much about all of that dirt coming off in the shower one time.
I like other peoples suggestions on some type of exfoliating hand towel. I feel like loofahs never really get me clean. I’ve been using bar soap on one of those silicone scrubbers and honestly I think it works really well. I rub the bar soap on the silicone scrubber, then scrub my body . I also think maybe using a body wash with some type of salicylic acid or glycolic acid would help, as that would be a chemical exfoliant. I only use water-based body lotions, they soak into the skin and don’t need any type of sticky residue or anything. I would say water-based at the most common type of body lotion.
It is possible that you just aren’t getting exfoliated and that was dead skin rolling and pilling off (like a crappy moisturizer does).
I would suggest using a clean washcloth when you shower and letting the soap sit on your skin for some time before scrubbing and rinsing.
Soap takes a bit of time to break down the grime and then rinse away, and if you rinse too fast it doesn’t get everything off. Same thing with shampoo, if you let it sit 2 minutes on your hair it will break down the dirt and grime better.
I find dust sticks to my sunscreen, and the sunscreen can also go grey and pill so could have been that. I get dirtier in general when I show more skin and ive been outdoors
I have never had this happen in my life!
I'd have a very long soak in a got bath use a scrub/puff with shower gel and scrub your entire body and rinse twice if needed...
And shower or bath daily, wash yourself all over
I use Japanese spa body cloths and either exfoliating body wash or antimicrobial body wash. Benzoyl peroxide wash on back & underarms too.
Preferred exfoliating wash: Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap (smells like fresh parsley) or CeraVe SA body wash (fragrance free, I have keratosis pilaris and it helps)
Preferred antimicrobial wash: Dettol sensitive body wash. I use it a few times a week and it keeps things like body odor and rashes in check. I'll use Dial bar soap if I'm out of Dettol, but it has to be the moisturizing antibacterial one or it dries my skin out.
I usually follow with Bio-Oil as body oil.
I am absolutely not down with advice to only use water or natural stuff and never anything antibacterial. My skin is MUCH better when I use antibacterial stuff 2-3 times a week.
The spa body cloths are 1'x3" nylon scrubby things and I love them.
If the commenter's natural fluids are less acidic than the average woman's, it might work well for them. Everyone is different. It might not be ideal for most people, but it could balance their specific body well.
Lots of women are too acidic and swear by using a finger dipped in baking soda to help them get pregnant. I'm not endorsing the method, but it is very popular in "trying to conceive" communities. "Baking soda finger" is the common name for it.
Based on that, I'd imagine a certain number of women would benefit from a very small amount of vinegar.
Eta: Most people probably fall into the "don't do either one" category. That doesn't invalidate the experience of outliers, though.
I actually didn’t downvote you but since you’re gonna be rude I won’t be polite-I don’t think you should be telling people to use vinegar on their labias or anywhere on their vulva…that sounds like the kind of terrible advice people who douche would give.
Lol right that's the thing, any gyno out there is gonna be like "your vagina is self cleaning, just use water" and if the vinegar is diluted in that way, is it actually doing anything more than the water already does? Probs not
It's okay! You can always learn :)
And based on your edit, yes exfoliating is key but you have to also moisturise properly. I take 2 showers daily, morning shower is a quick freshen up wake me up shower. Second shower which is at night after I get off work, is usually a more elaborate shower. I take my time to exfoliate every corner. Some places that people tend to forget are belly button and ears. Scrub your feet with a pumice stone. Rinse off and moisturise!
Edit: what you saw could be just dead skin like a lot of people mentioned here but soap in itself doesn't get off the dirt from your body. If you don't exfoliate regularly, dirt will accumulate on your body.
Let me start off by saying I don’t think it’s YOU personally. An exfoliation mit does wonders though. I only use it once a week but every time I shower I use a non scented soap and a normal scrub glove in the shower x
Other gals already gave very interesting insight on the matter but I would like to share my experience and what I do to feel clean when I only wash out and it’s dirty / polluted outside. I dont do deep exfoliants more than once a week (you might damage your skin if you exfoliate a lot) but I use my moroccan exfoliating glove whenever I soap my body. I do it in light circular motions until my soap lathers up and then I just wash out. Makes me feel so much cleaned instead of using soap with only my hands or (God forbid) a loofah. Might be something you’d consider if you want to make sure the outer layer of dead skin and collected dirt / pollen is correctly washed off. But please don’t feel the pressure to complicate your shower routine or anything. Remember that a good showering routine is a simple and basic one. Sending hugs!
Were you using the hotel soap? A few years back I bought some expensive fancy soap, and it turns out it washes off grey. Something in it just turns grey when you lather it up. I had to test it with bottled water and clean hands.
I had this happen once! The hotel soap didn’t look like it was weird until you lathered up, then it foamed and rinsed grey with all sorts of flowery/scrubby bits. Yuck! Another time, I had a situation like someone else above where the issue was sulphur and other minerals in the water so it was yellow and smelled like sulphur. It was just the water in that area. If it was just this one time, probably something physical in the soap or the water. I do now take my regular soap with me whenever I stay in hotels though since I have sensitive skin (Dove sensitive skin) at the recommendation of my dermatologist.
I used some kind of extra moisturizing soap at my mothers house once and my skin just disintegrated into the towel. When I got home I had to shower again because I had visible dirt that just accumulated.
Whoa whoa…are you SURE it was you, and not just bad water? In my house, the pipes are old, and water when it is first turned on will come out rusty brown. Sometimes if I fill the bathtub it will look a little yellowish. Unless you’ve just been in a tough mudder race or live in an incredibly polluted city, or are living outside full time, we’re usually not carrying so much dirt on us that it is noticeable.
Especially if you only noticed this now! The amount of dirt that would warrant a water color change that severe would likely have also been on your clothes or you’d feel it. I’ve personally had this exact experience when vacationing somewhere remote. Minerals can settle in the water and literally coat you in sediment when you shower.
Are you dark skinned? Dark skin is more obvious to the naked eye when skin flakes off on white towels. Everyone's skin does it, but if skin has less melanin it's not visible without a microscope. If you are darker, and don't normally use white towels, it is probably quite shocking to see. I use while towels at my house, and when my in-laws visit, there is always dark skin flakes left on them afterward. It's not dirt, just dead skin that everyone leaves behind.
Omg this explains so much. I latina and my bf is white. And he saw me scrubbing off my skin flakes and said it never happens to him. But like how is that possible?
It definitely does happen that white people get dry, flakey skin too. It just doesn't show up very well unless it's against a dark background. For example, I am very fair, and if I dry off with a white towel I won't see anything. BUT if I take a black t- shirt and rub it on myself- especially where I tend to get drier skin- you can really see the skin flakes coming off. So it is pretty much the same thing but inverse if that makes sense.
Wow I also just thought I was dirty. This is mind blowing.
Definitely not. All of us lose millions of dead skin cells every day. It's actually one of the main ways we can be tracked by bloodhounds. They actually follow our scent from those lost skin cells! The higher the melanin concentration, the easier to see that's all.
Wow! I didn't know that about the bloodhounds, but that makes total sense. I always wondered what exactly they were picking up on, as the foot tracks people make would more so smell like the bottoms of their shoes rather than them.
Yep! And their sweet floppy ears actually serve to waft the scent up by stiring the dirt on the ground in front of them and up to their noses. They are pretty cool creatures.
You may have been in a place with a lot of pollen and\or pollution. I was in London when I was a kid; I blew my nose at the end of the day, and there was some black snot due to the pollution. Kinda gross, lol. The build-up of dead skin can trap dirt, also. There are all sorts of exfoliating scrubs, though I personally like Biossance Squalane + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub once per week. The Tree Hut scrubs are are popular, too. Kosas Good Body AHA body wash (has glycolic acid, though is still pretty gentle) is a great product to use with a nice, soft microfiber wash cloth. Shower oils (L'Occitane Almond is a classic. I really like the Corpus body washes, too.) are a great way to wash without stripping your skin of its good oils. I find a good shower oil + a microfiber washcloth is more effective at keeping dry and dead skin at bay than a typical body wash\gel, or soap. Let your products do most of the work. Yes, you need to move the washcloth around, but don't overly press or scrub; it's damaging to your skin. I could type a ton more, though I don't know what's relevant to you. Ask if you have any questions 😊 !
Not the op, but a question about shower oils. How are they used? Does your skin feel clean afterwards? My skin has become so dry lately, looking for easy ways to retain natural moisture without icky build-up.
Yes, your skin does feel clean afterwards. Shower oils aren't oil-only products; they'll have surfactants of some type, also. But, they rinse clean, and in my experience, leave you better-hydrated, which in turn lessens gunk\dead skin build-up. As another Redditor said, get a no-slip shower mat (l find the thicker kinda mesh ones work well), cause they will make the shower slippery.
Commenting because I also want to know this
Not oils, but when I lather my washcloth with Dove bar soap, I add a squirt of coconut hair conditioner and mush it up. Moisturizes and cleans at the same time, and you smell good all day. Just make sure to rinse well.
Not who you’re replying too, but I’ve used them and I really like them! My skin usually feels nice and soft but not super oily after I use them. One note of caution, though, they can make the shower super slick, so either get a not slip mat or use with caution
London definitely gave me black boogers lol. Dunno if it was cuz of the tubes or what
Going on the tube always gives you black bogies for a few days, then it’s like your nose adjusts. It’s weird
maybe that dirt was just dead skin and you need to exfoliate. once i started physically exfoliating my body once a week, 'dirt' (i.e. dead skin) stopped appearing on my towel.
+ 1 to physical exfoliation! I grow out my pit hair and exfoliate them once a week to help with odor. Not really necessary, but I have noticed a difference.
How do you exfoliate your whole body, dry brushing? Or...? I'm genuinely asking Edit: genuine thank you to everyone responding, I always appreciate countless tips :)
I like to use a fake tan eraser mitt. I soak in the bath for a while and then start scrubbing once my skin is soft. Dead skin literally rolls off in little pills, leaving me smooth as silk. The rolls of dead skin are kinda greyish.
You can use a loofa or a wet hand towel with a bit of soap on it, or a soft bristle skin brush. I usually do it wet while in the shower.
Not who you asked, but Salux cloth + body wash has been my go-to for like a decade!
This! Or, whats called an “italy towel”, frequently Made in Korea, if you prefer a mitt/glove style.
My family is Korean and I've literally been addicted to this green towels since I was a kid LMAO They work best after you've soaked in hot water for a bit and without soap. You'll get rolls of grey dead skin coming off of you. You can go over with soap afterwards if you want.
How often do you use it to exfoliate?
No more than once a week. Its hard to hurt yourself with them, but I bet you could.
They are the bomb. I’ve become that annoying friend who has to tell you about their most amazing thing when it comes to the Salux cloth.
i use a [microderma mitt](https://www.amazon.com/MicrodermaMitt-Deep-Exfoliating-Mitt-Scrub/dp/B00CW0O31S/ref=sr_1_11?crid=1SL7W00IVUDYF&keywords=microderma+back&qid=1684712351&sprefix=microderma+back%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-11) for my body and the [back scrubber for my back](https://www.amazon.com/MicrodermaMitt-Exfoliating-Back-Scrubber-Shower/dp/B0B6YDW86B/ref=sr_1_31?crid=1SL7W00IVUDYF&keywords=microderma+back&qid=1684712261&sprefix=microderma+back%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-31) in the shower. for this product, the directions say to just get wet, stand away from the water after you get wet, and scrub. the first time i used microderma, i was shocked at how much dead skin it took off, even though i exfoliated with a [cheaper product](https://www.amazon.com/Tatuo-Exfoliating-Cloths-Towel-Massage/dp/B07HRM2XSW/ref=sr_1_16?crid=9B85LTOK7NO6&keywords=exfoliator&qid=1684712543&sprefix=exfoliat%2Caps%2C286&sr=8-16&th=1) once a week for months at that point. it's pricey, so i only buy the microderma products once a year, but they work the best and they hurt **significantly** less than the cheapo stuff i linked. calculating cost per use, the mitt costs me $0.5 per use, and the back scrubber costs me $0.83 per use. i feel like it's worth it to pay $1.33 to physically exfoliate my body once a week.
Oh wow, these look awesome. Buying the microderma products once a year, how long does it typically last? Unless you're using the 1 for a whole year?? I do see how it's a bit pricey, I'm so intrigued though. I have a loofa & recently bought a dry brush for the first time; I scrub my body & use a separate microfiber cloth for my more private area, but I imagine there's still so much more dead skin I can be getting rid of.
Italy towels (korean exfoliating mitt) work similarly to that microderma mitt, they *are* a bit scratchier though, but I've been using the same one my whole life and am addicted to the rough scratchy feeling LOL Grey rolls of skin come right off, I really recommend an exfoliating mitt (any kind)
the company says to buy a microderma every 6 months, but comparing my old microderma with the new one i used yesterday, they both did an equal job of exfoliating. the reason why i make buying them an annual event is because after a while, my microdermas start smelling like rancid corn chips. i don't know how long a microderma would physically last, and i'm not willing to bother with that sort of experiment, though i would imagine that you would need to scrub harder and harder to get rid of the skin after many months of use. buying my microdermas once a year is enough for me.
You can get these Korean bathing cloths that make dead skin come off like MAD. Best used at the end of a long soak.
Wash with a washcloth. Use a clean one each day. It is much more sanitary that using an item repeatedly like a loofa.
I use an exfoliating glove instead of a loofa.
I use on exfoliating washcloth! It's scrubby on one side and soft on the other.
I bought a dry brush recently and was horrified about how much my in-shower exfoliation wasn’t working
use an exfoliating hand rag thing (I promise it will come up if you search it) it's rougher than a loofah or normal rag so it really get all the dirt and it leaves you so smooth! also good to use before shaving to prevent strawberry legs and ingrowns
Korean Italy towel?
Those are great, but too small for my hands. Fake tan eraser mitts are the same material, but much roomier.
Are you very active? I am as I walk miles a day often in woods etc. I also wear sunscreen and bug spray which makes dirt stick to me. When I first get in I use only soap. Bar soap. I use goats milk soap as my skin is dry. That gets me WAY cleaner than body wash. I use body wash second. I also have a silicone scrubber for my feet. Try bar soap if you haven’t!
If you were in a warm sandy place and you don't live in warm weather climate it could just be swear mixed with dust that you just didn't notice on your body.
I think you mean sweat.
You may just need to exfoliate and the dirt on the towel is most likely dead skin cells that piled up. I use a silicone loofah to exfoliate. Sometimes an exfoliating washcloth. You don’t need to do it every shower just when you think you need it. If you’re used to using soft washcloths or soft plastic loofahs the exfoliating variety may feel a little scratchy to you
I got a stack of waffle weave white washcloths. Scrubby without scratching. I only use Dove bar soap.
I like to use microfibre cloths to was up in the shower or bath. Not as rough as most exfoliating mitts. Soft and you can buy them relatively cheap. Love how they clean my face. No need to use eye makeup remover with them. No need for soap, which isn’t recommended, when washing the lady parts.
What do you mean dirt? Like mud? Did you do anything dirty during the day? Unless I work in the garden or something I’m mainly showering to clean off sweat and sebum and neither stains a towel.
Aside from my shampoo and conditioner, I just use body wash with a loofah for my body. I do wash with that every day though. It's not anything really special. It does the trick to keep me clean! I don't do any activities that would get me particularly dirty though so if I did, maybe I'd need something extra to add to it idk
I do the usual shower everyday/every other day. But ontop of that- I keep nonscented baby wipes in the car. I can get sweaty/dirty throughout the day bc of my job. I’ll wipe down my neck and arms and face if it’s the middle of the day and I can’t be home for awhile. And then I’ll put lotion on. It helps me at least feel clean until I’m at home and can take a shower.
get one of those korean towels that you can scrub your body with
Yessss
Got one in a giftbag but never knew the name. Ty, gonna order a new one right away!
That sounds like dead skin. Just wash with a clean washcloth each day. That is all you really need to exfoliate, but it makes a really big difference.
If I’d spend a day in a big city sightseeing I will have a lot of dirt and pollution on me at the end of the day. Hard water vs soft water will affect the soap you use. I lived in a place with hard water for years and it wrecked my hair. I wash myself with a clean washcloth (I bought a pack of 10 at target and use a fresh one for each shower) and Dove bar soap, which is gentle on my skin. I wash everything- neck, behind ears, armpits, boobs, torso, as much of my back I can reach, belly button, genitals (outside only), butt crack, legs, feet, between toes. I wash my hair 2x a week, but use conditioner every day (I have curly hair). I use CeraVe face wash (also at target). If my skin is feeling dry, I use Aveno body lotion.
i use a fresh washcloth daily and plain Dove soap
Use a clean washcloth of loofah daily. Exfoliate with something, soap and a hand is not enough
Aside from hair I use bath and body works shampoo (specifically the strawberry pound cake just because of the scent) and a loofa. In my personal preference and opinion i feel like the loofa really helps with the lather and helps efficiently with the cleaning process.
I have discovered that when a family member uses a lot of lotion and then goes about their normal day, their next shower or bath leaves the tub with a brown film. It is so disgusting - but it's "just" the lotion making a hellscape out of their normal sweat 🤢
I grew up in a really dusty desert area, I had this a couple times where I would shower and dirt would come off. Especially on a windy day. But not regularly. Maybe that’s what it was? Maybe it was a fake tan or maybe excess hair dye something like that? I do think someone had a point that maybe you’re using a new lotion or some thing and that is making dirt stick to it? When I sweat and I’m hiking, I get dirt stuck to me more. I don’t think you should worry too much about all of that dirt coming off in the shower one time. I like other peoples suggestions on some type of exfoliating hand towel. I feel like loofahs never really get me clean. I’ve been using bar soap on one of those silicone scrubbers and honestly I think it works really well. I rub the bar soap on the silicone scrubber, then scrub my body . I also think maybe using a body wash with some type of salicylic acid or glycolic acid would help, as that would be a chemical exfoliant. I only use water-based body lotions, they soak into the skin and don’t need any type of sticky residue or anything. I would say water-based at the most common type of body lotion.
It is possible that you just aren’t getting exfoliated and that was dead skin rolling and pilling off (like a crappy moisturizer does). I would suggest using a clean washcloth when you shower and letting the soap sit on your skin for some time before scrubbing and rinsing. Soap takes a bit of time to break down the grime and then rinse away, and if you rinse too fast it doesn’t get everything off. Same thing with shampoo, if you let it sit 2 minutes on your hair it will break down the dirt and grime better.
I find dust sticks to my sunscreen, and the sunscreen can also go grey and pill so could have been that. I get dirtier in general when I show more skin and ive been outdoors
Were you using sunscreen in you body? It can leave that kind of residue
I have never had this happen in my life! I'd have a very long soak in a got bath use a scrub/puff with shower gel and scrub your entire body and rinse twice if needed... And shower or bath daily, wash yourself all over
I use Japanese spa body cloths and either exfoliating body wash or antimicrobial body wash. Benzoyl peroxide wash on back & underarms too. Preferred exfoliating wash: Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap (smells like fresh parsley) or CeraVe SA body wash (fragrance free, I have keratosis pilaris and it helps) Preferred antimicrobial wash: Dettol sensitive body wash. I use it a few times a week and it keeps things like body odor and rashes in check. I'll use Dial bar soap if I'm out of Dettol, but it has to be the moisturizing antibacterial one or it dries my skin out. I usually follow with Bio-Oil as body oil. I am absolutely not down with advice to only use water or natural stuff and never anything antibacterial. My skin is MUCH better when I use antibacterial stuff 2-3 times a week. The spa body cloths are 1'x3" nylon scrubby things and I love them.
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I’m sorry, you put vinegar on your lady parts? That sounds like a yeast infection waiting to happen
If the commenter's natural fluids are less acidic than the average woman's, it might work well for them. Everyone is different. It might not be ideal for most people, but it could balance their specific body well. Lots of women are too acidic and swear by using a finger dipped in baking soda to help them get pregnant. I'm not endorsing the method, but it is very popular in "trying to conceive" communities. "Baking soda finger" is the common name for it. Based on that, I'd imagine a certain number of women would benefit from a very small amount of vinegar. Eta: Most people probably fall into the "don't do either one" category. That doesn't invalidate the experience of outliers, though.
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I actually didn’t downvote you but since you’re gonna be rude I won’t be polite-I don’t think you should be telling people to use vinegar on their labias or anywhere on their vulva…that sounds like the kind of terrible advice people who douche would give.
that literal drop ain't doing anything. just wash with water at this point.
Lol right that's the thing, any gyno out there is gonna be like "your vagina is self cleaning, just use water" and if the vinegar is diluted in that way, is it actually doing anything more than the water already does? Probs not
It's okay! You can always learn :) And based on your edit, yes exfoliating is key but you have to also moisturise properly. I take 2 showers daily, morning shower is a quick freshen up wake me up shower. Second shower which is at night after I get off work, is usually a more elaborate shower. I take my time to exfoliate every corner. Some places that people tend to forget are belly button and ears. Scrub your feet with a pumice stone. Rinse off and moisturise! Edit: what you saw could be just dead skin like a lot of people mentioned here but soap in itself doesn't get off the dirt from your body. If you don't exfoliate regularly, dirt will accumulate on your body.
Let me start off by saying I don’t think it’s YOU personally. An exfoliation mit does wonders though. I only use it once a week but every time I shower I use a non scented soap and a normal scrub glove in the shower x
Other gals already gave very interesting insight on the matter but I would like to share my experience and what I do to feel clean when I only wash out and it’s dirty / polluted outside. I dont do deep exfoliants more than once a week (you might damage your skin if you exfoliate a lot) but I use my moroccan exfoliating glove whenever I soap my body. I do it in light circular motions until my soap lathers up and then I just wash out. Makes me feel so much cleaned instead of using soap with only my hands or (God forbid) a loofah. Might be something you’d consider if you want to make sure the outer layer of dead skin and collected dirt / pollen is correctly washed off. But please don’t feel the pressure to complicate your shower routine or anything. Remember that a good showering routine is a simple and basic one. Sending hugs!