Discover the Surprising Benefits of Taking a Cold Shower
Last updated: July 2026
I confess, I was skeptical for a long time too. My showers were always with very hot water... I loved the feeling. I looked suspiciously at those who claimed to take cold showers and thought, "No way!"
Until I tried it. And my skin was never the same.
With heatwaves becoming increasingly frequent in Portugal, cold showers (lukewarm in winter 😅) have gone from being a wellness trend to becoming one of the simplest and most impactful decisions you can make for your skin this season.
What extreme heat does to your skin
When it's very hot, the skin goes into defense mode. It produces more sebum, pores dilate, and perspiration increases. At the same time, superficial dehydration worsens because water evaporates quickly from the surface.
The result is a paradox that many people know without being able to name it: skin that is shiny and oily, yet dehydrated internally. If your skin looks strangely shiny in the summer, your pores seem larger, or your makeup doesn't last at all, this is exactly what's happening.
Why hot showers make everything worse
Hot water removes the natural oils that protect the skin barrier. It's the same logic as washing dishes: grease comes off better with hot water. The exact same thing happens with our skin.
The result is even more fragile, reactive skin, and paradoxically, more prone to producing even more sebum to compensate for the lost oil. A cycle that worsens throughout the summer.
What you gain by changing the temperature
Cold or lukewarm water has the opposite effect: it contracts pores, reduces inflammation, and preserves the skin's natural lipid layer. In summer, this translates to less shine, finer-looking pores, and more balanced skin throughout the day.
There's also a practical benefit that many people notice quickly: the skin feels less dry after showering and needs less moisturizer to feel comfortable.
In addition to the skin, cold showers have well-documented circulatory benefits, help reduce fatigue in the heat, improve alertness, and are genuinely more sustainable, with less energy and water consumption.
How to make the transition without suffering
The good news is that summer is the easiest time of year to try it. When it's 38° outside, the idea of cold water suddenly seems much more appealing.
The strategy that worked for me: at the end of a normal shower, gradually lower the temperature for the last two or three minutes. You don't need to start with ice-cold water; lukewarm already makes a difference, and cold is a real gain. Over time, your body gets used to it. And when autumn arrives, you won't want to go back to hot.
The secret is really to start now, while the heat makes the process natural and almost pleasant. It's much harder to create this habit in November.
A note on the products you use
Water temperature is half the equation. The other half is the product you use in the shower.
Products with harsh detergents — even if they smell good — worsen the dehydration effect, regardless of water temperature. It's worth paying attention to the formulation of what you use, especially in summer.
Natural soaps with superfatting — where natural oils remain active in the final product — leave the skin nourished and protected even after washing, complementing what cold water is already doing.
Try the change for a week. I bet you won't go back.
