The Everything Shower
My Suds and Slather Program for Vitality and Well Being
It’s such a pleasure to have my Substack open again. As life comes out of the mad dash I’ve felt since the start of the school year, I have a nice-looking list of ideas for Substacks I can’t wait to work on. Thanks for always ebbing with my flows and saying hi when I’m able to be here. I appreciate it so much and am so excited to send one off today.
In such a busy season of life, there is nothing more necessary than being able to run an efficient and effective Everything Shower. The Everything Shower - not a rinse off - is the deep clean of hair washed and conditioned and bodies scrubbed, shaved and slathered according to personal preference. When the pace is mad and the world feels crazy, running the hot shower water becomes a signal that I’m taking pause and starting fresh.
These fall Saturdays I’ve gotten out of bed with a shot and have had baby showers, work parties, non-profit galas and more to fill almost every hour of the day. Just the personal prep for some of these events can feel daunting, until I really streamlined and maximized my Everything Shower. Now, I just needed a hot cup of coffee, a Jazzercise class I can catch it and my Everything Shower bright and early on Saturday to be ready for a full weekend of activities, meet-ups and fun.
Just in the name of girly fun, here’s everything I use in the Everything Shower at the moment (but I’ve had this line up locked up for a while). Also, while Heidi is growing into her skincare routine, I’ve made all of these products sharable between us (besides the chemical exfoliating). That’s made me more focused than ever to find personal care items that are effective yet gentle, nourishing over stripping.
Shower Prep
A few of my friends and I do a favorite things party each year with a slide deck of our top items for the year. It was there that I heard of Farmacy Green Clean and I’ve been loyal ever since .Once I stopped using suds on my face everything changed for me, so I am an advocate and client. I put this on and then get in the shower and let it dissolve.
Then if we are really going for it it’s time to exfoliate our face and neck area. I an ao loyal to goop microderm instant glow exfoliator if I’m doing something light before the shower or goop 15% glycolic acid overnight peel post shower if I am wanting something deeper.
Watch out for my brand loyalties, but I’ve been dry brushing for skin exfoliating and lymphatic drainage long before the goop Dry Brush came out, and I just happen to think it’s the best. A one-time investment that lasts years and could be a nice gift. A pass over before jumping in the shower is so luxurious.
In the Shower
On my deep clean days my favorite shampoo for years and years is the goop Scalp Scrub Shampoo. It gives my hair so much body as it air dries and cured Heidi’s dry scalp. The only issue we are running into right now is, after years of using it and loving it on myself, it has become a TikTok star and is now hard to keep in stock. So grabs yours today!
It was only for the supply chain reasons mentioned above that I needed to diversify my bench, so I ordered the Kenra clarify shampoo per the infallible Molly Sim’s recommendation as her personal daily shampoo. Both the girls at my house love it, and our hair is super shiny and bouncy. It has the lift of a clarifying shampoo without stripping.
I wish I could remember where I heard of Kinky Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner because it is so cult to us. For years, everyone in the family has used this leave -in conditioner with marshmallow root that creates the most bouncy waves. We work it in while in the shower and then comb through with a wide tooth comb before rinsing it out. It’s never heavy but always healthy.
The best smell in the shower is this Ayurvedic Chandrika bar soap that I found at H-E-B in the wellness section. The lather is so rich and gives a squeaky clean feeling without any stripping or dryness.
All the girls at the house are hooked on any Trader Joe’s scrub we can get our hands on any usually follow up with that, applying quite liberally based on how quickly we need to go through the jars.
Another Trader Joe’s shower staple is the mango shave cream that gives a smooth shave and lasts forever. I do a pass using that with my Billie razor to wrap up each Everything Shower.
Post Shower
Post shower I am usually racing the clock, but I overall try the “skincare over makeup” approach so I do try to allow myself one more moment to feel truly comfortable and ready for the day.
First thing, I get some Weleda cellulite body oil and arnica oil all over my booty, thighs and shoulders, depending on the oil. I love that they each work for me with noticeable results, the smells are herby divine and the sheen on my skin is subtle but pretty.
To seal everything in, I do a layer or Weleda skin food lotion (I told you I was a brand loyalist). Super thick in a good ways but light in application and again, just a clean smell that’s unique not overpowering.
For my face, the first thing that happens out of the shower are some uplifting, recharging and barrier boosting sprays of Claudalie Beauty Elixir all over my face and neck. The smell is so good, the mirco tingle is just right and my skin feels fresh and ready for the day.
After that, it’s just 1-2 pumps of everyone’s favorite snail mucin. It just makes my skin so clear, elastic and happy. I remember driving to the Korean stores in Carrollton to look for it 10 years ago and now it’s on our porch the next day. In some ways we are blessed.
This can take a moment to sink in, but when I can I put a nice layer of the original Weleda Skin Food all over my face and neck. While it absorbs, my skin feels brighter and tighter (in the good way) and any cuts or broken skin I have is almost instantly healed, which is helpful for someone like me to battles psoriasis flare ups.
The last and most luxurious step is the Aquaphor healing balm stick, which starts as a final swipe in my routine but becomes an all day touch up for lips, eyelids, eye brows and any spots on my skin that could use a little TLC. I have one in the house and one in the car.
After that, for my hair it’s just a very light spritzing of this so cozy leave in conditioner so I can just run the comb through one time without it dragging, then I put a dime size amount of JVN air dry cream before I run out the door.
It’s a funny thing to take the whole subconscious shower flow and break it down, but there’s nothing I love more than a good referral from a friend or Getting Ready with Me video, so it was a Sunday well spent for me!
What’s your favorite part of your Everything Shower? I am always looking to switch it up!