Step into the shower, and it’s likely your priority is to get clean. But a shower can be so much more. It’s an escape, a few minutes of privacy, and time to really focus on yourself. The water washes over you and helps cleanse away impurities as well as worries. Bathing and showers are, in fact, among the most common relaxation strategies.
Remember: Your wellbeing matters. It impacts everything you do. That is why we recommend making the most of the time you allot to bathe (and the innate relaxation it provides) by creating an easy-to-follow self-care shower routine. This will enable you to show yourself the attention you deserve without making it feel as if you’re assigning another task to your neverending to-do list. To point you in the right direction, we’re sharing our favorite self-care steps that you can use to upgrade your daily shower.
1. Add Eucalyptus To Your Shower Head
To kickoff a self-care shower, you need to set the scene. Eucalyptus showers are all over Pinterest and Instagram, and we think you should try taking part in the trend. All you need to do is tie a bundle of eucalyptus to your shower head. Its wonderful scent will fill the shower, especially once the water warms up and starts emitting steam. Plus, if you ever tire of taking eucalyptus showers, you can remove it and pop the branches into a pretty vase to dry out and serve as decor.
2. Boost Radiance With a Face Mask
Showing yourself TLC doesn’t have to take a lot of time. We know you’re busy, so it’s all about finding a few moments for yourself. One of the best ways to do this is to combine multiple self-care activities into one daily task. For example, you’re already going to take a shower, why not apply a face mask while you’re at it? You can smooth on a layer of Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask before you get in, and rinse it off once you’re under the water. The mask visibly brightens dull, fatigued-looking skin for a more radiant appearance. Think of it as an “instant facial.” Just leave the mask on for 10 minutes. Then, when the bathing begins, rinse off with warm water, massaging your skin in gentle circular motions to exfoliate.
3. Wash Your Hair and Treat Your Tresses
Washing your hair is a standard part of almost every shower, but you can also infuse your haircare routine with self-care. After cleansing your strands with Nourishing Olive Fruit Oil Shampoo, give them the gift of a hair mask. Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Reparative Hair Mask moisturizes and strengthens hair, helps restore shine, and even helps prevent future damage from environmental stresses. The formula with olive fruit, avocado, and lemon oil is perfect for dry and under-nourished hair. Apply a generous amount to damp hair, focusing the formula on your ends, which tend to need the most attention. Then, the mask needs time to work its magic. Wait at least three minutes before rinsing it out.
If you need to balance self-care with practicality, apply your hair mask and use the time it needs to sit on your strands to accomplish something else, like shaving. To make that whole process (and the end-results) smoother, we recommend reading How To Prevent and Treat Razor Bumps.
Kiehl’s Expert Tip: You don’t need to use a hair mask every time you wash your hair. Apply a mask once or twice a week when your hair needs extra care. On the rest of your wash days, stick with conditioner. Nourishing Olive Fruit Oil Conditioner is the perfect complement to the rest of the Olive Fruit Oil line.
4. Use a Skin-Sloughing Scrub
Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub
A good shower will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on what’s next. Use a body scrub to help shed dead skin cells and reveal skin that feels fresh. Try Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub (which comes in two scents, grapefruit and lavender) to gently yet effectively exfoliate without over-drying. When you’re done, your skin will feel silky soft, velvety smooth, and primed for moisture.
Another option is Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish, which is also an exfoliating Kiehl’s favorite. It’s formulated with honey, shea butter, and sweet almond oil, and leaves skin feeling supple and soft. Plus, it’s gentle enough to be used every day, so you can add this dose of self-care to your daily shower routine.
5. Indulge In an Aromatic Cleanser
Cleansing your body is a key part of any shower; we might even call it the core function of bathing. And usually, washing up is a fairly utilitarian task. You create some suds, massage them over your skin—you know the drill. However, the right body cleanser can turn this essential step into a sensory, self-care experience.
One of the most relaxing scents is lavender. When you bring that fragrance into your bathroom, you’re immediately transported as if your shower has become a spa. Treat yourself on the daily with a lavender-scented body cleanser, like Bath and Shower Liquid Body Cleanser.
Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Baths are also a great way to relax and take care of yourself. Use the same cleanser to upgrade a bath by adding two to three capfuls to the running water. The result will be a luxurious, foaming bath experience.
If you gravitate toward sweet, food-inspired fragrances, we also love Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-to-Foam Body Cleanser. It smells like decadent vanilla and almond, and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
6. End It All With Moisture
We’re sure there are plenty of days where you hop out of the shower and find yourself in a rush to get dressed and return to your responsibilities. But when you’re taking a self-care shower, don’t let the you-time end just yet. You’ve earned a few more minutes.
Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter
Take your towel and gently pat away excess water, but don’t dry off completely. You want your skin to be damp for your final step—applying lotion—as you’ll lock in more moisture that way. We recommend Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter because it has an indulgent, air-whipped texture that absorbs quickly and feels light on the skin. It’s also formulated with soy milk and honey, and provides rich hydration.
