Skip to content

Top Navigation

Health.com Health.com
  • Health Conditions A-Z
  • News
  • Coronavirus
  • Diet & Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Beauty
  • Mind & Body
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Newsletter
  • Promo

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Health.com

Health.com Health.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Is Your Doctor Gaslighting You? Here's What to Do

      How to handle a physician who doubts or dismisses your symptoms. Read More Next
    • 9 Signs It's More Serious Than the Common Cold

      Doctors explain how to tell if you have a head cold or something more serious that requires medical attention, such as the flu, strep throat, meningitis, or mono. Read More Next
    • How Your Period Changes During Your 20s, 30s, and 40s

      From easier cramps to a heavier flow, here's a guide on what to expect decade by decade. Read More Next
  • Health Conditions A-Z

    Health Conditions A-Z

    See All Health Conditions A-Z

    12 Anxiety Symptoms That Might Point to a Disorder

    The symptoms of anxiety can be hard to detect. Here are the ones you need to pay attention to, and how to know if you may have an anxiety disorder.
    • Allergies
    • Anxiety
    • Birth Control
    • Breast Cancer
    • Coronavirus
    • Chronic Pain
    • Cold, Flu, and Sinus
    • Depression
    • Digestive Health
    • Diabetes (Type 2)
    • Eczema
    • Eye Health
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Heart Disease
    • Headaches and Migraines
    • Oral Health
    • Pregnancy
    • Psoriasis
    • Sexual Health
    • Skin Conditions
    • Sleep
    • Thyroid
  • News

    News

    See All News

    Shannen Doherty Reveals Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis—Here's What It Means

    "I'm petrified," the actress said when she shared the news that her breast cancer came back. Here's why a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis can be so frightening.
    • Celebrities
  • Coronavirus
  • Diet & Nutrition

    Diet & Nutrition

    The Best (and Worst) Diets of 2020, According to Experts

    FYI: The keto diet isĀ not number one.
    • Food
    • Nutrition
    • Vitamins and Supplements
    • Groceries
    • Restaurants
    • Diets
    • Keto Diet
    • Mediterranean Diet
    • Whole30
    • Recipes
  • Fitness

    Fitness

    See All Fitness

    10 Moves for a Cardio Workout at Home—No Equipment Required

    Stay in your living room and still spike your heart rate.
    • Cardio Workouts
    • Strength Training
    • Yoga
    • Ab Workouts
    • Arm Workouts
    • Leg Workouts
    • Butt Workouts
    • Fitness Gear
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty

    These 13 Women Prove Every Body Is a Bikini Body

    We're loving their inspirational, body-positive messages.
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Nails
  • Mind & Body

    Mind & Body

    See All Mind & Body

    Why Do People Lie? We Asked an Expert

    Here's the truth about lying.
    • Body Positivity
    • Self-Care
    • Misdiagnosed
    • Invisible Illness
    • LGBTQ+ Health
    • Health Diversity and Inclusion
    • Resolution Reboot
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    20 Things You Should Throw Away for Better Health

    Clean out expired products and clutter to make way for a healthier you.
    • Healthy Home
    • Pets
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Style
    • Holidays
    • Sex
    • Gifts
    • Money
    • Tech
    • Medicare
    • Best Life Now
  • Weight Loss
  • Newsletter
  • Promo

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Beauty Chevron Right
  3. How to Take a Better Shower

How to Take a Better Shower

By Melanie Rud Chadwick
Updated January 24, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
Amp up your standard wash-and-go with easy tips that will transform your soak into the ultimate (quick!) indulgence.
Start Slideshow

1 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Shower power

Credit: Getty Images

There's nothing more luxurious than a bubble bath. But a long soak in the tub isn't always doable, especially on busy mornings before work. The good news: By making a few simple tweaks to your routine, you can transform your shower session from same-old to super indulgent. Here, six easy strategies to upgrade your experience and feel more relaxed and refreshed.

1 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Super-hydrate your hair

Credit: Getty Images

Start by conditioning—yep, before cleansing (hear us out). Work a rich conditioner through wet strands from midshaft downward. “This coats hair, preventing shampoo from further drying out ends, which have likely taken a beating this summer from sun and chlorine,” explains Michelle Pasterski, head stylist at Mixed Co. Salon in Chicago. Leave the conditioner on while you shampoo. “You really only need to wash at the roots and along the hairline to remove oil, sweat, and product residue,” she says. Rinse out the shampoo and conditioner simultaneously. You may have heard that icy water lends shine, but a cold rinse actually makes it harder to get product out, notes San Diego stylist and salon owner Jet Rhys. “For a more thorough clean that still boosts shine, she says, “keep water lukewarm.”

2 of 7

3 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Nix body blemishes

Credit: Getty Images

To treat pesky pimples that may pop up on your back, chest, or booty (blame your biweekly spin session!), make your own fast-acting, zit-busting body wash, says Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a dermatologist in West Islip, N.Y. Combine four crushed-up aspirin with a handful of hydrating, non-soap cleanser; try CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash ($11; amazon.com). Mix until it forms a paste, dab onto trouble spots, sing “Happy Birthday,” then rinse. “Aspirin is anti-inflammatory and tones down redness, but it also contains salicylic acid to help dissolve pore-clogging oil,” says Dr. Mariwalla. (She cautions that pregnant women should steer clear of this DIY technique.)

3 of 7

Advertisement

4 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Get glowy skin

Credit: Getty Images

Here’s a fast move that can make all the difference: Try a shower oil. (We like L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil, $25; usa.loccitane.com). “Shower oils absorb quickly and don’t feel heavy,” says Jacqueline Berry, spa director at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Ariz. “And because they’re extra hydrating, you can skip lotion afterward, so they’re ideal for when you’re rushed.” An added boon? Shower oils impart a subtle sheen—even after they’re washed off— that makes skin look fresh and luminous. To increase the radiance factor even more, tweak your technique, too. “Move upward, from wrist to shoulder and ankle to waist, applying the oil in circular motions,” suggests Berry. “This stimulates lymphatic drainage, improving circulation and giving skin a healthy, natural glow.”

4 of 7

5 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Fix rough elbows

Credit: Getty Images

A one-two punch for scaly spots: Apply a dollop of a glycolic-acid based wash, like Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash ($32; dermstore.com). Leave it on for a minute or two, then rub vigorously with a washcloth. “The double whammy of chemical and physical exfoliation is the best way to get rid of all that dry skin,” explains Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale.

5 of 7

6 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Reveal sleek, sexy legs

Credit: Getty Images

Surprise: For ultrasmooth skin, it’s actually better not to reach for a razor each time you shower. “Shaving every day leads to razor bumps,” notes Dr. Gohara. “Hairs get trapped in these bumps and become hard to reach.” Skip at least a day in between and you’ll end up with a closer shave (cue happy dance). To make the task feel less laborious and more luxurious, really massage the shaving cream into your legs, advises Dr. Mariwalla. Not only is it a nice treat for achy muscles, but doing so helps soften the hairs, making them easier to remove. Shave downward, in the opposite direction of hair growth, to “minimize friction, reducing irritation,” adds Dr. Gohara.

6 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 7

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Getty Images

The simplest way to make a regular shower feel more like a spa treatment? Opt for a scrub with essential oils that deliver aromatherapy benefits. As the oils diffuse in the steam, you get a sensory lift, says Berry. If you’re a morning bather, look for energizing oils, like citrus and bergamot; try Indie Lee Coconut Citrus Body Scrub ($38; indielee.com). At night, unwind with lavender or chamomile, perfect for relaxation. Our pick: J.R. Watkins Sugar and Shea Body Scrub ($13; drugstore.com). Stick with sulfate-free sugar scrubs, since they’re gentler and less drying than salt-based ones, notes Berry. Save sloughing until the end of your shower—warmth and moisture loosen dead cells, leaving skin seriously smooth.

7 of 7

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Melanie Rud Chadwick

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 7 Shower power
2 of 7 Super-hydrate your hair
3 of 7 Nix body blemishes
4 of 7 Get glowy skin
5 of 7 Fix rough elbows
6 of 7 Reveal sleek, sexy legs
7 of 7

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Health.com

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact us
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Health.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments. All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Health.com may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.health.com

View image

How to Take a Better Shower
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.