Sometimes I don’t need a whole new routine.
I just need one long shower, clean hair, freshly moisturized skin, comfortable clothes, and enough time to feel like a person again.
That is basically what the everything shower has become for me.
It isn’t about doing twenty beauty steps or turning self-care into another thing to accomplish. It is simply the shower where I slow down a little, do the things I normally rush through, and come out feeling noticeably more put together.
If you’ve been feeling tired, blah, dry, dull, overstimulated, or just a little disconnected from yourself, this is one of those small resets that can make a surprisingly big difference.
If that feeling has been hanging around for a while, you might also like How I Come Back to Myself When I Start Feeling Off.
1. Start Before You Get in the Shower
I’ve learned that the easiest way to ruin a relaxing shower is getting out and realizing everything I need is scattered around the house.
Before I get in, I like to grab a fresh towel, clean clothes or pajamas, my hair products, body lotion, and anything else I know I’ll want afterward.
Nothing fancy. I just want the whole routine to flow without wandering around soaking wet looking for something.
2. Give Your Hair a Little Extra Attention
This is usually the shower where I actually slow down and take care of my hair instead of rushing through shampoo and conditioner.
That might mean shampooing more thoroughly, using a clarifying product when I need one, letting my conditioner sit for a few extra minutes, or doing a hair mask.
I don’t do every step every time. I just pay attention to what my hair actually needs that day.
The goal is clean, soft, healthy-feeling hair — not creating another complicated hair-care routine.
3. Exfoliate — But Keep It Gentle
When my skin starts feeling rough or dull, a little exfoliation makes a noticeable difference.
Sometimes I dry brush beforehand. Other times I’ll use a gentle body exfoliant in the shower.
I try not to overdo this part. Scrubbing harder doesn’t automatically equal smoother or healthier-looking skin, and I would rather keep my skin comfortable than irritate it trying to chase a glow.
This is one of those steps that feels especially good when I’ve been neglecting body care for a while.
4. Take Your Time With Whatever Grooming Makes You Feel Put Together
If I’m shaving, this is the shower where I actually take the extra few minutes to do it carefully instead of treating it like a speed sport.
Use whatever grooming steps make you feel good afterward and skip the ones that don’t matter to you.
That is really the theme of this entire routine: you don’t need to do everything just because it is called an everything shower.
5. Use a Body Wash That Doesn’t Leave Your Skin Feeling Stripped
I’ve started paying more attention to body care because I want products that actually clean my skin without leaving it tight, itchy, or dried out afterward.
For me, a good body wash is pretty simple: it needs to work, smell or feel pleasant enough that I enjoy using it, and leave my skin comfortable.
Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash — This is the kind of body wash I like for an everything shower because it feels a little more elevated than a basic cleanser without turning the routine into something complicated. It has an oil-to-gel texture and is designed to cleanse without stripping away moisture, which makes it especially appealing when your skin has been feeling dry or dull.
This is one of those areas where I would rather have one solid everyday product than five bottles sitting in the shower.
6. Do the Little Things You Usually Skip
This part changes depending on the day.
Maybe it’s spending a little more time on your feet.
Maybe it’s a scalp massage.
Maybe you finally use the hair mask sitting in the cabinet.
Maybe you trim your nails or actually let your conditioner sit instead of immediately rinsing it out.
These tiny things are usually what make an everything shower feel different from a normal rushed shower.
7. Moisturize While Your Skin Is Still Slightly Damp
This is probably the body-care step that makes the biggest difference for me.
Instead of waiting until my skin already feels dry, I try to apply lotion shortly after getting out of the shower while my skin still has a little moisture.
I pay extra attention to the places that tend to get dry first — legs, arms, elbows, knees, and anywhere else that needs it.
Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion — For everyday moisture, I like the idea of something simple that absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave me feeling sticky afterward. This one is fragrance-free and formulated with shea butter, fatty acids, niacinamide, sodium PCA, and squalane to help replenish moisture and leave skin feeling softer and smoother.
On nights when I want to do a little more, this is also where a treatment-style body product can fit in.
Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion — On nights when I want to do a little more for texture and overall skin appearance, a retinol body lotion can fit here. Naturium’s version uses encapsulated retinol and is designed to improve the appearance of texture, tone, and firmness while still moisturizing the skin. I’d treat this as an occasional nighttime step rather than something I need every single shower.
It doesn’t need to become another ten-step routine. One good moisturizer used consistently can do a lot.
8. Keep Your Skincare Simple
After an everything shower, I don’t suddenly want to stand at the sink doing twelve more steps.
I usually keep the rest simple: the skincare products I already know work for me, moisturizer, lip balm, and whatever treatment I’m using that night.
If you’re still trying to simplify your routine, you might also like my Simple Skincare Routine for Busy Moms.
The goal is to finish feeling cared for — not exhausted from taking care of yourself.
9. Put On Something Clean and Comfortable
There is something about getting out of a long shower and putting on clean pajamas or a soft lounge set that makes the entire thing feel complete.
Bonus points if the sheets are clean too.
Clean body.
Clean clothes.
Clean bed.
Sometimes that alone feels like enough of a reset.
10. Make the After Part Count
You don’t need to create a full self-care evening afterward.
Sometimes I just want ten quiet minutes.
A glass of water.
A cup of tea.
A little reading.
A few minutes without my phone.
Or simply getting into bed earlier than usual.
If you’ve been running on empty, you might also like these realistic self-care ideas for moms — simple things that actually fit into real life.
The shower does some of the work, but slowing down afterward is what makes it feel like an actual reset instead of another task I checked off.
The Goal Isn’t Perfection — It’s Feeling Better
An everything shower does not have to be elaborate to work.
You don’t need ten products.
You don’t need an hour.
And you definitely don’t need to do every step every time.
The point is simply giving yourself a little extra care when you’ve been moving too fast, neglecting yourself, or just need to feel clean, refreshed, and more like you again.
Sometimes feeling a little more like yourself starts with something as ordinary as taking the long shower.
Need a Quicker Reset?
If you don’t have time for the full everything-shower version, take five minutes for yourself instead.
The free 5-Minute Reset will help you clear your head, check in with what you need, and choose one small next step.