Forget Baths, "Everything Showers" Are Way Better
It's not in the cards for everyone to go to the spa whenever they please, so we're big fans of getting in tiny moments of self-care wherever we can. Baths have long been lauded as the best choice for R&R seekers, but showers are moving in for that No. 1 spot.
According to the platform's Trend Predictions, elevated showers, or "everything showers," are on the up and up. "Gen X and Boomers will turn rinsing into a ritual in the year ahead," it reads. In fact, inquiries for "shower routine aesthetics" went up 460 percent on the platform in 2023, while shower bombs got 90 percent more search year over year. Meanwhile, on TikTok, there are countless videos tagged under #showerroutine and #showerroutineaesthetic, further validating the trend.
Maybe it's because many people renting don't have a bathtub to speak of, but fancy showers seem to be the wave of the future. As a bonus, they're more environmentally conscious than a long soak.
The interest in "little luxuries" like this transcends just beauty. On TikTok, the corresponding hashtag has over 1.7 million views, and there are countless videos on the app talking about romanticizing your life. From our morning routine to how we wind down at the end of the day, many of us want to feel that main-character energy — but realistically.
So how does one create an elevated shower, you ask? It seems people are in search of tweaks (via both products and aesthetics) to take their quick rinse to a spa-like treatment. Think shower bombs and fizzers, aromatherapy, eucalyptus hanging in the corner, candles, luxe body washes and scrubs, and mood lighting. "Love Island USA" star Leah Kateb's everything shower features a variety of gourmand products to make her smell decadent.
If the idea of putting on some music, lighting that candle that you've been saving for a special occasion, busting out a fancy shower oil, and having yourself a little "me time" sounds like just the thing your life has been missing, we have just the thing. Keep scrolling for ways to elevate your shower to new heights. (You can officially give yourself permission to stop trying to be a bath person.)
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POPSUGAR Shower Lavender Steamers
POPSUGAR Shower Lavender Steamers ($7)
Taking a warm shower before bed can help promote restful sleep. To make your beauty sleep even more impactful, try boosting the relaxing vibes in your shower with a steamer. To use it, simply place it inside your shower out of the direct water stream and it will slowly dispense a dreamy aroma of lavender in the space.
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Hotel Lobby Candle New York Reed Diffuser
Hotel Lobby Candle New York Reed Diffuser ($74)
Maybe the idea of lighting candles while you're in the shower makes you nervous, or maybe you just want something that will work around the clock. No matter, this diffuser will make your bathroom, and therefore your shower, smell heavenly.
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Gilded Body Marble Body Brush
Gilded Body Marble Body Brush ($129)
If you want to make your shower experience feel like a full-body spa treatment, start dry brushing. Not only does it help promote your body's natural lymphatic drainage system, but it also helps gently exfoliate the skin. With marble detailing, the Gilded Body Marble Body Brush is a real treat-yourself moment.
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Diptyque Tubéreuse Candle
Diptyque Tubéreuse Candle ($74)
Light the Diptyque Tubéreuse Candle before hopping in the shower, and just wait for the room to fill up with the warm, relaxing scent. Don't feel sad about lighting this one: when it's done, you can reuse the glass to hold other bathroom objects, like cotton swabs.
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POPSUGAR Eucalyptus Shower Spray
POPSUGAR Eucalyptus Shower Spray ($6)
To use the POPSUGAR Eucalyptus Shower Spray, simply mist it into your shower before hopping into the water to evoke relaxing, spa-like vibes with the scent of eucalyptus.
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Salt & Stone Antioxidant Body Wash
Salt & Stone Antioxidant Body Wash ($36)
This body wash is infused with seaweed extract, aloe-leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, papaya and blueberry extract, and niacinamide. The result is a gentle cleanser that hydrates and gives your skin a dose of antioxidants, which protect again free-radical damage. With a scent of bergamot and eucalyptus, you'll feel instantly relaxed when you lather this into your skin.
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Brooklinen Super-Plush Washcloths
Brooklinen Super-Plush Washcloths ($29)
Plush, fluffy white towels are a crucial part of any spa experience. Re-create that feeling at home with the Brooklinen Super-Plush Washcloths. Made from premium Turkish cotton, these washcloths will make your regular shower feel like a retreat.
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Lux Unfiltered N°16 Opulent Shower Oil
Lux Unfiltered N°16 Opulent Shower Oil ($29)
Be warned: frequent use of the Lux Unfiltered N°16 Opulent Shower Oil will totally spoil you. The oil-based cleanser leaves skin feeling soft and luxurious thanks to a blend of jojoba, avocado, and grape-seed oil. What's even better is how multipurposeful it is — it can be used to shave or added to a bath.
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Oui the People Full Disclosure Cream Body Polish
Oui the People Full Disclosure Cream Body Polish ($49)
This body scrub will leave your skin feeling so incredibly soft, everyone will just assume that you got some fancy spa treatment. The whipped, creamy formula contains both physical and chemical exfoliants to buff away dull, rough skin.
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Fur All Body Butter
Fur All Body Butter ($48)
Continue your luxe shower experience out of the water with the Fur Body Butter. The rich, ultra-thick cream coats your skin in deep hydration and leaves it feeling silky soft.
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Oak Essentials Dew Body Oil
Oak Essentials Dew Body Oil ($58)
To seal in all of the good, relaxing vibes you got from your elevated shower, reach for a body oil afterward. Not only does it leave your skin feeling soft and moisturized, but it also helps protect against damage from free radicals.
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Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.