Ask the Editor: What’s In Your Shower?
May 30, 2024
My favorite feature from Into the Gloss’s heyday was the shelfie. I loved having a look inside the medicine cabinets of beauty insiders and celebrities. The early ones were usually unstyled and unedited, and it was great. So when I got this question about the products I keep in my shower, I had to answer it.
Shampoo // I wash my hair almost every day. I know it’s not great for my hair color, but my hair is very fine, and if I don’t wash frequently, it becomes lifeless and flat. My daily shampoo is this moisturizing shampoo from Native. I can buy it at Target, so it’s easy to restock, it smells nice, and it’s sulfate free. Once a week, I use this K18 Peptide Prep to clean away the hair products that build up over time.
Conditioner // I only condition in the shower twice per week. On those occasions, I use this dpHue Gloss+ conditioner to keep my color fresh. My more regular conditioning is with this K18 Leave In Treatment, which repairs hair damaged by regular styling.
Razor // I use this Flamingo razor. It’s a solid performer, and I can buy refills at Costco. To hang it in the shower, I use this simple OXO suction cup.
Soap // I am the last woman in America using bar soap. Despite being old and set in my ways, I recently switched from antibacterial Dial to the fancier Dove Men + Care Blood Orange and Sea Salt soap. I don’t usually use scented products, but I like this one.
Face Wash // I keep my Prequel face wash in the shower. I love this stuff. My skin has been so much less dry since I start using it. It’s $18, and one bottle has lasted me four months already.
Scrubber // I get terrible ingrown hairs on my bikini line. I used to keep a pair of exfoliating gloves in the shower, but they would get gross over time. Now I just keep one of these Sud Scrub exfoliators in my shower. They’re made from recycled plastic and keep the germs at bay.
That’s it. That’s everything I keep in my shower. Not very fancy, but it does the job without intruding into my husband’s shelf space.
{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}
I’m there with you on bar soap. Regular old Ivory is my ride-or-die.
All day every day – have to use Marlowe exfoliating bar soap. It’s technically men’s, but I’m OBSESSED with the (1) smell and (2) feel. If you like your back scratched, want to exfoliate the back of your legs for circulation, etc., this is a MUST HAVE.
https://www.amazon.com/MARLOWE-Exfoliating-Ingredients-Sandalwood-Agarwood/dp/B06X95YPCW
You aren’t the last woman in America using bar soap! I not only use but but make it!
I’ve left my hair grown out since the pandemic, but now I’m realizing that not replacing my leave in conditioner when it ran out some months ago was a big mistake. Does anyone out here have suggestions for keeping long hair healthy? I’d been using a Lush product they don’t have any more. I have some argon oil that helps me knock back my frizz if used in small doses. I’ve been trying that as the leave in step after the last few washes. Thank you!
My hair is to my upper back and thick and wavy. I like Everist deep conditioner for every other day use and Davines The Quick Fix once a week (or more during pool season.) Occasionally I use Bumble &Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible oil on dry hair, and Color Wow Dream Coat when I take time to blow dry my hair.
I know that there’s been a lot of controversy about the brand, but I use Olaplex 6 and 7 after I wash my hair and then reapply Olaplex 6 daily (only wash my hair 1-2x/week). My hair is long, very thick, and wavy, and this combination keeps frizz at a minimum in the humid south.
I’ve also had good luck with Amika products. I currently use their bond repair shampoo and conditioner and love them (my hair is bleached). I’m planning to try the smoothing balm soon to see if I can save some $ compared to Olaplex.
You are not the last woman using bar soap. Not only do I use bar soap, but my favorite scent is lily-of-the-valley and when Crabtree and Evelyn stopped selling it, I learned how to make my own! Granted, this was during Covid when we were all learning new homemaking skills.
I have waist length hair, fine but with a lot of volume. Due to dandruff, psoriasis and sweat, I wash every day, and about 2 years ago I had to switch conditioners. Purology Smooth Perfection (pink bottle) is my conditioner of choice and I comb it through, twist into a bun to keep off my shoulders and let it soak while I wash and then rinse out at the end. I also really like the Purology Color Fanatic Leave-in spray (my hair is not colored), which I use when heat styling my hair (and also as a nightly detangler on my kiddo’s similarly long but super curly hair). Recently my hair was getting too dry with my usual Head and Shoulders, so I switched to the Biolage Scalp Sync shampoo and that is much less drying (all that to say, take a look at your shampoo too!).
It’s not cheap, but when I do a second shower of the day (sweat, pool, etc.) I use bar soap instead of my loofah with body wash and I love the Fresh Citron de Vigne bar soap. The scent is lovely (I’m normally an unscented person) and it makes my skin feel wonderful.
Fellow woman bar soap user!
Caress bar soap (peach color) 4 life! My family even requests I bring it on vacation with us, and I live with 3 dudes : )
I love Ivory and Dove. Regular Dove bar smells so lovely. Available at Costco. Great for shaving, too.
I still use bar soap – classic Dove!
Fellow fine hair girl who washed every day…Until I found the hair tutorial by Mary Orton and switched to Aveda styling products and Mary’s method. I can now get two days of regular hair, followed by one ponytail day before it looks oily. Not sure if the link will work, but @maryorton and Hair Tutorial on her highlights. *I did NOT buy the curlers b/c I already own the one’s you recommended. Most days I use my Revlon One-Step Volumizer instead of curlers.
https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE4MDU4OTMxMDg2NTQzODQ1?story_media_id=3319340435736695733&igsh=dzFueGt2a2Z5cTBt
How do you all keep your bar soap from getting mushy and gross in the shower? Do you have a soap dish/holder that works well?