The Anti-Aging ‘Everything Shower’ Experts Want Women Over 50 To Try for Softer, Smoother Skin
Plus see the sneaky exfoliating mistake so many of us are making
Key Takeaways
- An “everything shower” gives you extra time to care for aging skin from head to toe.
- Lukewarm water and gentle cleansing help protect skin’s moisture barrier as you age.
- Moisturizing while skin is still damp helps seal in hydration for softer, smoother skin.
Odds are that most days, you only have time for a quick shower—not nearly long enough to try that exfoliation routine or hair mask that keeps popping up on your social media feed. Enter the “everything shower,” aka that shower where you do every pampering thing you want and more. Even better news: It can be anti-aging when done right. We spoke to experts about why your shower is the perfect time to give your skin some extra TLC. Plus see their top tips for an anti-aging everything shower made easy—including using budget-friendly Dollar Tree finds.
What is an everything shower?
A quick TikTok search for “everything shower” will bring up videos with a ton of different routines of varying lengths that incorporate all kinds of products and steps—from dry brushing to face masks and more—so you’re likely thinking: What actually makes it an everything shower? The answer: There’s no one right way. It’s truly up to you to find the combination that makes sense for you and your body.
“An ‘everything shower’ is a longer, more intentional shower where you take time for several of the personal-care steps you may not do during a quick everyday shower,” explains Janis Kosma-Covey, PharmD, a compounding pharmacist, skincare formulator and founder of Kosmatology. “It might include washing and conditioning your hair, shaving, exfoliating, cleansing and moisturizing afterward.”
Why body care is often overlooked
If you open your medicine cabinet, you likely have a lot of anti-aging products geared toward your face or neck—but not much for your body. If that sounds familiar, it’s not just you. Kosma-Covey says we often skip body care when we think about anti-aging, making the shower such an important time to give the skin on our bodies some extra attention.
“The shower is a great opportunity to care for that skin because many of the things we do in the shower can either support or disrupt the skin barrier,” Kosma-Covey adds. “The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin that helps keep moisture in and irritants out.”
How to make your everything shower anti-aging
So now you know why everything showers are so great for pampering yourself, but how exactly do you make yours anti-aging? Here are our experts’ top tips:
Turn down the heat
It’s okay to keep your showers at a warm and comfortable temperature, but avoid making the water extremely hot, says Nupur Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Luma Dermatology in Clearwater, FL.
“Very hot water can strip the skin of its natural lipids and worsen transepidermal water loss,” explains Dr. Patel. “Over time, chronically dry, irritated skin tends to look rougher, duller and more crepey, which can exaggerate the appearance of fine lines. Maintaining a healthy skin barrier keeps skin looking smoother, plumper and more luminous.”
How do you know if the temp is right? “If your skin is turning pink or the bathroom looks like a steam room, your shower is probably hotter than it needs to be,” she says.
Cleanse gently
We’ve all heard the language around getting squeaky clean, but when it comes to an anti-aging shower, Kosma-Covey recommends focusing more on a gentle cleanse.
“Choose a mild cleanser or moisturizing body wash and concentrate it where it’s actually needed rather than aggressively soaping and scrubbing every inch of your body,” recommends Kosma-Covey. “That squeaky-clean feeling isn’t necessarily a sign that you are clean. It can mean you’ve removed too much of the natural oils from its surface. Preserving those oils becomes particularly important as we age because skin naturally tends to become drier.”
Exfoliate this way
Our experts are for exfoliating, but how you do it matters. “Instead of vigorously scrubbing with a harsh body scrub or loofah, use a chemical exfoliant containing ingredients such as lactic acid, glycolic acid or salicylic acid, depending on your skin type,” says Dr. Patel. “I particularly like lactic acid for body skin because it exfoliates while also acting as a humectant,” meaning it helps draw moisture into the skin.
Our skin cells naturally turn over more slowly with age, leading to a roughness, uneven texture and dullness. “Alpha hydroxy acids can loosen the bonds between dead surface cells and, with consistent use, improve skin smoothness, brightness and the appearance of fine lines,” explains Dr. Patel. “Glycolic acid in particular also has evidence supporting increased collagen production over time.”
Kosma-Covey also cautions against combining multiple aggressive exfoliation methods like a harsh body scrub, exfoliating acids and an exfoliating brush all in one shower. Pick the exfoliation method of your choice for your anti-aging everything shower and stick with it.
“For many people, exfoliating once or twice a week is plenty, and someone with sensitive, very dry or mature skin may need even less,” adds Kosma-Covey. “If your skin is red, burning, stinging or irritated, skip exfoliation and focus on moisturizing instead.”
How to lock in moisture after your everything shower
You kept your water at just the right temperature, cleansed gently, picked one exfoliator in your shower and finally just got out. Now what? Try making hydrating your skin the star of your after-shower routine, says Melissa Croff, a licensed esthetician and the founder of Root + Glow with 15+ years of experience treating age-related skin concerns.
The good news: “You don’t need luxury products to support healthy-aging skin,” adds Croff. “For body care, I tell people to look for simple ingredients that hydrate the skin or help prevent water loss.” Here are Croff’s top picks, including one you can find at Dollar Tree.
Dermasil Labs Dry Skin Treatment Lotion ($1.25)
“This is the type of simple moisturizing product I would choose over a heavily fragranced lotion when dryness is the concern,” says Croff. And you can find it at your local Dollar Tree store for a budget-friendly price.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($14.99)
“It’s a good drugstore option containing ceramides, which are naturally occurring fats in the outer layer of our skin that help maintain its protective barrier,” explains Croff.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment ($15.79)
Croff says products like Aquaphor and petroleum jelly are great options for sealing in moisture and protecting very dry skin. Apply it no more than a few minutes after your everything shower, after you’ve patted your skin dry but it’s still slightly damp. “I think of this as your window to ‘seal in’ hydration,” explains Croff. “Apply a body cream or lotion first, and if certain areas are particularly dry, you can layer a very small amount of petroleum jelly or Aquaphor over those particular areas to reduce moisture loss.”
The bottom line on anti-aging everything showers
Sometimes you’re so busy or tired that a quick shower will have to do. But taking time to pour into yourself with an everything shower now and then is important too. Especially since anti-aging skincare doesn’t start and end with your face. Taking care of the skin on your body also matters, and the right pampering shower routine can help you do just that.
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