How to Optimize Your ‘Everything Showers,’ According to Dermatologists

People are upping their shower routines, trading in their quick rinse for longer cleanses that touch on all aspects of personal hygiene needs. The trend, dubbed “it all rains down,” has exploded on TikTok, racking up more than 112 million views and growing.

All showers are exactly what they sound like: instead of just washing your hair and body, you clean all. Yes, there’s still shaving and shampooing, but there are also deep-conditioning masks, scrubs, and foot scrubs—not to mention pre- and post-shower routines.

According to experts, a shower for everything is a great way to practice self-care while taking care of numerous skin and body care needs. “While showering primarily addresses physical concerns, the therapeutic benefits of self-care can also improve mental health,” said Brendan Camp, MD, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York. Health.

If you browse TikTok, you’ll find countless suggestions for your everything shower routine. Many people divide their entire bathroom into three parts: the pre-shower prep, the shower, and the post-shower routine.

Use your prep time to set the mood. Put on some music or a podcast, light a candle, line up your hair and skin care products, and start relaxing. The shower itself can include everything from typical shower activities like shampooing and shaving, to face masks, exfoliating skin rinses, conditioning hair masks, and foot scrubs.

“You may consider using a cleansing shampoo once a week to remove excess debris and oil, using a nail brush to clean debris under your nails, using a hair mask to provide intense hydration and conditioning, using a scraper to remove calluses and use a body scrub for exfoliation,” suggested Dr. Camp.

Rebecca Marcus, MD, a dermatologist with North Dallas Dermatology Associates, stressed the importance of washing your face last to remove any cosmetic products that may have been left on your face during the shower.

And, if there’s one thing to focus on during your post-shower routine, it’s hydration (think: lotions, serums, and oils). “Applying moisturizer within two to three minutes of getting out of the shower will seal the skin barrier and lock in moisture from the shower,” Dr. Marcus recommends.

Ultimately, the order of your shower tasks doesn’t In fact matter, said Vladyslava Doktor, MD, a dermatologist and owner of Skin Center Boston. “It depends on personal preference and what works best for each individual’s routine.”

There are a few things you’ll want to do to make sure your douche for everything is more helpful than harmful.

The first step is to make sure you use lukewarm water. The ideal temperature is between 98 and 105 degrees, explained Dr. Marcus. If the water is too hot, it can strip oil from your skin, leaving it dehydrated and irritated.

“Using hot water can trigger the release of histamine in the body, which can lead to irritated and itchy skin,” Dr. Doktor said. In fact, it could benefit from a cooler rinse. Research suggests that cold showers, even if you only run the faucet for 30 to 90 seconds, can improve quality of life and work productivity.

One other important note: while you may see some people on TikTok say their everything showers last up to four hours, you don’t actually want to be in the shower for that long. “Spending too much time in the shower can strip oil from the skin,” explained Dr. Camp.

You want to keep some oil on your skin because it helps keep it soft and hydrated. According to Dr. Camp, the ideal amount of shower time is about 10 minutes. If you have dry skin, you’ll want to pay even closer to how long your shower of everything lasts. “It may be wise to limit your shower time so you don’t overdry your skin,” Dr. Marcus agreed.

For most people, the sweet spot is taking a full shower once a week. While the frequency will vary based on a person’s schedule and personal hygiene needs, too many showers can become too irritating to the skin, Dr. Camp noted.

Everything rains, in moderation, it can be a great way to practice self-care. “Self-care is an important part of nurturing self-confidence,” emphasized Dr. Marcus, “[it] translates into beauty that radiates from the inside out.”