Chances are, you’ve probably seen the popular “everything shower” TikTok trend. It’s promoted as the ultimate self-care ritual. It’s a long, relaxing shower where you do every part of your beauty routine at once. You scrub, shave, deep condition, exfoliate and finish with full-body lotion, oils and serums.
At first, the everything shower sounds amazing. Who wouldn’t want to feel completely refreshed and polished from head to toe? But here’s the thing: using too many products in one shower can actually hurt your skin. Yes, even if they smell great and say “gentle” or “natural” on the label.
According to Janna Assar, MD, a family medicine physician with Banner Health, your skin, and your health, may pay the price for these over-the-top routines.
“The skin is your body’s largest organ,” Dr. Assar said. “When you overload it with harsh products, strong fragrances and chemicals, you can damage its natural balance and even absorb ingredients that may affect your hormones.”
Let’s take a closer look at everything showers. What’s great about them, what’s not so great and how to treat your skin with the care it really deserves.
What is really involved with an everything shower?
An everything shower is a long, full-body routine. It’s not your five-minute rinse after the gym. It’s a planned event. You might wash and condition your hair, exfoliate your face, shave your legs, scrub your feet, apply a face mask and then finish it all off with body oils, lotions or creams.
These showers can feel relaxing and satisfying. You come out feeling smooth, clean and like you’ve just hit a reset button. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But if you’re doing this once or twice a week, or even more, and using lots of products each time, your skin might be struggling behind the scenes.
When self-care becomes too much
Your skin has a natural barrier that helps lock in moisture and keep things like bacteria, dirt and toxins away. When you pile on product after product, especially in one sitting, you can start to wear down that barrier.
“Everything showers feel good in the moment,” Dr. Assar said. “But using too many products, especially ones with strong ingredients, can strip your skin’s natural oils and disrupt the skin’s microbiome (the helpful bacteria that keeps your skin balanced).”
Basically, your skin gets overwhelmed. Imagine trying to do five workouts in a row. You’d be tired and sore. Your skin feels the same way when it’s scrubbed, shaved, exfoliated and covered in layers of cream all at once. These activities, when done too often, can dry out the skin and destroy its protective skin barrier.
What’s in your products matters, too
It’s not just the number of products that matter. It’s also what’s in them. Some common ingredients in shampoos, lotions and body washes can enter your body through your skin or even your lungs.
“Hot water opens up your pores,” said Dr. Assar. “And in a steamy shower, you’re also inhaling these chemicals, which may affect your hormone levels.”
Dr. Assar pointed to ingredients like:
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Sulfates
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
These are often found in products with synthetic fragrances or preservatives. Research has linked some of them to disruptions in estrogen, testosterone and thyroid function.
And here’s the tricky part: many of these chemicals haven’t been fully studied, especially not in combination.
“We don’t always know how these ingredients interact with each other,” Dr. Assar said. “It’s especially concerning when young children or teens are using them daily.”
Signs you may be overdoing it
So how do you know if your everything shower is a little too extra? Dr. Assar said to watch for these signs:
- Your skin feels tight or itchy after you shower
- You see redness, bumps or flaky patches
- You break out in places you usually don’t
- Products that used to feel fine now sting or burn
- Your skin gets dry even after moisturizing
These are all signs your skin needs a break. Talk to your health care provider or a dermatologist.
You don’t have to give up everything showers completely
No one’s saying you have to cancel your self-care night. You can still enjoy your everything shower, but here are a few tips to strike a better balance:
1. Keep it simple most days
A quick, gentle shower with warm (not hot) water and a mild cleanser is usually enough. Moisturize afterward to keep your skin soft and healthy. Save the full routine for once a week or less.
2. Choose products with care
More products don’t mean better results. Focus on a few that work well for your skin and use them regularly.
Also, be cautious with products that claim to be “clean” or “natural.” Dr. Assar said these aren’t always safer.
“Natural doesn’t always mean gentle or non-toxic,” she noted. “Essential oils and plant extracts can still irritate, especially if you have sensitive skin.”
Look for products that are:
- Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic
- No parabens, phthalates or sulfates
- For sensitive skin
- And have short, readable ingredient lists
If you’re unsure, apps like EWG’s Skin Deep can help you check the safety of a product.
3. Don’t double up on exfoliation
Using a scrub, an exfoliating glove and a chemical peel all in one go? That’s overkill. Choose one method per session and don’t exfoliate every day. A couple of times per week is plenty.
4. Shave smart
If you shave, use a clean, sharp razor and gentle shaving cream. Shave at the end of your shower when your hair is softer. And skip the scrub on days you shave, because your skin is already sensitive.
5. Moisturize the right way
Pat your skin dry (don’t rub) and moisturize right after showering (within three minutes), while your skin is still damp. This helps lock in hydration. A simple, unscented lotion is all you need, especially if your skin feels itchy or dry.
6. Change out your loofah
If your loofah stays wet or doesn’t get cleaned often, it can grow bacteria. Then, when you use it again, you’re rubbing the bacteria right back onto your skin.
Rinse thoroughly after each use and replace every three to four weeks. Avoid using a loofah if you have sensitive skin.
Bottom line
Everything showers are a popular social media skincare trend for a reason. They make you feel good and give you a moment to take care of yourself. But more isn’t always better when it comes to skincare.
Using too many products too often can lead to irritation, dryness, breakouts and even hormone disruption. Your skin doesn’t need all the extras to be healthy.
“You don’t need to follow every viral skincare trend,” Dr. Assar said. “Sometimes the simplest shower routines are the healthiest.”
So go ahead and enjoy your shower ritual but do it with care. Your skin will thank you later.
Need help choosing the right skincare routine? Talk to a Banner Health provider to learn more.
