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Mornings in our house are, in a word, chaos. Toby requests both first and second breakfasts, and one-year-old Anton has a habit of galloping (literally galloping) up and down the hallway. Alex trims his beard while I try to jump in the shower for two seconds, but Toby often comes in to tell me I’m taking too long and he’s still hungry.
So! This year, I’m rejiggering my beauty routine to feel a little more spa-like. Since your routine starts in the shower, I’m trying to up my game there. Here, we partnered with Dove to come up with simple ways to make the old daily shower feel more zen…
Shower by candlelight. Light a candle in the bathroom and turn out the lights. The flickering light feels so peaceful and calming and makes such a difference.
Scent your shower. Tie some eucalyptus branches to your shower-curtain rod for a sweet woodsy scent (Erica‘s awesome recommendation!). You can usually find them wherever you buy fresh flowers.
Watch the temperature. Hot shower water is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to dry, scaly skin. Tip: If your skin turns red, the water’s too hot.
Use a moisturizing body wash. I’ve been using Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash during these colder months; their new formula is even milder on skin yet still creates a rich lather, and their moisturizers leave your skin softer and smoother after just one shower (such a godsend in the winter!).
End on a gentle note. After your shower, gently pat yourself dry with your towel, since rubbing can irritate skin and increase dryness.
What are your shower rituals? People can be weirdly specific about how they shower!
And today Dove is giving away an entire year’s supply of Deep Moisture Body Wash. For a chance to win, please leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Update: The winner has been emailed. Thanks for playing!
(Photos and styling by Kate Jordan for Cup of Jo. This post is sponsored by Dove, a brand whose products I’ve used for years. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Cup of Jo)
