The idea for this post first came to mind when I was…Yup. In the shower. 😂
I had set the mood, or rather, on this particular day, I think my husband set the mood😅 He got it all going while I was putting my daughter to sleep for the night. Ya see my shower has become this sort of wind-down, gift-to-myself ritual every night ever since becoming a mom because I finally feel “done” for the day (even though I’m hardly ever “done” and I’m almost always up again at some point in the night). Either way, on this day, I was in the shower feeling RELAXED AF…SO relaxed that a new Substack post idea came to me…to share my Holisticaited showers with you because you also deserve to feel this good and this relaxed this *easily.*
Most of my ideas come to me in the shower now. I’ll have ideas for new social media content, substack posts, programs, and offers, and I know it’s because I’m free from distraction and in the most chill mood I’ve probably been in all day (after being home with my 1-year-old, haha).
Now, how do I get my showers to be so relaxing?
How do I get ideas to flow to me so effortlessly in these 10-20-minute pockets of time?
How do I kick self-care up a notch with them (while keeping them simple)?
What makes them Holisticaited? 😌 Let me share my secrets with you…
One. The Ambiance.
There’s a VIBE associated with a Holisticaited shower (or bath). The ambiance has to be right. Ya gotta set the mood…ya feels? 😜
I turn the ceiling lights OFF, turn the “ambient” lights on, light a candle, and a VIBE is set.
Pretty simple right?
Lemme break it down a little further for you…
(Dimmable) Warm Bulbs:
I have some (dimmable) Amber Glass Vintage LED bulbs in Warm White over the vanity mirror that I turn on at the lowest possible dim setting. The bulbs you use make a HUGE difference! If you only have “bright white” bulbs in your bathroom, please go to Home Depot and change them out now (or add in some warmer bulbs you can turn on after turning these bright ones off). Sheesh 😂
There are some great blue-light-free, flicker-free warm light bulbs like these you can purchase to support your circadian rhythm (for better sleep). We don’t just use amber bulbs in the bathroom, but we have them in the living room as well. Once it’s dark outside, it’s relatively dark around the house too.
Red light:
I’ve also implemented the use of a red light lamp during showers. On some days, I’ll turn ALL the lights off in the bathroom except for this lamp. Now, it’s nothing special, and it may not even work very well (as far as red light therapy is concerned), but it does help set a vibe.
I also recently purchased a LumeBox (medical-grade red light therapy device) with some of my birthday money last month, but I use it for just 12 minutes right AFTER I shower. Here are some of it’s health benefits:
improves skin health by promoting collagen production, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and aiding in the healing of wounds and scars (ummmm…YES PLEASE lol). It may also help with conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
The skin benefits alone are enough to get me using it 😅 but there’s more…
reduces pain and inflammation
may help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety
may influence hormone levels and promote hormonal balance
Red light therapy for the win! 🥳
Candles:
Last thing here…light your candle! But, make sure it’s non-toxic of course 😉 My husband and I like to go to Home Goods for candles because they have SO MANY affordable options (like a full aisle of shelves), and it’s fun to sniff them all lol…
If you’re unsure about what to look for to avoid the toxins, here are some tips:
Natural wax: look for candles made from natural waxes like soy wax, beeswax, or coconut wax
Lead-free wicks: look for wicks made from cotton, hemp, or other natural fibers.
Essential oils or phthalate-free fragrances: choose candles scented with essential oils or fragrances labeled as phthalate-free
Two. The Products.
Ya can’t have a Holisticaited shower without using non-toxic products! I’ve gone over the importance of this before, but here’s a little reminder for you…
We live in a world full of chemicals and toxins that make it very challenging for our bodies to properly detox. As a result, most of us have high levels of toxins in our bodies that affect our hormone health, reproductive health, and our health overall. Take a moment to think about all the personal care products you currently own and use almost every single day…
I’m sure there’s a lot on your shelf 😬…and I’m sure most of it (if not all of it) contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals – chemicals that mess with your hormones and cause imbalance. Over the years, I’ve slowly swapped out all my personal care and household products to reduce my exposure and show my liver some much-needed TLC.
Here’s what I currently have on my bathroom shelves:
Soap/Body Wash: Nothing special. A simple, affordable, large bottle of body wash because although I like bars of soap in theory, they’re just too messy for me…
Shampoo & Conditioner: I know I just said bars of soap are too messy, yet here I am sharing bars of shampoo and conditioner 😂 However, I’m about to run out of these and I’m trying this brand next!
Facial Cleanser: I just recently started using this cleanser, but I only use it occasionally if I feel like my face reaallyyy needs something. Otherwise, I just stick to water or high-quality Manuka Honey.
Toner: This “toner” is basically just rosewater (which is why I love it so much)! I also recently bought this Everything Spray from Primally Pure and I’ve been using it on my face after showers. I like it so far!
Moisturizer:
Face: Pure Jojoba Oil all day babyyy! 😜 For a while, I was into this tallow oil by Kossma, but I’d go through the bottle way too fast and it was getting expensive. So, back to jojoba oil, I went. It’s so simple, so affordable, and it doubles as a makeup remover too! I do also have this tallow balm from Kossma and I love it for an additional layer of moisture, especially after showering.
Body: This body butter smells INCREDIBLE…like I actually want to just eat it.
Deodorant: I just recently purchased this one from Primally Pure, but I have to reapply in the afternoons. Before this one, I was using Dr.Squatch (thanks to my husband) and it worked great. I like to experiment with new options…
That’s pretty much all I use during and after my showers! If you’re interested in swapping some of your products out, but don’t know where to start, the EWG Skindeep Database is a great resource. Feel free to comment below with anything you're unsure about! 😉
Three. Other Random Things…
The Holisticaited shower isn’t quite complete yet. There are a few additional things I do that didn’t fit into a specific category:
1. I end my showers with cold water.
I started doing this mostly because of my hair. My hair stylist often washes my hair in cold water and I know it helps reduce the frizz (and keep your color lookin’ good if you do that), but there are also additional health benefits to the “contrast shower.” Here are some below:
improved circulation
reduced inflammation
healthier-looking skin & hair (cold water tightens pores and seals hair cuticles)
improved mood (increases production of endorphins)
enhanced immune function
2. I spray my legs with magnesium oil.
I started supplementing with magnesium after doing some labwork a few years ago and discovering my levels were low. A lot of us have suboptimal magnesium levels because our soil sucks and the foods we eat don’t contain as much of it anymore or because we’re too stressed and our body requires more of it to manage this (in other words, we’re depleting the magnesium in our bodies with our lifestyles). YAY! 🫣
Magnesium has calming properties that can help reduce stress and improve sleep! It also promotes muscle relaxation and reduces cramps (which I had the pleasure of experiencing while pregnant).
3. I run the fan for at least 15 minutes.
I listened to a podcast episode a long time ago on reducing toxins in your environment (and in your home). One of the suggestions mentioned was to remove the humidity from your bathroom post-showering by running the exhaust fan. DUH…so simple right? So, I make sure to do this for at least 15 minutes after I shower to keep any mold from building up.
Okay so that’s a full breakdown of MY Holisticaited shower; however, some other things may be worth adding in IF they feel good for YOU…
Dry Brushing
I stopped dry brushing a few years ago when my eczema showed up, and I’m paranoid that it’ll make it come back or something so I just avoid it now 😂 However, dry brushing is great for exfoliating the skin, stimulating blood flow, and supporting the lymphatic system (which helps remove toxins in the body and decrease inflammation).
Magnesium Flakes
As I mentioned above, I use magnesium oil spray; but, magnesium flakes are great to throw into your bath if you have one. Soaking in magnesium can reduce cortisol levels, induce calmness, and help you sleep! Who wouldn’t want to bathe in it?
Filtered Showerhead
I only don’t have one of these because I don’t have a standard shower head situation (or a tub faucet either). If you have either of these though, I highly recommend purchasing a filter for it so you can shower and/or bathe with clean water!
Music
There was a night where Darius had some peaceful massage type of music playing in the bathroom while I showered and it was a great way to set the mood. Most of the time, I prefer to be alone with my thoughts, but if some calming music sounds nice to you, by all means, go for it! 😉
So there ya have it…
Your guide to “Holisticaited showers” aka simple holistic showers (or baths) that'll have you feeling refreshed and restored after a longgg day. Next time you step into the shower or draw yourself a bath, I hope you think of this post and remember that it can be about more than just practicing good hygiene. With each Holisticaited shower, you’re not just scrubbing the dirt off your body, but you’re also washing away the stress from your day…
