Thanks to TikTok and the “everything shower” trend, our showers are longer and our water bills are higher than ever. However, our self care game is much stronger, and that alone makes it all worth it. Maximize your time, body care products, and the money you’re spending on these longer showers by applying your products in the proper order.

When it comes to perfecting your shower routine, the order in which you apply your body care products can make a significant difference in their effectiveness. If you’re already planning on taking an “everything shower”, learn how you can maximize the effectiveness of your body care products.

What’s in our shower body care lineup? We recommend using an oil-infused body wash and an exfoliating body scrub for added hydration and the ultimate "dolphin skin". To take the physical exfoliation even further, use an exfoliating body mitt along with a body scrub.

Do You Exfoliate Before or After Using Body Wash?

Our recommendation is to exfoliate after using body wash. Body wash cleanses and softens the skin (again, we recommend using an oil-infused body wash for extra hydration), prepping the skin for an exfoliating body scrub, now that it will be less prone to potential traction and irritation. Rinse off your body exfoliator, lightly towel off and apply your favorite lotion, balm, or body oil.

Cleansing with a body wash before exfoliating is beneficial for several reasons. Body washes, especially those enriched with skincare essentials like niacinamide, glycolic acid, and antioxidants, prepare the skin by softening it and removing impurities. Following up with a physical body scrub allows for a gentler exfoliation process, minimizing traction and irritation, and ensures a smoother removal of loosened dead skin cells.