If there’s one thing that Gen Z excels at, it’s no-expense-spared self care. Multi-step, aesthetic beauty and wellness regimes are this generation’s forte: they’ve created ‘bedtime stacking’ of beautifying tasks (applying fake tan, then putting on face and lip masks, then inserting overnight hair rollers, etcetera), as well as ‘sleepmaxxing’, which entails mouth taping and wearing nose strips and a silk eye mask, all in pursuit of waking up looking effortlessly polished.
The big daddy of Gen Z’s maximalist approach to self care, though, is the notorious ‘everything shower’. A process that some women on TikTok are proud to dedicate four hours to, it involves a sequence of elaborate tasks to happen before, during and after a shower. Think dry brushing, hair oiling before a double shampoo and mask, a five-step skincare routine, exfoliating the entire body, shaving and a generous dose of body cream – and often so much more – before slipping into a fresh pair of pyjamas.
Sure, I agree that ‘everything showers’ sound intense and very time consuming, but I also think they sound very alluring. An entire evening of self care that’ll make me look and feel better? I’m sold. So, in the interest of beauty journalism, I challenged myself to curate a time efficient take on the viral trend. The goal of an ‘everything shower’ is to create a spa-like experience without the price tag. How hard can it be to do this in fewer steps? It turns out, I found, not that hard when you employ multitasking products.
My condensed, body-focused version of the ‘everything shower’ still feels like a luxury experience, but without the mammoth time commitment. Using Rituals’ reimagined The Ritual of Ayurveda range, I streamline the process with just four multitaskers: a foaming shower gel, body cream, oil and a clay mask. Inspired by ancient Ayurvedic practices, the skincare line is designed to help you feel reset and rebalanced, but also make your skin feel its absolute best.
Step 1: Cleanse and exfoliate
I start with a foaming shower gel from The Ritual of Ayurveda range. A small squeeze transforms into a rich foam, while my loofah gently exfoliates in tandem with the cleansing product. Enriched with Indian rose and sweet almond oil, the formula makes my skin silky soft and nourished – and it smells delicious. Plus, with 92% natural-origin ingredients, it’s carefully formulated without any nasties.
Step 2: Clay mask… everywhere
Next, I apply the collection’s clay face and body mask, a new addition for 2026. Infused with rejuvenating amla, the formula acts as a magnet for impurities without the harsh, crackling dryness typical of traditional clay. It maintains a breathable texture as it gets to work, drawing out toxins and leaving behind a lit-from-within look. It works just as well (and quickly) on the body as it does the face, helping save vital time on body care during my ‘everything shower’.
Step 3: Post-shower hydration
Post-shower, I drench my skin in a generous helping of the range’s body cream. The texture is a whipped dream with a lightweight airiness that melts and spreads effortlessly. The scent – floral, nutty and fruity, all at the same time – is so delicious that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s edible. I found that it makes my body skin feel supple, and imparts hydration that lasts well into the next day.
Step 4: A botanical sealant
The Ritual of Ayurveda body oil was my entrance into the world of dry oils – and I’m sold. This blend is the key for me achieving a spa-like glow. It acts as a botanical sealant, locking in the benefits of the previous steps while softening my skin to the point it feels like velvet. Blending six precious oils, including two fermented oils for enhanced absorption, this new and improved formula delivers rich nourishment without the heaviness. The Indian rose brings a sweet and delicate aroma, duly creating a floral, nutty and fruity fragrance (which enhances the scent of the body cream) that helps to harmonise the senses.
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