My In-Shower Moisturizing Manifesto
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This story first appeared on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 inThe Strategist Beauty Brief,a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign uphere.The Strategist Beauty Briefis delivered every Wednesday.
My skin is deeply dry. I’m talking ashy-in-the-summer and scaly-in-the-winter dry. That’s why I’ve converted to the church of in-shower moisturizing. I used to be skeptical of this as a practice because I imagine the shower as a space for cleansing and watching TikToks (I have an in-shower niche). Things changed for me with theNaturium Hydrating Body Wash, which shifted my idea of what a cleanser could be. It has a light, slippery texture that emulsifies nicely and leaves skin feeling moisturized but not coated in a weird film. I incorporated this into my routine a few months ago and have since set out on a quest to build my routine for maximum hydration. After many rounds of trial and error, I’ve settled on five products that have become essential and revitalized my skin.
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I’ve been using Dove soap since I was a kid. It’s the foundation of my routine and the only soap that doesn’t leave a weird film or feel totally stripping. It’s not particularly hydrating but gives me a good base to layer on the rest of my products.
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Next, I go in with an exfoliator. I like that this is both a chemical and physical exfoliant, so it helps to break down dry skin and smooth any patches. I also struggle with ingrown hairs and the occasional pimple, so I incorporate this a few times a week to keep that at bay.
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This body wash is the star of the hydration show. It’s 50 percent glycerin and packed with oils like squalane, which is hydrating but noncomedogenic. This is important because it’s the first of many moisturizing layers, so I wouldn’t want to use anything that feels heavy or leaves a layer on my skin. Once the body wash comes into contact with water, it lathers and cleanses. After this step, my skin feels squeaky clean and ready for my scented body wash, which I like for laying the groundwork for my perfume.
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I love the Nécessaire body wash, which has a luxurious, thick feel. I especially like the Olibanum scent, which has notes of vanilla, fig leaf, and cassis. This works well on its own, but I like using it after the Naturium body wash because it’s a bit richer. I also like to leave it on for a bit so the scent stays on my skin. I’m a fan of the ingredients in this. It contains vitamins C and E, along with niacinamide, which, over time, helps to brighten and tone skin.
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My final body wash (I know) is the Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash. It has a frosting consistency and feels a bit like lotion. This one is ultramoisturizing on its own, but as a final layer it does a lot of heavy lifting, so when I get out of the shower, my lotion doesn’t have to work as hard. I also love the scent. It’s slightly powdery and smellsclean.
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I shave every few weeks, and when I do, I like to use the Flamingo razor, which has two moisturizing pads that hug the razor. It provides an ultraclose shave, and I think the moisture pads help to reduce any shaving irritation. Since I switched to it a few weeks ago, I haven’t had a single razor bump or rash.
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