Context:

The concept of the 'everything shower', a comprehensive personal hygiene routine popularized by social media influencers, involves multiple steps and products but is debated by health experts for its necessity and potential risks. While influencers promote these showers as essential self-care rituals, experts argue that they offer minimal health benefits beyond basic cleaning and can even be harmful to the skin by disrupting its natural microbiome. The excessive use of products in these routines can lead to allergic reactions, irritation, and increased risk of infections, with dermaplaning being particularly risky. Environmental concerns are also raised, as these elaborate showers significantly increase water consumption and energy usage. Health professionals advocate for simpler shower routines that conserve resources and focus on genuine hygienic needs, cautioning against succumbing to social media pressures and consumerist trends in personal care.

Dive Deeper:

• The 'everything shower' trend involves a multi-step hygiene routine often shared by social media influencers, which can use up to 25 different products and take hours to complete. This luxurious routine is seen as a weekly self-care ritual but is critiqued by experts for its necessity.

• Health professionals assert that these extensive routines do not offer significant health benefits beyond basic cleaning, as daily showers primarily prevent harmful germ overgrowth rather than addressing direct health risks. They suggest that a simple regimen with a gentle body cleanser is sufficient for most people.

• Using a large number of products can harm the skin by causing allergic reactions and irritating conditions like eczema, as well as disrupting the skin's natural protective microbiome, increasing the risk of infections such as acne.

• Environmental concerns are highlighted, with water conservationists noting that long showers contribute to high water and energy usage. Simple measures like turning off the faucet during certain steps and using water-efficient showerheads can mitigate this impact.

• The trend raises questions about the influence of social media on personal care routines, where the pressure to maintain complex and costly routines can lead to anxiety and unnecessary consumption. Experts caution against the conflation of self-care with consumerism, particularly for women who feel pressured to meet unrealistic beauty standards.