+ We’re talking closet and getting-ready essentials this month. After my morning routine, it’s all about the shower...

I think one of the reasons why I like hotel rooms so much is because of the tidy bathrooms. It's so nice to have a shower with small versions of just the basics. I used to be an art director in the beauty industry, and I'm finally shaking off the last bits of feeling like I need to own or use a lot of products. That practice just isn't in line with my values anymore. It's pricey, can be wasteful and even harmful to the environment and our health! Plus, the collection of body products most of us have can feel overwhelming.

I have removed a lot of elements from my beauty routine ;) This is all that we keep in the shower, and we don’t have extras in another closet. When we start to run low, we get another. MY SHOWER ESSENTIALS:

1. Dry Brush. Right before I shower and while I’m waiting for the water to heat up, I like to quickly dry-brush. I actually started this practice about ten years ago while doing a crazy detox but I just started up again last year and it’s so invigorating. Plus I have super soft skin. ;) If you want to learn a little more about it, check out this post from No More Dirty Looks.

2. Face Oil. One of the best things I’ve ever done for my skin is to reduce the number of products used, especially soaps. I wash my face with oil and then moisturize with the same oil and it’s really mellowed out my complexion and given me a glow. I apply a few drops of oil to my skin right after getting in the shower and then massage it for a minute before rinsing it under the warm water. I might use a microfiber cloth to further exfoliate or I make a mask out of our honey and a little baking soda every week or so. I’ll post more about it later but for now, one of the best resources for oil cleansing, in addition to No More Dirty Looks, is minimalistbeauty.com. Check it out!

3. Shampoo/Conditioner. I try to only shampoo a couple of times a week (usually after soccer or swimming) and I'm forever trying out new shampoos. I even stopped using shampoo altogether for 6 months! (Let me know if you’d like to hear more about my experience with no-poo!)

I wet my hair well and then lather a little bit of shampoo into the roots, rinsing at the end of the shower. While I continue to look for that magical shampoo that won't strip my hair, won't leave it greasy and also tames flyaways, I like to buy a travel size of a green product to try. This season it's Aesop. We both use so little shampoo that these bottles last us more than a month. I’ll refill it if I fall in love. The conditioner is rarely used so it also fills in as shaving cream when needed.

4. Soap. Just for the pits and bits! We like castille soap and tend to buy Dr. Bronners but I also like to pick up natural soaps at farmer's markets.

5. Floss. Strange but amazing! It always bothered me that I couldn't maintain a flossing habit. I read online one day to try putting the floss in the shower (let me know if you know where I found this) and it's changed my life! I floss while I'm rinsing my hair so it maybe only adds 30 seconds to my shower but it ensures that I floss at least four times a week!

+ We share a razor and keep it hanging in the shower.

What about you? Is your shower filled with products? Any experience with dry-brushing, oil-cleansing or no-pooing? Thanks!