What’s in My Shower? The Glorious 25-Minute Winter Edition
- Hilary Burke
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
Warmth, Sweet Smells & Peace (Sort Of)
January is in full force. It’s cold. COVID has torn through our house. The post-holiday crash is real. And honestly? During dark New England winters, my greatest joys are counting down to February vacation and stepping into long, hot showers — my version of therapy, reset, and escape.
These cold, dry days have my skin begging for deep, lasting hydration. Thankfully, my winter shower lineup is stacked with products that deliver comfort, moisture, scent, and a whole lot of self-care.
Hair Care: Comfort First, Always
My hair care of choice is Prose Custom Shampoo + Conditioner. Skin sensitivities pushed me to find products low in irritating actives and high in results. With Prose, I get formulations tailored exactly to what my hair needs — everything I want, nothing I don’t.
Once a week, I swap my shampoo for a scalp reset using Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub. It’s like a salon visit without leaving the shower: gentle sea salt exfoliation, rich lather, and a luxurious feeling that makes you feel like someone should hand you a bon-bon mid-rinse.
My ride-or-die treatment is the Divi Whipped Repair Treatment Mask. She’s been a faithful companion for over a year now — no week goes by without her. I love the scent, the soothing feel on my scalp, and how healthy my hair looks afterward.
Body Care: Where the Magic Happens
Forget old-school loofahs. My Silklē silicone scrubber is soft, flexible, and honestly… a whole vibe. It exfoliates gently, lathers beautifully, and doesn’t trap bacteria the way sponges do (bye, mildew).
What’s going on that scrubber lately? Glad you asked — Cyklar has officially entered the shower.
This body wash is quickly becoming a favorite. With notes of grapefruit, sea salt, lavender, amber, musk, moss, and cedar, it’s comforting, elevated, and quietly luxurious. And it's currently the only product touching my silicone scrubber!
This body polish blends chemical and physical exfoliation in one smart formulation, buffing away dullness while leaving skin brighter and smoother.
This is my at home spa treatment for my body 1-2x a week.
And then there’s my newest obsession: Vanilla Verve In-Shower Body Oil Balm — cue the clapping hands. This spicy-sweet vanilla scent makes me genuinely happy. Applied to wet skin before the towel touches me, it locks in hydration and reinforces the skin barrier. By the time I dry off? I’m already moisturized. No extra step required.
Not in a body wash mood? I’ve got a brick for that.
When I’m not enjoying my friend Amy’s Farmacoopia Tallow Soap Bricks, I’m reaching for the Flamingo Estate Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick. Cold-processed soap meets fine-ground pumice in a massive bar that smells like a botanical greenhouse and tingles with spa-grade peppermint. The scent alone will wake you right up.
Face Care: Never Forgotten
And because I never neglect my face, I always keep my favorite exfoliating cleanser within reach: Rodan + Fields Reverse Deep Exfoliating Cleanser. It’s a creamy, salicylic-acid-based formula that gently exfoliates while removing makeup, SPF, and the day’s grime — leaving skin smooth, clean, and refreshed.
Shower time has become an extension of my self-care promise to myself: 25 minutes of music, warm water, insanely good-smelling products, and usually a one-eyed Frenchie staring at me through the glass.
It’s not perfect. It’s not uninterrupted. But it’s mine.
What’s your non-negotiable winter shower essential?
Comments