Shower Oils: Turn Your Shower Into A Speedy Spa Experience
How often have you attempted to apply body lotion, only to be interrupted by Peppa Pig puzzle requests instead? Or settled in the tub for a relaxing soak, before jumping out again to settle your newborn? We realise every mama needs a little pampering, but it needs to be fast. Try switching your regular shower gel with a moisturising shower oil (instantly clean, soft skin), or use one loaded with essential oils to reap the benefits of a relaxing soak or uplifting boost in five minutes flat. Here are our favourite buys.
Lisa Durant
No7 Luxurious Foaming Shower Oil (£9.95, boots.com)
Great if you have dry skin, but still prefer the clean feeling of a foaming shower gel, this leaves skin clean, yet super-nourished (it’s loaded with grapeseed oil and omega 6 and 9). Plus the gentle scent is great for sensitive pregnant noses.
Blend Collective A Silky Bath & Shower Oil (£24.95, blendcollective.co.uk)
Great after a testing day of toddler tantrums, a couple of capfuls of this natural oil applied to skin, before quickly jumping in the shower, will calm a racing mind and help you unwind. Jam-packed with sandalwood, frankincense, cedarwood and neroli for a true sensory experience.
Neom Tranquillity Organic Bath & Shower Oil (£32, neomorganics.com)
If you have 20 minutes or so, pour this deeply concentrated oil into the bath and relax, but otherwise you’ll still get the benefits of the 30% pure essential oils by applying before you shower. The seriously indulgent and relaxing blend of English lavender, sweet basil and jasmine will scent your whole bathroom for hours and send you off into restful sleep.
Sanctuary Spa 2 Day Moisture Shower Oil (£6.99, sanctuary.com)
A little goes a long way with this shower oil. The consistency is rich, luxe and keeps skin hydrated for 48 hours, even after showering. It also makes a great alternative to shaving gel, especially if you find regular foaming formulas drying on your skin.
Aveeno Bath & Shower Oil 250ml (£7.99, ocado.com)
This effectively cleanses skin whilst protecting and moisturising, so you can skip body lotion unless your skin is particularly dry. Great for itchy pregnant tummies, soothing the itch of chicken pox spots and eczema. Colloidal oatmeal (finely milled oatmeal) restores your skin’s moisture barrier and prevents water loss.
Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath & Shower Oil (£39, aromatherapyassociates.com)
It’s ok to admit being a parent is tough sometimes. It’s during those times you need a well-deserved pick-me-up and this should be top of the list. Apply to dry skin before showering and let the steam create a cloud of aromatherapy whilst you shower. The blend of clary sage, frankincense and cardamom calms your thoughts and lifts your spirits.
Eucerin AtoControl Bath & Shower Oil (£15, boots.com)
Perfect for halting the itch-scratch cycle of irritated, very dry skin and atopic dermatitis, this shower oil is great for adults and children too. Use this in place of your regular shower gel to soothe and hydrate, or for babies over three months, add a little to bath water. We love that it’s totally colourant, fragrance and paraben free and very gentle on reactive skin.
Rituals Fortune Oil (£8, uk.rituals.com)
Smells like freshly-squeezed oranges and the oil formula gives a satisfying foam to cleanse skin and clear your head after a heavy night of feeds.
Balm Balm Bath & Shower Oil Collection (£24.99, balmbalm.com)
This brilliant box of mini organic oils, allows you to select a different scent depending on whether you’re exhausted, need to relax or feel balanced. Each little bottle of concentrated oil provides at least 2-3 applications too.
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil (£17.50, uk.loccitane.com)
If the yummy scent of marzipan doesn’t have you hooked, the gentle foam of this nourishing oil will. The oil turns to a milk on contact with water and disperses just enough to avoid a slippery shower.
