Look, I know I’m late for the party, but I’ve recently discovered the magic of night showers, and I’ve been meaning to write a post about them for a while now. You see, it took almost five years for my kid to become a good sleeper (yes, I know, it’s awful). Which meant, in our tiny house, any unnecessary noise was unwelcome after 8 p.m. because it would undoubtedly wake up our light sleeper and start the bedtime process all over again. But we’re in a much better place these days, thankfully! And suddenly, I find myself with a newfound sense of freedom I never had before.

Thus, I began indulging in night showers.

And holy hell, what have I been missing?

I’ve always known a night shower or pre-bedtime bath can be incredibly relaxing as part of your wind-down routine, but I had yet to indulge myself. I was a morning shower person. But unlike my husband, morning showers were more an act of convenience rather than a necessary method of shaking off sleep inertia. And while I still value the benefits of a morning shower to start your day, I am here to tell you that night showers are where it’s at.

The benefits of a night shower routine

We’re gross at the end of the day. Our skin accumulates plenty of dirt and grime at the end of each day (not to mention sweat and residue from skincare products). If you stick to a morning-only wash, without so much as an evening rinse-off, you might be going to bed with some built-up bacteria. Gross.

Night showers help you relax. The body naturally cools down as bedtime approaches, in sync with the circadian rhythm. Showering artificially raises the temperature again and allows for a faster cool down, which seems to hasten sleep. So if you struggle with insomnia or take a long time to fall asleep, a warm shower can be magical.

You get the most out of your skincare products. Creams, serums and lotions work by trapping existing moisture in your skin. To trap this much-needed moisture, you need to apply these products when your skin is still a bit damp. After an evening shower, your skin really has a chance to soak in your moisturizer as you sleep. It also doesn’t have to compete with being wiped off during your makeup application or sweated off during your morning gym session.

Evening allows for more self-care. My night showers give me a different mindset than my morning showers. I often feel rushed and scheduled in the morning because I know I’m trying to get out the door. But night showers allow me to slow down and really indulge in self-care. There’s no schedule, no timetable holding me back. I can stand under the warm water for an hour if I feel like it. And I am also able to really utilize some of my favorite self-care products in the process.

Here are some of my favorite night shower self-care products:

Sea Salt + Eucalyptus Candle

If you’re not taking a night shower by candlelight, you’re missing out big time. I love the soft, calming scent of sea salt + eucalyptus for winding down at the end of the day.

Coco Rose Coconut Oil Body Polish

Every few nights, I’ll use this sugar scrub to exfoliate my skin before bed. I love how hydrating it is and makes my skin feel so soft before bed.

Eminence Organic Skincare Wildflower Ultralight Oil

Using a hydrating body oil right after a night shower is one of life’s small luxuries. This one is the perfect “weight” because it hydrates my skin but never leaves greasy residue behind on my sheets.

Esker Beauty Allover Jade Roller

After applying my body oil, I use this all over jade roller to help my skin absorb the moisture, and break up any tension or puffiness I may have.

Sachajuan Over Night Hair Repair

You should never go to bed with wet hair, so I don’t wash my hair during my night showers. Instead, I use this overnight hair repair cream to hydrate and rehabilitate my hair while I sleep. I love that it’s not greasy and that my hair is still clean and ready to go the next morning.

Versed Skincare Doctor’s Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask

Once a week, I’ll use this quick two-minute mask while in the shower to help rejuvenate and brighten my skin. It’s a little heavy duty because it packs a punch with its ingredients, so it’s definitely best used at night!