🌴 The summer everything shower

The hot-weather edit

Though I listen to fewer podcasts now (because that time is now allocated to Substack reading!) I’ll never forget when the subject of what goes on in your shower came up on a now-defunct one.

The topic? What goes on in your shower—specifically, do you face toward or away from the spray and then what is your order of personal-care events?

I was amazed at the sheer variety of agenda items covered.

For starters: I always face away from the shower, probably because I’m only washing my hair about half the time in there and I had lash extensions for years so I wanted to avoid messing them up/getting them wet. I briefly face the shower when I’m washing the front of my body only and if I’m washing my face in there—which I rarely do as I prefer to do it at the sink.

Another reason I face away? My late mom wrote this eons ago for her column on my now-defunct blog.

“Never take a bath, take a shower. I realize that this rule will alienate multitudes, particularly those who really deserve a good soak after a long and nerve-wracking day. But here’s the thing, hot water (and let’s face it, who would want to bathe in anything else?) definitely droops breasts. Personally, I take long, hot showers (I admit this is green heresy) facing away from the shower head. Over time, I’ve even noticed that my ventral and dorsal sides have developed marked differences in temperature tolerance. But who cares? What matters is keeping the girls perky.”

I think about this every single time I’m in the shower. Now you will, too. I wonder what other lost city of Atlantis-esque beauty advice gems remain untapped.

Back to the podcast. Then, there was a debate on bar soap vs. body wash. My preference is actually both. Body wash doesn’t quite feel clean enough for me—I need that Dove Beauty Bar on my underarms, private zones and feet. In a heatwave, like the one we’re enduring now, it’s got to be antibacterial. Lever 2000 is my longtime jam. For my limbs and torso, body wash is great.

Here’s the summer 2025 lineup.

💦 The Summer Shampoo & Conditioner

Ricardo Rojas Yerba Mate Super Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

This was a total haphazard thing. Last year, I was at RPZL getting a blowout with

Aly Walansky

and Ricardo Rojas himself happened to be at the salon working. You may remember him as Seema’s hairdresser from And Just Like That. Aly recognized him immediately and once she pointed it out, I made the connection. I’d assumed that dude was actor, but lo, he’s ALSO an actor who happened to play a hairstylist. Anyway, he gave Aly and me products targeted to our respective hair types and the Yerba Mate conditioner were in my bag.

Ricardo Rojas Yerba Mate Shine Shampoo is the hair product equivalent of that one employee who actually delivers on their promises without making it everyone else's problem. I’m a marketer. I know that “shine” tends to be a catchall for a hair type that is sort of nondescript — and often, offers nondescript benefits. This wowed me! The yerba mate isn't just marketing bullshit either—it actually wakes up your scalp like that first coffee of the day. My hair comes out looking like it has its life together, which is more than I can say for most things I’m managing in this oppressive heat. It's not trying to be your friend or stroke your ego. It just works, leaves you shinier than you deserve, and doesn't create any drama in the shower with its light scent that dissipates over time so as not to overpower your perfume. I use it with my scrubber and get a few days out of my blowout. Finally, a product that understands the assignment without needing a thirty-minute explanation of expectations.

The conditioner is special! Again, the shine designation made me thing this would be a drop of water in the desert in terms of hydration. My hair is heat-damaged and highlighted, so it needs mega moisture. This conditioner has mask energy, though it’s not classified as such. Where most conditioners just smooth the surface, this one seems to actually repair and strengthen from within, leaving you with that glossy, healthy shine that looks effortless but feels luxurious. It's the kind of product that makes you want to text your friends immediately after using it because you can't believe something this good exists at this price point. I've been rationing it like a precious resource, but it's too good not to use regularly—this is what happens.

🫧The Summer Wash

Mustela’s Stelatopia Cleansing Oil

This is a baby wash, but I use Mustela’s cleansing gel for Reid (we love the scent!) and save this one for me. What’s good for the Reid is good for his mom and this wash is fantastic for dry, sensitive skin. This fragrance-free gem is it. Designed for eczema-prone littles, it’s packed with avocado and sunflower oil to hydrate and soothe while gently cleansing without stripping natural oils—think silky, milky vibes in the bath that leave skin soft, not slippery. I’m obsessed with how it doubles as a makeup remover for moms (a multitasker!), and the EWG-verified, plant-based formula feels like a luxe hug. Whether you’re bathing a little one or sneaking it for yourself, this $20-ish bottle is a chic, practical must-have. When I want to exfoliate with it, I wear a pair of these.

🧴 The Summer Body Moisturizer

If it’s not happening in the shower, these days it’s not happening at all. That’s why I love this genius product from Hanni called Splash Salve, which is like a deep conditioner for your body and doesn’t leave your skin all wet and draggy so it’s hard to put clothes on shortly after.

ICYMI:

P.S. Lavender lilac blush, fun jellies, these more sophisticated jellies that remind me of an amazing discontinued Enzo Angiolini pair I wore INTO THE GROUND that I’ve been trying to replace since 2009 ish, and this intriguing foundation that goes on white and blends into your skin tone. Stay tuned for my review.