Elevate Your Shower this Valentines Day

Today we look at some eco-friendly shower products to elevate your at-home spa experience. And, an at-home spa moment comes down to two kinds of people: the bath takers and the shower lovers. 

I covet the stand-alone soaking tub, I really do, but not having one myself has made me appreciate a luxurious shower. With Valentine’s day coming, we’re covering a few ways to level up your shower to pamper yourself or your loved one…oh, and the earth. 

Roses are red, violets are blue, at the end of a long day, a pampered-up shower will do

By now, you have to know how much I love eliminating single-use plastic bottles for products like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash to bar soaps. These eco-friendly bath and body products cut out loads of plastic. IMHO soap bars are a win-win as an elevated experience and eco-friendly swap. 

There are tons of great bar soap options, making this swap easier than ever. Take a little time clearing out the bulky plastic bottles and make room for soap bars. The Sustainable Home Tour: Bathroom Edition post lists many of my favorite picks. 

Eco-friendly Shower Scents

Scents are incredibly powerful for activating a physical and emotional response, especially relaxation. But, lots of products contain ‘fragrance’ and the product manufacturer does not have to define what that fragrance is. ‘Fragrance’ can be code for chemicals and who wants that when there are wonderful natural options?

Add Eucalyptus to Your Shower

Eucalyptus has all kinds of healing and soothing properties. Hang a small bunch of eucalyptus branches to elevate the shower to release a good clean scent while opening up your sinus passages. 

Eucalyptus looks beautiful while offering a variety of health benefits, like reducing inflammation and promoting relaxation. Yes, please.  

If Eucalyptus grows in your area, it can be easily sourced at any floral store or nursery. If not, there are plenty of online options to have live, fresh Eucalyptus shipped right to your door. 

Bundle eucalyptus with lavender for added relaxation and the most fragrant aroma. 

For the DIYers, these all-natural eco-friendly shower steamers are another way to incorporate Eucalyptus and lavender into your shower routine. 

Incorporate Essential Oils into Your Shower Routine

Use essential oils to enhance calm and promote relaxation as you shower. Scents can play a powerful role in achieving a certain mood, like coming down to escape stress or energizing ourselves to take on the day. 

Use this insightful guide to help incorporate scent and essential oils into your routines to improve your overall wellness.

Eco-friendly Shower Pouf: the Natural Loofah

So this might blow your mind, but the plastic pouf Loofahs you find hanging at Target are fashioned from a natural plant called a Luffa Plant. They are a tropical vine associated with the cucumber family and are perfect for exfoliating without adding wasteful plastics to your bathroom. Loofah converts carbon dioxide to oxygen on the front end and can be composted on the back end.

Choose an eco friendly shower pouf and go with the natural Loofah. This is one of my favorites. They are affordable, more aesthetically pleasing, and doing way better for the earth.

Add a Luxurious, Eco-Conscious Robe or Towel for After Your Shower

The most eco-friendly towel on the market is the one you already have. But, if you are in the market for new towels, let’s talk about luxurious eco-friendly products.

Growing cotton has a significant environmental impact on the earth, from the water it takes to the pesticides used to help it grow. 

Here are two things to look for when purchasing cotton-based products:

• GOTS: Global Organic Textile Standard. If organic cotton is GOTS certified, you can feel good. Organic certification means that textile and fabric products are grown according to strict guidelines on using petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, and synthetic products.
• OEKO-TEX: Oeko-Tex certification is about how the fabric is processed, including things like dyes and finishes. Oeko-Tex textiles and fabrics are certified free of harmful chemicals and safe for human use.

But to make it even easier, use this guide to help you find a luxurious and sustainable towel. 

Incorporate Plants that Will Love Your Shower

The bathroom can be an excellent place for your plant babies because of the steam your shower provides. Live plants add zen and act as a natural air purifier. 

Studies have shown that getting into nature reduces stress and lifts your mood. Surrounding yourself with plants acts as an air purifier and encourages the plant’s photosynthesis process.

Try a Pathos or Snake plant if you have a little natural light. Both plants are extremely low maintenance, even for the brownest of thumbs. I promise you can do this! 

The Pathos needs a little water once every week or so. The snake plant can literally go a month or more between watering. They are the best! Which reminds me, I have to water my snake plant, which I definitely have not watered yet this year, and we are kicking off Feb.

I would be remiss not to mention that water is a finite resource, so we need to be aware of how long we are showering. Give yourself a day or two of the week for a nice relaxing experience while the other showers are efficient.
Are you a bath or shower person, drop me a 🛀 or 🚿 below