My Mundane Bathroom Details

A few months ago, Diane had an excellent post about her mundane bathroom details. Well, I find these mundane life details to be fascinating! I just love getting a glimpse into how other people live: what is their routine like? what products do they use? how often are they doing their hair and makeup?

I bookmarked that post, promising to write my own post about my own mundane bathroom details and here we are. Somehow, I have 1,500 words to say about this topic. (I AM SO SORRY.) Please enjoy!

SHOWER

In the shower, I am loyal to Tresemme products. I use their “Silky & Smooth” line because it makes my hair so soft! I use the shampoo on my whole head and then conditioner on the ends. Once a week, I’ll apply my special psoriasis shampoo (clobetasol), which has to sit for 15 minutes before I can wash it out. So I’ll apply it pre-shower (only on the two spots on each side of my scalp where I have flares) and then sit on the couch, playing a game on my phone, until it’s time to get in the shower to wash it out. Then I’ll also use Tresemme shampoo for my whole head.

To wash my body, I use a loofah (which I don’t replace nearly as often as I should) and body wash. I’m not brand loyal to body wash, but it’s typically Caress, Suave, or Softsoap in a delicious scent. And I never use exfoliating body washes, since I also use them in my bubble baths that I take multiple times a week. All those exfoliating beads feel terrible in a bath, lol.

For shaving, I don’t use shaving cream. Instead, I do a wet shave. I will typically shave my legs when I’m taking a bath (so they’re also nice and soft from the bath water!). But I also shave my arms (a weird thing I started doing as a teen when I felt very self-conscious about my hairy arms and all the girls in my youth group were shaving their arms), which I do in the shower.

Once I am out of the shower, I wrap up in a bath sheet, which I highly recommend over a regular-size bath towel. They are bigger and cozier. I wrap my hair up in a microfiber hair towel. And then I do the thing I am not supposed to do: I use a Q-tip to remove the excess water from my ears. Is this the best part of my day? Maybe. Nothing feels as good as rubbing a Q-tip around my ear canal, I swear.

Lastly, I will put on some deodorant! Honestly, I only do this if I will be in public. If I’m going to be at home all day and not seeing anyone, I don’t apply deodorant. Right now, I’m using Secret’s Whole Body Deodorant Spray, which I like.

TEETH

I am not brand loyal to any toothbrush. I just grab whatever catches my eye when it’s time for a new toothbrush. Right now, I’m using Colgate 360 Charcoal Sonic Powered Vibrating Toothbrush. I basically bought it because I thought it looked cool. My toothpaste is Crest 3D White Advanced Teeth Whitening Toothpaste. It’s not making my teeth any whiter, and yet, I keep buying it. And, of course, mouthwash. I use Crest Pro-Health Advanced mouthwash, and I haven’t had a cavity since I’ve been using it! Coincidence, maybe, but maybe not.

For Christmas, I got a water flosser (Waterpik,) and I loved using that thing to floss my teeth every night. And then it lost its charge and I realized I put the charger in a very secret place. So secret that I don’t even know where it is! I have looked everywhere. I need to just suck it up and buy a new charger, but I’m still convinced I will find it somewhere in my apartment.

SKIN

I’ve already gone through my skincare routine on the blog a few times, so I’ll list off my morning and nighttime routines quickly:

• Morning: Cleanser (La Roche Posay), toner (La Roche Posay), niacinamide serum (The Ordinary), vitamin C serum (L’Oreal), and moisturizer (Cerave)
• Nighttime: Cleanser (La Roche Posay), exfoliant (Paula’s Choice), toner (La Roche Posay), niacinamide serum (The Ordinary), hyaluronic acid serum (The Ordinary), moisturizer (Cerave)

I don’t do this routine every day because sometimes I get lazy and sometimes my face feels like it needs a break. When I’m washing my face with cleanser, I use a washcloth to wet my face before applying cleanser, and then again to remove the cleanser. The towels get thrown into my laundry basket after every use. (The washcloths are nothing special; I’ll usually just pick up a pack on a random Homegoods run.) I use reusable cotton rounds to apply my liquid exfoliant and toner. I bought two packs of these pads from Amazon and then another pack from a local zero-waste store.

The only other skin product I use is my pimple patches because I’m in my late 30s now and am still dealing with breakouts. WHEN WILL IT END?! Argh. I like the Mighty Patch pimple patches for simple breakouts, but I also get these pustules (such a gross word) from time to time. For those, I’ve had great luck with ZitSticka Killa Acne Extra Strength patches.

Oh, and I also wear sunscreen! I don’t wear it every day since there are so many days when I’m not out in the sun at all, but if I know I’m going to be outside for more than a few minutes, I’ll apply it. I am not brand loyal here, anything will do (currently: Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Face Sunscreen).

HAIR

My hair routine is quite simple these days as I usually just brush it out after my shower (which is always in the morning) and then let it air dry. Sometimes, I’ll use the straightener after my hair has dried if I want to look a little more pulled together, but generally, I don’t bother with it. Right now, I’m using The Knot Dr. hairbrush, which I love so much. It is so easy to get out any knots! I don’t use any product in my hair when I let it air dry—it usually dries fairly straight and smooth. (I know I’m lucky!)

If I’m going to actually do my hair, I have a hair dryer (Conair InfinitiPRO), a dryer brush (Conair InfinitiPRO, as well), a straightener (also Conair InfinitiPRO), and a curling wand (Bed Head Rock N Roller Curling Wand). Apparently, I am brand loyal to Conair InfinitiPRO. (Who knew?!) So when I’m doing my hair, I will do one of three things:

• Use the blowdryer to get my hair 50% dry, and then use my dryer brush for the rest of it. This gives my hair the best volume, but it takes longer.
• Use the blow dryer, and then straighten. This will take 15-20 minutes, from wet hair to straightened hair.
• Use the blow dryer, and then curl. This takes about the same time as the dryer brush.

Other hair products are hair elastics (Goody Ouchless, in black), which I use on a daily basis because I hate having my hair down and will obsessively play with it. I use these hairclips to pin back my bangs since I’m going through the arduous process of growing out my bangs. And I have a whole slew of headbands that I use! I can only wear headbands when my hair is down, though, because they’ll slide right off my head if I have my hair pulled back. (My hair is very fine and smooth, so most headbands just can’t grab hold of anything.)

MAKEUP

I used to wear a full face of makeup every day when I worked in a office, but thank God for video call filters now. If I want to look a little more put together, I’ll fill in my eyebrows and do a few swoops of mascara. Maybe some lipstick to finish things off.

If I really want to get dolled up, though, here’s what I use:

• Foundation (Milani Conceal + Perfect)
• Finishing powder (e.l.f. Perfect Finish HD Powder)
• Eyeshadow (I have a bunch of different palettes that I rotate through depending on my mood)
• Eyebrow pencil (NYX Micro Brow Pencil)
• Mascara (Maybelline the Falsies Surreal)
• Bronzer (Revlon Skin Lights)
• Lipstick (my fave for staying power is Maybelline SuperStay, either Matte Ink or Vinyl Ink)

I also keep a package of makeup wipes (Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes) on hand for those days that I do a full face of makeup. Since I do it so rarely, it takes me forever to go through a package so I don’t feel like I’m killing the environment.

OTHER

Okay, we’re finally onto the last category! These are all miscellaneous items that are bathroom products:

• Tampons – I’m brand loyal to Tampax Pearl. I have all of my tampons organized in bins by size and stacked in my bathroom closet.
• Hand soap – I’m partial to Mrs. Meyers and I always try to find a new scent to enjoy.
• Perfume – My mom gave me her bottle of Kate Spade perfume, which is quite full, so I’ll be enjoying that bottle for a very long time. I also keep any perfume samples I get (I love when Sephora gives them as freebies!) because it’s fun to wear something new every now and then.
• Toilet paper – I’m a Charmin girl! Give me the softest toilet paper, please and thank you.
• Flushable wipes – Listen, sometimes you just need something soothing on your bum-bum, you know?

Well, that’s a weird note to end on, but I’ll leave it there. Tell me some of your mundane bathroom details! Do you do your hair and makeup every day? What’s a go-to makeup product for you? Do you also have strong feelings about toilet paper?