You've Heard Of The "Everything" Shower — But What About A "Nothing" Shower?

Yes, doing the most elicits a special sort of satisfaction (for some, at least), but it's also completely natural to hop in the shower and simmer like a steamed veggie. No soap, no shampoo—just you, the spray, and maybe a soothing playlist. Presenting: the "nothing" shower. 

That someone must have been creator @alexandra.r.simpson, who raved about "nothing showers" back in January: "Turn on the water, sit down in the tub, and wash absolutely nothing," the caption reads. "Excellent for migraine management, muffling sobs, and hiding from responsibilities." The video has since received over 100,000 likes and 900,000 views, so it seems other folks share the same sentiment. 

"There is a big psychological component to washing off the day," board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, M.D., previously told mindbodygreen. Plenty of people use their shower time as a way to "wash" daily stressors down the drain; one user even shares that she stands under scalding water "after any minor inconvenience." 

This is all well and good (and a ritual I recently turned to when the radiator broke in my apartment), but don't forget that hot water has the ability to strip your skin of essential moisture, which, in turn, can lead to dryness, itching, and irritation—not so relaxing. 

It's a concept I call shower sandwiching, which I learned from celebrity esthetician and dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar. "You can feel and see the difference in your skin by doing this magical ritual," she says. 

Both "everything" and "nothing" showers benefit mental health. The former can help you wind down and feel satisfied from being fully clean (whatever that means to you), while the latter is more about the soothing effect of the warm, steamy water. Just make sure to protect your skin from the scalding spray—you can soothe your mind without wreaking havoc on your moisture barrier.