7 Ways to Make Your Shower As Relaxing As a Soak in the Tub

Photo: Stocksy / Milles Studio
With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP

Bath people have it made. Tub-specific products abound, with everything from bath bombs to crystal-infused magnesium salt soaks stocking the shelves. Bath aficionados know how to turn their tubs into a full-on detoxifying sweat sessionsteep it in green tea in order to help reduce inflammation while they soak, or just simply sit back and relax into the suds. Some people, however, don't like baths, but that doesn't mean that they have to forfeit the right to a relaxing, spa-like experience. So, what's for them?

As it turns out, quite a lot. While relaxing shower experiences aren't nearly as trendy as their seated counterparts, they're just as easily attainable and can provide many of the same benefits to your mind, body, and spirit. If you love a good shower, there are innumerable ways to up its benefits. As you stand beneath the faucet, eyes closed while the water pounds your aching body, you can actually seriously supercharge this luxurious moment and soak up all the benefits. Step one: Stock up on relaxing shower products.

7 ways to turn your next shower at home into a spa experience

1. Use shower bombs

These super-affordable discs transform your shower into a giant diffuser—they're packed with essential oils which release into the steam. To unlock all of their olfactory magic at once, place them on the shower floor while you bathe. For a slower steam, add them into a mesh pouch ($11) and hang it from the faucet instead.

Uncommon Goods Essential Oil Shower Steamers, relaxing spa-like shower products
Uncommon Goods Essential Oil Shower Steamers — $15.00

Harness the power of aromatherapy with these Uncommon Goods Essential Oil Shower Steamers. They’re available in four scents: soothing lavender, calming eucalyptus, relaxing lemongrass, and invigorating orange.

Whim by Ulta Beauty Breathe Shower Flower
Whim by Ulta Beauty Breathe Shower Flower — $4.00

Get that spa-like scent with this Whim by Ulta Beauty Breathe Shower Flower that releases a refreshing blend of eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree.

Anthropologie Miss Patisserie Shower Steamer, relaxing spa-like shower products
Anthropologie Miss Patisserie Shower Steamer — $10.00

Never have I ever met a shower steamer prettier than the Anthropologie Miss Patisserie Shower Steamer. It has a colorful yet organic vibe that relaxes your body by just looking at it. It’s available in two scent blends. De-Stress, which features crisp, woodsy juniper berry to soothe anxiety and help you to relax and focus. And Uplift, which has bright notes of lemongrass to put a pep in your step and invigorate your senses.

2. Add plants

This simple decor upgrade will transform the experience of stepping into your shower—it's like forest bathing and regular bathing all at once. Here, three options that will absolutely thrive in your shower.

The Sill Six Assorted Air Plants
The Sill Six Assorted Air Plants — $30.00

Snake plants thrive in well-lit, high-humidity environments, so if you’ve got a sunny bathroom, air plants are the perfect fit. No soil required, just plop them on your shower shelf and let the steam from the shower work its magic.

Juanita's Plants Japanese Bird's Nest Fern, relaxing spa-like shower products
Juanita's Plants Japanese Bird's Nest Fern — $28.00

Bird’s Nest Ferns love soil that’s constantly moist, making a shower a perfect home for them. Sit one on a shelf or hang it the ceiling to really get that showering-in-the-jungle vibe.

The Sill Snake Plant Laurentii
The Sill Snake Plant Laurentii — $35.00 to $52.00

Snake plants are practically indestructible, making them great to put pretty much anywhere. I’ve had a snake plant in my bathroom for years and I’m awful at remembering to water it, but it soaks up what it can for the shower and has been thriving with minimal effort.

3. Upgrade your shower head

On move-in day, it's likely that your shower head wasn't a top priority. You can choose simply to replace it with one which filters the water (and preserves your hair color in the process), one that turns your shower into a rain forest, or one that's app-connected and helps you track water usage; below, one of each option.

Vitamin C & Aromatherapy Wall Mount Shower Head (Starter Kit), relaxing spa-like shower products
Vitaclean Vitamin C & Aromatherapy Wall Mount Shower Head (Starter Kit) — $125.00

This Vitaclean showerhead features a vitamin C aromatherapy pod that makes your shower smell amazing while neutralizing chlorine. This is great for anyone with hard water, managing dry skin and brittle hair.

Bright Showers Multi Function Dual Shower Head
Bright Showers Multi-Function Dual Shower Head — $176.00

Transform your shower into a luxurious rain head experience with this dual shower head. If you have a standard wall-founded shower head, you easily install this rain head shower without having to move around any plumbing to get that overhead stream. Plus, it features also a detachable shower head.

Hai Smart Showerhead, relaxing spa-like shower products
Hai Smart Showerhead — $249.00

If you want to experience a spa-like shower while being mindful of your water usage, this is the head for you. It features a larger-than-average shower head for more coverage while you shower and a simple spray controller slider to allow seamless spray setting transitions. It’s features LED notifications to keep you posted on how much water you’re using while you shower and is app-connected to allow you to track and analyze water usage.

4. Invest in spa-quality products

Bath products might get all of the good PR, but that doesn't mean the shower game isn't equally strong for some of your most beloved beauty brands. Scrubs, super-charged washes, and exfoliating bars will ensure your experience holds its own with the best of baths.

NCLA Beauty Hey, Sugar Coconut Body Scrub
NCLA Beauty Hey, Sugar Coconut Body Scrub — $32.00

This body scrub from NCLA beauty uses sugar and coconut to exfoliate and deeply moisturize your skin. You’ll feel soft as a baby and smell amazing.

Neom Super Shower Power Body Cleanser, relaxing spa-like shower products
Neom Super Shower Power Body Cleanser — $30.00

Start your morning right with this energizing cleanser from Neom. It’s made with natural spearmint, rosemary, and eucalyptus essential oils plus a vitamin- and antioxidant-rich shot of organic coffee extract and moisturizing oat milk.

Meow Meow Tweet Tangerine Basil Body Soap
Meow Meow Tweet Tangerine Basil Body Soap — $10.00

Get nice and clean with this invigorating body soap from Meow Meow Tweet. It pairs refreshing tangerine is with relaxing baisil and poppy seeds to massage and stimulate circulation in the skin whilst exfoliating.

5. Accessorize

For many, baths are more about getting calm than getting super clean, which is one advantage it has over the more utilitarian feel of a shower. But when you want to create a relaxing experience, deep scrubs and exfoliators are encouraged—imagine you're at a Korean spa, minus the massage therapist sloughing off your dead skin.

Dehiya Beauty Mihakka Cleansing Tool, relaxing spa-like shower products
Dehiya Beauty Mihakka Cleansing Tool — $18.00

Add a bit of cleanser to this Dehiya Beauty tool and exfoliate your skin. It’s handcrafted from terra-cotta and covered with organic cotton that’s dyed with natural pigments extracted from flowers and clay indigenous to the Atlas Mountains.

Cinlitek Silicone Body Scrubber
Cinlitek Silicone Body Scrubber — $10.00

Traditional loofahs and poufs are difficult to keep clean. Yes, they get wet and soapy every time you shower, but they can hold on to dirt, dead skin, and bacteria. Instead, get this easy-to-clean dual-sided silicone body scrubber.

Public Goods Ayate Washcloth, relaxing spa-like shower products
Public Goods Ayate Washcloth — $7.00

This washcloth is hand-woven in Mexico from ayate which is derived from the agave plant. It has a naturally coarse texture making it great for exfoliation. They dry quickly when hung and are resistant to mold and mildew.

6. Play some tunes

If you like the calming effects of typical spa music, you can easily recreate them with the help of these waterproof speakers. If you're more into the cathartic effects of crying along to the sounds of Sam Smith, that's okay, too.

JBL Clip 3
JBL Clip 3 — $50.00

This wireless, waterproof speaker is your perfect shower companion. A full charge powers up to 10 hours of playtime, providing tunes for tons of showers.

Ampere Shower Power Pro, relaxing spa-like shower products
Ampere Shower Power Pro — $149.00

The Ampere Shower Power Pro screws onto your showerhead and is powered by water. No cords or charging necessary. It provides endless sound when the water is running and up to 16 hours of play time when the water is off.

iFox iF012 Bluetooth Shower Speaker
iFox iF012 Bluetooth Shower Speaker — $30.00 to $40.00

This waterproof speaker attaches to your shower wall with a suction cup, keeping the controls within reach. One charge powers up to 10 hours of playtime.

7. Dry off in style

You don't want to undo all of the good work you've done to relax, detoxify, and cleanse by drying off with a stiff towel. Invest instead in at least one of five-star spa-quality—soft, fluffy, and actually absorbent—to optimize your experience.

Booklinen Super-Plush Bath Sheets, relaxing spa-like shower products
Booklinen Super-Plush Bath Sheets — $89.00

Get that true spa feeling with a bath sheet, which is a bit larger than a standard bath towel. This set from Brooklinen includes two super-plush towels made from 100 percent Turkish cotton.

Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Bath Towel
Coyuchi Mediterranean Organic Bath Towel — $58.00

Turn your bathroom into a Turkish spa with this Coyuchi towel. It’s a traditional lightweight towel with a high-low weave for excellent absorption. It’s Woven from yarn-dyed organic cotton and edged in hand-knotted fringe.

Riley Home Spa Towel Bath Sheet, relaxing spa-like shower products
Riley Home Spa Towel Bath Sheet — $65.00

This bath sheet from Riley Home is crafted in Portugal from 100 percent long-staple Egyptian cotton. It’s incredibly soft and luxurious.

Get inspired by a derm's shower routine:

Want to be the first to hear about the latest (and greatest) SHOP product drops, custom collections, discounts, and more? Sign up to have the intel delivered straight to your inbox.

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.

Loading More Posts...