Style Skincare Bath and Body How I Shaved 15 Minutes Off My Beauty Routine Make that humdrum morning routine feel less like a chore and more like a treat. By Heather Muir Maffei Heather Muir Maffei Heather Muir Maffei brings more than 15 years of beauty know-how to readers at Real Simple and Health magazines as beauty director. She has worked at Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Allure, Fitness Magazine, and more. Highlights: * Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown * Beauty writer and editor for more than 15 years * Appearances made as a beauty expert for television segments, including the Today Show and New York Live * Live New York Fashion Week coverage on behalf of Allure Magazine Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Some people look forward to their morning showers and need one in order to "wake up." As for me, I'm not one of those people. With a brutal five-plus hour daily commute, I don't have time for a lengthy skin and body care regimen. Body lotion? Never use it. Face masks? Pass. At-home hair treatments? I skip those, too. On some rushed mornings, I reach for a body wipe to hold me over until my next shower. But my beauty routine is slowly changing, thanks to new products specially formulated to be used in the shower. Here are some innovative ways I've recently upped my shower game to come out looking and feeling better, faster. 01 of 05 Toothbrush/Toothpaste Deana Steere/Getty Images This is a shower hack I picked up from my husband. I keep a tube of toothpaste in the shower and carry in my waterproof electric toothbrush. While I'm waiting on a hair or face mask to penetrate (I keep my face and head outside the stream of shower water), I brush my teeth. The best part: I love being able to brush away without worrying about getting toothpaste splashes on the mirror or having any leftover residue in the sink. 02 of 05 Face Mask/Peel By keeping a few face masks in my shower caddy, I'm more likely to use them. After I cleanse my skin, I put one on so it can do its thing while I wash and shave. By applying the mask in the shower, it doesn't feel like an extra step. (I apply Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel once a week to unclog my T-zone.) 03 of 05 Self-Tanner Necessary? No. But golden skin can be a great little pick-me-up. Now that you can apply it in the shower, the once messy, annoying task is easy peasy. Simply wash, shave, then stand out of the water stream and slather on the self-tanner. Wait three minutes (use this time to do whatever else you need to do in the shower), then rinse. My favorite: St. Tropez Tanning Essentials In Shower Gradual Tan ($25; amazon.com). 04 of 05 Body Lotion It's the extra step I always refused to do. I hated having to wait to get dressed, not to mention feeling sticky. That was until I met Curél Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer ($11; amazon.com). I keep the bottle in the shower and when I'm finished, rub it all over my wet skin (derms say applying lotion onto wet skin actually locks in moisture), then jump out and towel dry as usual. 05 of 05 Wide-Tooth Comb Detangling your hair (especially if you have curls) is a downer, but doing it in the shower while your conditioner is in makes the process smoother. If you air-dry, you don't have to touch your hair post-shower, which many stylists agree is the key to less frizz. 6 Ways to Simplify Your Family's Morning Routine Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit