Am I missing key shower steps or is hygiene tok excessive?

[AurielleBaies]

I’ve been watching hygiene tok and now wondering if I’ve not been showering myself properly all my life.

Saw a woman who uses an unscented bar soap for sensitive areas, antibacterial bar soap for smelly areas, then a body scrub, then a shower gel applied with a African net sponge, then lightly dries herself and applies body oil, then a body lotion, then a glycolic acid treatment under arms and under boobs and then FINALLY clinical strength deodorant. The video was called something like ‘how to not stink this summer’. I’ve never even done half those steps in one shower. I shower at least daily using a bar soap/shower gel and I do exfoliate every other day.

am I missing something?!

Mumsnet has a reputation for competitive hygiene threads so not too dissimilar to TikTok then.

Stick to a Whores Bath in the shower.

Quick scrub of the bits and pits and out. That's plenty on a day to day basis, no need for all that fannying about.

Think of hygiene tok as the internet version of your mother saying “hungry? Good lord no, I had half a sandwich 8 hours ago, how can you possibly be hungry?!” It’s not normal, it’s designed to make you feel terrible about yourself.

Jesus! Step away from the talc unless you fancy ovarian cancer in later life

I’m pretty in depth but some of it is medical

hibiscrub for armpits (medical)
soap for feet and under boobs
QV gentle wash for genital area (medical - prone to UTI/thrush if I don’t)
shower oil all over with an African net sponge
glycolic acid for armpits (medical)
antiperspirant
exfoliate all over a couple of times a week
body lotion/shea butter/whatever I have
always hand and foot cream before bed

The dettol is good for any sores, keeps feet and armpits fresher for longer as it kills the bacteria and the medicated talc does the same whilst keeping any areas that might need it dry.
I grew up on a working farm and have been fastidious with hygiene since I left home at a relatively young age, as much as I don't mind getting dirty and am genuinely not a germaphobe I like to know I've done the best I can to smell as fresh as possible 🤷‍♀️

What a load of nonsense!

It's the 'talc' free version! I just used talc as it is obvious what I mean...I suppose it's called body powder now.

“Am I missing something? “
Yes, common sense, by the sounds of it…

How long are you going between washing armpits of they need to stay fresher for longer via the use of disinfectant?

How many sores are you getting?

i don’t do all that but the African nets are the best thing I have used for exfoliating as I can’t reach my back with the scratchy gloves

OP in the real world, people use soap or shower gel for their body, shampoo/conditioner for their hair , and water to wash it all off. Maybe moisturiser afterwards.

The woman you watched is either bullshitting or doesn’t have a job/life to get on with!

Does she actually have any skin left and how much water was used in this shower?

Different people have different needs, but that sounds excessive and disordered.

Shower daily, add dettol to baths once or twice a week.

Make sure you wash your eyeballs

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5451760-to-think-your-eyeseyeballs-arent-self-cleaning

What a waste of time..

Nevermind.

I do hope cupfuls is a typo for capfuls!

In your opinion. I'll carry on as I am thanks.

It's cornflour these days.

I really don’t think that sounds too exhaustive, a net for actually cleaning, soaps, then body oil, an acid and deodorant?
I mean the bare minimum shower should be using most of those things surely? What are you doing then?

Who the hell has time for that!
I use shampoo, conditioner, 2 soaps
ans face wash.
I do admit to using exfoliating gloves and I put oil on when I’m soaking wet with moisturiser after otherwise I’d have skin like a rhino but I’m in and out the shower in 5 mins maybe 10 if I shave
i definitely don’t stink but I am up against the clock so no time for all that fannying about

Then they are looking for sponsorship deals if they don't have them already. Utter tosh!

To add my entire shower is maybe 5 minutes if not washing my hair, then 5 afterwards for body moisturising

You don't say...

I just use shower gel ....(and shampoo/conditioner/hairmask 2-3 times a week when i wash my hair) but i have exceptionally low standards for MN. I use face moisturiser when I remember, i rarely use body lotion, but obvs wear deodorant, every day.

I dont notice people backing away, moving train carriages, or avoiding me because im stinky!

(Sometimes I even wear the same tshirt twice before washing it!)