Life

17 Hygiene Hacks Every Grown Ass Woman Needs To Know

by Alida Nugent

I might try to take a shower every day, but I’m usually a little rushed when I do it. Most mornings, I'm brushing my teeth in the shower while trying to shampoo with one hand. So when it comes to hygiene hacks for women, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.

I probably put myself into the "grown-ass woman" category around the same time I started splurging more on skin care products than trendy makeup, or when I started cleansing my skin the Korean way instead of falling asleep in my mascara. But just because I'm investing a little more in my personal hygiene doesn't mean I have all the time in the world to do it. Part of being a grown-ass woman means I'm trying to manage my time wisely so I can sleep more at night, get to work on time, and maybe even hit the gym once in a while.

These hygiene hacks are handy tricks for shaving a few minutes off your day. Some make what you already do a little more effective, others help keep you cleaner for longer, and all give results. Using a tongue scraper, sanitizing your toothbrush, or exfoliating your face with a razor will improve your personal hygiene routine immensely, and that's something any grown-ass woman will love.

1

The Hair Removal Product That Lets You Shave Less

Braun Silk-épil 5 Power Epilator, $58, Amazon

If you shave — whether it's your legs, underarms, or anywhere else in between — it can be time-consuming to manage. I couldn't begin to count the amount of times I did a rush job and ended up hurting myself or missing some spots. If you prefer to remove hair in your home, this epilator can decrease the amount of time you spend shaving. It'll remove hair right at the root, so you can go longer in between shaves, and you won't have to wait for it to grow out to repeat the process. It has a pivoting head to get hair at any angle, and the high-frequency massager makes this a relatively painless experience.

2

The Sanitizer That Will Keep Your Toothbrush Cleaner

Violife Travel Ultraviolet Toothbrush Sanitizer, $19, Amazon

If you travel a lot or just don't seem to replace your toothbrush as often as you should, invest in a toothbrush sanitizer. It will get rid of the germs on your toothbrush after you've had a cold, it'll kill the germs that may have transferred from your bathroom sink (we really don't want to know what's lingering there), and it'll do it in seven minutes flat with the help of UV light. It'll double as a travel container, and it promises to get rid of 99.9% of germs.

3

The Essential Oil Spray That Keeps Your Foot Odor At Bay

Natural Shoe Deodorizer Spray and Foot Odor Eliminator, $13, Amazon

This natural deodorizer spray is made with peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus oils. Spray it into sneakers and kill odors fast, as well as the bacteria that can cause fungus like athlete's foot. It has plenty of antibacterial and antifungal properties, and you can also use it on your yoga mat, or as a deodorizer spray in your bathroom.

4

The Steamer That Unclogs Pores With Just Water

NanoSteamer Nano Ionic Facial Steamer, $35, Amazon

It's too wasteful to stand in hot water in order to unclog pores, which is why this facial steamer is a perfect addition to any shower routine. Put water in the chamber and it'll produce steam for 30 minutes, which will really open up the pores, draw out dirt and oil, allow creams and masks to be more effective, and can even work to clean sinuses. This product also doubles as a humidifier and comes with a drawer to warm up your towels, which will make removing face masks a breeze. One reviewer says, "I used this after I cleaned my face. After a few minutes of having my face in the steam, I wiped my face with a cotton ball, and there was some dirt/make up in it. It is important to use a product like this so that you can sweat and clean out your pores."

5

The Cream That Keeps Your Skin From Chafing Throughout The Day

Bodyglide Skin Glide Anti-Friction Balm, $20, Amazon

When the summer hits, so can rashes and irritation from sweat or skin rubbing together. This anti-friction balm can be put anywhere that you get irritation from chafing, and it won't clog pores or irritate the skin. The gel-to-satin formula dries quickly, isn't greasy, and can wash off easily with some mild soap. It's much more effective than dousing yourself with baby powder, and is made with peppermint and tea tree oils.

6

The Facial Razors Everyone Is Obsessing Over

Shiseido Facial Razors (6 pack), $5, Amazon

These facial razors are a big hit with those looking to dermaplane their face, and people get obsessed with the results fairly quickly. It's a painless, quick way to exfoliate the face and get rid of those dead skin cells that linger on the skin. Hold your skin taut, swipe up, and you'll have baby-soft skin in no time. These can also get rid of facial hair, if that's something you like to do. Reviewers love it: "These are great. I was afraid to buy/use them, but you really can't hurt yourself. They do a nice job of dermaplaning/exfoliating... which I used to pay $160 for at the dermatologist's office. I use this before I get facials and peels, so the products don't have to battle through that dead/top layer of skin."

7

The Charcoal Paste That Whitens Your Teeth And Freshens Your Breath

Smart Ash All-Natural Whitening Tooth Powder, $30, Amazon

This tooth powder uses everyone's favorite all-natural ingredient to freshen breath and whiten teeth—charcoal, of course! It's made with bentonite clay and activated charcoal, two gentle ingredients that don't irritate sensitive teeth. So what's the hack here? It's recommended to use this in the shower (it is black powder, after all), so you can multitask while you clean your teeth, and on those days when you're extra busy, you can occasionally use this in place of toothpaste.

8

The Soap Dispensers For A Time-Saving Shower

Better Living AVIVA Three-Chamber Dispenser, $34, Amazon

This shower dispenser takes no time at all to install — just use the included screw or two-way tape. Once it's up, you'll find showers take half the time when you don't have any clutter in your shower shelves, and you can easily access your soap, shampoo, and conditioner with one hand. It's simple to refill, and it already comes with the labels so there's no guesswork involved. Reviewers love how sturdy it is.

9

The Tea Tree Wipes That Can Replace A Shower

Goodwipes Deodorizing Body Wipes, $10 (Pack of 10), Amazon

If there's no time for a shower after a long workout or a long day, these body wipes will do the job. They're made with natural ingredients like tea tree, aloe, peppermint and ginseng, they're biodegradable, and they're extra-large and gentle enough to use everywhere. They won't leave your skin feeling dry or sticky, and one reviewer raves: "These wipes are wonderful - you feel as fresh as if you'd had a real shower."

10

The Soap That You Can Use On The Face, Hair, And Body

Perfect Natural Soap And Face Wash, $17, Amazon

This all-natural soap with organic ingredients is gentle enough to use on your face, body, and hair — saving you a heck of a lot of money and space in the shower. It's free of lathering agents, fragrances, fillers, and parabens, but still provides an excellent and gentle clean. It's made with sunflower oil, coconut oil, and rosemary seed extract, and it won't dry out your skin or hair.

11

The Coconut Floss That Will Actually Make You Want To Clean Your Teeth

Cocofloss Coconut Floss (3 Pack), $22, Amazon

If you're not one to floss every night, perhaps you'd be more inclined to do it with this floss that's flavored with coconut oil -- and let's be honest, the adorable packaging doesn't hurt either. One reviewer says, "I am a dental hygienist and believe it or not I too HATE to floss. I decided to give this a try and I love it! You can see and feel the bacteria/plaque being removed when using this floss. It doesn't just slip around like waxed floss does it actually cleans the interproximal spaces really well. I will continue to use this product and recommend it to my patients."

12

This Brush Eliminates Tangles And Keeps Your Hair From Breaking

Detangling Brush, $11, Amazon

This detangling brush gets rid of hair knots and tangles without breaking the hair, which can easily happen if you're pulling too hard when you're brushing after a shower. It'll make a huge difference in your hair routine, and it'll prevent the damage no amount of deep conditioner will solve. It glides through knots, and the unique cone-shaped bristles won't bend or break over time.

13

The Shower Head That Keeps Your Hair And Skin Soft

Culligan Wall-Mounted Filtered Shower Head, $30, Amazon

Hard water can really dry out your hair and skin, but with this filtered shower head, you'll eliminate the chlorine, sulfur odor, and scale that are doing the damage. It also limits the amount of bacteria in your water, so you'll have a cleaner shower experience altogether. This is easy to install without tools, has five different spray settings, and comes with a replaceable filter that will last up to six months.

14

The Bamboo Cotton Towels That Are Antibacterial And Odor Resistant

Premium Bamboo Cotton Bath Towels, $22 (Set of 6), Amazon

The results of a great shower can immediately be erased if the towel you're drying yourself with smells like a gym locker room. These bamboo cotton bath towels are made with materials that are naturally antibacterial, antifungal, and resistant to both mildew and odor. They're also soft and absorbent, so they dry quickly, won't leave any lint residue on the body, and will last for years.

15

The Natural Deodorant That Actually Comes In Stick Form

Primal Pit Paste All Natural Lavender Deodorant, $14, Amazon

Natural deodorants that contain no aluminum are supposed to be great for your health, but at what cost? Many come in roll-on versions, which drip everywhere, or in tubs of paste that are applied with the fingers, risking contamination. This lavender deodorant comes in stick form! It's also paraben free, made with non-GMO ingredients, and is scented with natural oils. Many love it because it keeps them smelling fresh all day.

16

The Top Coat That Will Finally Help You Stop Biting Your Nails

Mavala Stop, $15, Amazon

Grown-Ass Women don't need to bite their nails anymore, and this top coat will put a stop to it once and for all. The non-toxic formula will leave a bitter taste in the mouth, and can be worn alone or over nail polish. It's recommended by dentists, and can also stop that dreaded cuticle biting that will ruin any manicure quickly.

17

The Tongue Cleaner That Will Keep Your Mouth Fresher For Longer

Dr. Tung's Tongue Cleaner, $7, Amazon

This stainless steel tongue cleaner is more gentle on the tongue than its plastic imitators, and it will effectively remove bacteria that a toothbrush alone won't tackle. It'll freshen breath more than a regular brushing, and it'll get rid of all the gunk hiding in your tongue. The included travel pouch makes it easy to travel with and store.

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