The Best Products for When You Can’t Shower

When you are unable to shower, whether from illness, injury, or other barrier, feeling grimy can make an already bad situation feel worse. As I detailed in these posts, I am currently recovering from major knee surgery. Though I am meeting all my recovery milestones, I haven’t been able to walk for seven weeks now. One of the biggest annoyances is that I’ve only been able to shower once a week at best, with a lot of effort from both myself and husband. During this time I have tried different products for feeling clean and fresh, and I’ve compiled the best here.

I will list my favorite items in each category, and at the bottom of the post are those I tried but didn’t work as well for me. No one product is the best solution for everyone, so maybe something that didn’t work for me will work well for you.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, but this program does not change the price you pay. All the product links below will earn commission.

The Best Body Products

Shower Wipes

These Medline shower wipes are large, soft, and generate a good lather. They are the only wipes I used that made me feel I was actually cleaning myself and left me feeling refreshed. They were recommended to me by my husband, who used to use them when he worked as a nurse in a hospital setting. I was hesitant to buy them due to the price tag and the bulk quantity, but he was right (of course). You can read about the others I tried at the bottom of the post.

I used the scented version and found the smell mild and pleasant, but they have an unscented version if you are sensitive to fragrances.

Body Powder and Anti-Chafing

I can’t believe how much I love this Anti-Monkey Butt Powder. I bought the ladies version which has a mild floral fragance. The feels incredibly smooth against my skin and does a great job adsorbing sweat and preventing chafing. I was reluctant to try this product because of the off-putting name and packaging, but luckily a friend recommended it so I gave it a try. I put it on using the soft washable puffs after I give myself a shower with the wipes, and it feels amazing.

If you are moving around and need more chafing protection, you could try the yellow bottle formula, but if chafing is your main problem I highly recommend Body Glide.

Best Deodorant

The Best Skin Care Products

Face Wash

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is my favorite face wash, and it’s extra convenient for difficult times because it doesn’t require water! You can apply it to your face with your fingers or a cotton pad, and just wipe off with a towel. You can also use it on your entire body, including sensitive areas. I use this cleanser year round because when I use foaming products they strip my skin’s natural oil barrier, and I break out. If you have oilier skin, this might not work as well for you long-term, but the lack of need for water can be a lifesaver.

I follow it up with Thayer’s Witch Hazel Facial Toner, which I’ve also been using for years. You can even skip the cleanser and just use this in a pinch. It can also be used on your full body (though I’d not recommend this one on intimate areas) to make your skin feel extra refreshed. My favorite is the Rose Petal, but they have other scents as well.

Moisturizers

Without showering to exfoliate, my skin has been extra dry. For my hands, O’Keeffe’s has always worked well for me. For my body, I have tried many different lotions, but I always come back to L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Lotion as my favorite. It doesn’t leave my skin greasy, and I only have to apply it once or twice a day to notice the difference, whereas with other lotions I find myself slathering on more every few hours as my skin gets irritated.

The Best Hair Products

I have very fine hair that tends to be oily at the roots and dry at the ends, so it becomes a greasy mess within three days post shower. My husband convinced me to try a no-rinse shower cap, which they use in hospitals, and I was pleasantly surprised. This shower cap from Cleanlife Products really calmed down my irritated scalp and cleaned up my roots.

It’s not magic– your hair won’t feel the same as if you’d done a full shampoo and condition, but it is a great way to extend the time between showers or a sink hair wash. You can also microwave it for 10-15 seconds so it feels warm and comforting.

I have long hair past my shoulders, and while the cap is no-rinse, it does wet your hair. I recommend a hair turban like this one to speed up drying after. Whether I’m blow-drying or air drying afterwards, I follow it up with Oi Hair Milk from Davines. It’s is both a detangler and leave-in conditioner that I’ve used for years. I have also been applying it to my ends every few days to give it an extra moisturizing boost.

Finally, though dry shampoos don’t tend to work very well on my fine hair, the Pret á Powder from Bumble & Bumble does a decent job of soaking up extra oil. I use a little at my roots and then brush and blow-dry it out.

Other Products I tried

Here are the two other body shower wipes I tried. The Super Fresh FunkBlock Shower Wipes are advertised as large, but were quite small. They have rough bumps on them designed for exfoliation, but they just irritated my skin. I liked the Nurture Valley Wipes, but they aren’t as large or soft or soapy as the Medline ones. I still use these Nurture Valley Wipes, but more as typical wet wipes.

I usually love the First Aid Beauty Brand, but this cleanser stripped too much oil from my skin. If you have oiler skin, I would recommend trying it. And while I also love Cetaphil, this moisturizer was too weak for my sad, dry skin.

As a reminder, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, but this program does not change the price you pay. All the product links in this post will earn commission. I hope you find some of these products useful, and please let me know if there are others you recommend.