I have never been someone who enjoys using ten different products in the shower.

I prefer a small routine where every step has a clear purpose, and these are the products I keep coming back to when I want my skin to feel clean, smooth and comfortable.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish

The Dove Exfoliating Body Polish in Crushed Lavender & Coconut Milk is the step I reach for when my skin starts feeling a little rough or dull. The texture feels creamy rather than aggressively scrubby, which is exactly what I want from a body exfoliator.

I massage it onto damp skin, concentrating on areas such as my elbows, knees and legs. After rinsing, my skin feels noticeably smoother but not stripped. I also love the soft lavender scent because it makes an ordinary shower feel slightly more relaxing.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

This is the product I use more selectively. Although it is commonly known as a toner, I personally like using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution on certain areas of my body when I want gentle chemical exfoliation.

I never combine it with lots of other exfoliating products at the same time. For me, alternating between physical and chemical exfoliation works much better than trying to use everything in one routine.

CeraVe Cleansers

My cleanser depends entirely on how my skin feels that day. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is my choice when my skin feels dry or slightly tight because it gives me a simple, comfortable cleanse.

When I want something more targeted for rough texture, I reach for the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser. The CeraVe Foaming Cleanser, meanwhile, is the option I prefer when I want that fresher, more thoroughly cleansed feeling.

What I like most about this routine is that I can adjust it instead of forcing my skin into the same routine every day. Sometimes basic cleansing is enough, while on other days a little exfoliation makes all the difference.