We all know the drill.

Life’s a battlefield, and the shower is the five-minute trench we crawl into, blinking and bewildered, at the end of it all.

Between the toddler-induced sleep deprivation and the boss who thinks weekends are a quaint historical myth, that steamy sanctuary is more important than ever.

If time is short, with a few strategic in-shower splurges, those five minutes could be transformed from a duty into a delight. A teeny-weeny treat for your weary soul amidst the chaos, these are the products that will turn that lukewarm trickle into a euphoria-inducing waterfall.

Sundae in the shower 

If you try your best to curb your sweet tooth during the day, now you can splurge in the shower. Aussie beauty innovators, Sundae, have just touched down on Irish soil with their vegan, cruelty-free and oh-so-sweet skin saviours.

The brand’s hero range of Sundae Body whipped shower foams are almost good enough to eat (the Very Vanilla foam literally smells like a 99 ice cream). Dessert anyone?

Sundae Body is €14.95 from Dunnes and select pharmacies.

Sunshine in a bottle 

Has a week on the beach left your skin a bit parched?

From the makers of the iconic Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Sol De Janeiro’s Brazilian 4 Play Moisturising Shower Cream-Gel is an uber-moisturising body wash with a blend of cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, and açai oil that nourishes and pampers every inch of your skin. The blend is full of skin-friendly fatty acids to leave your skin feeling soft and silky, plus it’s addictively scented and sulphate-free.

Sol De Janeiro’s Brazilian 4 Play Moisturising Shower Cream-Gel is available from €10 at Brown Thomas, Cork.

Serenity now 

If it’s a soulful and serene start to the day you’re after, Le Labo’s vibrant Basil shower gel is *the one*.

The rich lathering shower gel is formulated with plant-based ingredients with a blend of botanical extracts to gently cleanse and invigorate, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.

Basil is paired with verbena, a citrusy and vegetal aromatic note, increasing each facet of basil.

Le Labo Basil Shower Gel is available from €15 at Brown Thomas Cork. 

Bathe in Basil 

This two-in-one cleansing and nourishing shower oil from Rituals’ The Ritual of Hammam packs a serious punch when you’re having a stressy day.

Infused with sweet almond oil and rich in unsaturated fatty acids, the formula caters to all skin types, including dry, sensitive, or scaly skin, while the invigorating aroma of eucalyptus steams all your worries away.

The Ritual of Hammam Shower Oil is €10 at Rituals, Mahon Point 

Almond Dream 

If you like your hydration to last a little longer, try L’Occitane’s cult-favourite almond-infused shower body oil. Enriched with sweet almond oil, this shower oil respects the hydrolipidic film of the skin to preserve its softness and comfort leaving it feeling nourished and supple.

Easy to rinse, it leaves a subtle mouth-watering aroma of warm almonds and delicious vanilla for a surprisingly cosy yet uplifting aromatic experience.

Almond Shower Oil is €23.50 from L’Occitane, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork