Unwinding with a long bath can help you decompress after a stressful day. With a few simple tips, you can make your evening bath even more relaxing.
After a long, hard day, there is nothing better than slipping into a warm bath. The heat from the water soothes sore muscles and eases tension. The calming water helps your mind relax and helps you feel a sense of peace. A bath can also leave with you soft, supple skin that will make you feel confident. With a few simple tips you can make your nightly bath a spa-like experience that will help you have an even more relaxing bath. Here are 15 ways to have a better nightly bath, so you can enjoy all of these benefits and more.
1. Schedule At The Perfect Time
Experts say that the best time to take a nightly bath is 1-2 hours before sleep. Warm baths help stimulate our body’s thermoregulatory system. This improves our circulation and aids in our circadian rhythms. This can help you fall asleep faster and get a more restful sleep. Scheduling your bath at this time will help you maximize the benefits.
2. Set The Mood
Setting the mood of the bath can make it a really wonderful experience. You want to create a relaxing, serene ambience that can help you relax and unwind. Lining the tub with candles and dim the lights, burning incense or diffusing essential oils, and playing relaxing music can help set the mood.
3. Add Food And Drink
Making a cup of warm tea or hot cocoa to help you really enjoy your bath experience. You can also try sipping a glass of wine. Try bringing some indulgent snacks like chocolates, fresh fruits, or charcuterie. A bath tray can help you keep all your drinks and snacks safe and out of the water. You can drink or eat whatever you like, but it’s best to stay away from anything that has a lot of crumbs that can get into the water.
4. Plan A Bath Time Activity
If there’s a book you’ve been meaning to read or a favorite show on your streaming platform, bring it. Reading a book in the bathtub is so relaxing. If you aren’t a reader, streaming a great show or movie on your tablet can also work great. If you want you can play games on your smartphone too. Another great idea is to journal or write if you are so inclined.
5. Get The Ideal Water Temperature
Experts say the ideal temperature for a bath is around 112°F. Though people who are older, may want to go for a lower temperature. At this temperature, the lipid layer of your skin is softened without drying out. This helps you have clean, soft, and moisturized skin.
6. Add Bubble Bath
A great idea to make a better bath is to add bubble bath. Bubbles are excellent for pampering. They are soft against your skin, smell great, and help you feel relaxed. Bubble baths can nourish your skin, help you feel squeaky clean, and smell amazing. The bubbles are also fun to play with while you relax and find joy.
7. Add Epsom Salts
Epsom salts are a wonderful way to create a better bath. Epsom salts help soften the water against your skin. They also contain sulfates and magnesium which may help ease soreness. Epsom salts come in a wide variety of benefits. A great way to start is to get our sampler pack to see what epsom salt blends are right for your bath. When using epsom salts add 1/2 cup to a full cup for a full bath for maximum benefits.
8. Add Essential Oils
A few drops of essential oils can help you get the benefits of aromatherapy while you bathe. When selecting an essential oil, choose a variety like lavender, chamomile, or geranium that have relaxation benefits. You can also add varieties like eucalyptus, peppermint, or turmeric that help soothe sore muscles. Fortunately, a lot of our epsom salt blends like our Deep Relaxation Bath Soak or our Muscle Soak contain natural essential oils that already provide aromatherapy baths. You don’t need to worry about blending basic ingredients!
9. Add A Face Mask
To create a truly spa-like experience, consider adding a face mask to your bath time. A face mask can help you clear and moisturize your skin. It’s perfect to do during bath time because it can help you relax and unwind. Another benefit is once you get out of the bath, not only will your skin be softer, your face will be supple and clear.
10. Apply A Hair Mask
Similar to a face mask, a hair mask adds nourishment to your hair. If you don't have a hair mask, you can mix your conditioner in a 4-to-1 ratio with your epsom salts. This will help add moisture and increase your hair’s volume.
11. Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating can help remove built-up dirt, oil, and dead skin. It is ideal to exfoliate in the bath when your skin has been softened and all the build-up is easier to remove. Consider getting a loofah or exfoliating bath mitts. You can also make a simple scrub using a 2-to-1 ratio of epsom salts and coconut oil. Then just apply topical and gently scrub your skin.
12. Scrub Your Feet
Soaking your feet in your bath and them scrubbing them with a pumice stone will help remove and reduce calluses. You want to make sure that you are in the bath at least 15 minutes before scrubbing your feet. That way you can ensure that your excess skin is at the optimal softness level to be removed easily. You can also use the epsom salt scrub on your feet.
13, Invest In A Bath Pillow
A bath pillow helps you lean back in the tub comfortably. Bath pillows are really affordable, so they are a great investment into your bath time. There’s a large variety of styles available. Look for one that will support your neck and cradle your head. Then you can just sink back and relax during your bath.
14. Put Your Towel In The Dryer
Placing your towel in the dryer for a few minutes is a great way to help you indulge yourself. This will warm up the towel, so when you get out of the tub you can wrap yourself up in warmth. You can also put your robe and slippers in the dryer too.
15. Apply Moisturizer
When you are out of the tub, apply a thick layer or moisturizer to your skin. This is the ideal time to apply moisturizer because your pores are open from the warmth, so it will soak in quickly. It can also help activate some of the effective ingredients in moisturizer like hyaluronic acid.
These 15 tips will ensure that you have a relaxing indulgent bath. For more bath time tips and recipes, make sure to follow our blog. We offer a lot of great advice at Better Bath Better Body on how to take your bath to the next level with our relaxing epsom salts.
