Source: The Cast Iron Bath Company
Between work, travel and endless holiday shopping, making a trip to the spa to relax may not fit into your busy schedule. That doesn’t mean you can’t get the same deep muscle and mental relaxation in the comfort of your own home. Josie Feria, The Director of Spa at Lapis, shares her tips on how to create the perfect, de-stressing bath.
Candles
Bright bathroom lights tell your body its go-time — not bath time. Instead, light a few candles and place them around the room and on the edge of the tub.
Bath Temperature
A warm bath is best for relaxing the body. Ideal water temperature for a warm bath is 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to use your wrist, not your hand to test the water since your wrist is a better gauge of how the water will feel once your entire body is submerged.
Cold Water
If you’ve set your water temp right (somewhere between steamy and very warm), you should be feeling quite toasty in the tub. A warm bath raises your body’s core temperature, so you’ll start sweating. Before getting into the tub, set a bowl of ice water and a washcloth next to you and use it as a cold compress on your forehead or the nape of your neck to help keep you refreshed throughout the bath time.
Use Scented Bath Oil
Choose scented bath oil; floral scents like lavender, jasmine, iris and rose are associated with relaxation and can help to ease you into a relaxing state quicker. Add oils to the tub when the bath is halfway full so they disperse evenly throughout the water.
Try This: Estée Lauder Youth-Dew Bath Oil, $32
Body Scrub
Most people are used to being active all the time, so when they get in the tub their minds start racing and they become unable to relax. Gently massaging your body with a sponge and body scrub will help engage your mind as the scrub buffs away dryness and leaves your skin supple and moist.
Try This: Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Buffing Beads For Face and Body, $36
Bath Salts
Tough workout? Bath salts are like external muscle relaxants. If you have soreness, pain or swelling, bath salts reduce inflammation and stiffness. They also help detoxify skin and increase circulation, which helps to ease tension and revitalize the body.
Try This: Kniepp Muscle Soothing Mineral Bath Salt in Juniper, $20
Multitask
Make the most of your bath by using the time to also give yourself a face and hair treatment. Both the skin and hair respond very favorably to the moist environment created by a steamy bath. To cleanse your face, apply a clay mask to the skin. Need to soften and hydrate your hair? Apply conditioner or a hair mask to wet hair and then cover it with a plastic cap and hot towel.
Try These: GlamGlow YouthMud Pro ($279) and Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Mask ($42).
Bath Robe/ Nice Bath Sheets
Nothing jolts you out of a Zen state like going from a warm bath to a measly, threadbare robe or old dingy towel. Get a plush terry cloth robe or fluffy towels that allow you to feel warm and comfortable.
