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's nothing better than slipping into a warm bath. The heat from the water soothes tired muscles and eases tension, while the calming water helps your mind relax and brings a sense of peace.
A bath can also leave you with soft, supple skin that boosts your confidence. With a few simple tips, you can transform your nightly bath into a spa-like experience, making it even more relaxing.
Here are 15 ways to enhance your nightly bath, so you can enjoy all of these benefits and more.
1. Schedule At The Perfect Time
Experts suggest that the best time for a nightly bath is 1-2 hours before bed. Warm baths stimulate the body's thermoregulatory system, enhancing circulation and supporting circadian rhythms.
This can help you fall asleep faster and enjoy a more restful sleep. By scheduling your bath at this time, you can maximize its benefits.
2. Set The Mood
Creating the right mood for your bath can transform it into a truly wonderful experience. Aim for a relaxing, serene ambiance that helps you unwind.
Line the tub with candles, dim the lights, burn incense or diffuse essential oils, and play soothing music to set the perfect mood.
3. Add Food And Drink
Enhance your bath experience with a cup of warm tea or hot cocoa, or even a glass of wine. Treat yourself to indulgent snacks like chocolates, fresh fruits, or charcuterie.
A bath tray is perfect for keeping your drinks and snacks safe and dry. While you can enjoy any food or drink you prefer, it's wise to avoid anything too crumbly that might end up in 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 along. Reading in the bathtub is incredibly relaxing.
If reading isn't your thing, you can stream a great show or movie on your tablet. Playing games on your smartphone is another option.
You might also enjoy journaling or writing if you feel inspired.
5. Get The Ideal Water Temperature
Experts recommend a bath temperature of around 112°F for optimal benefits. However, older individuals might prefer a slightly lower temperature.
At 112°F, the lipid layer of your skin softens without causing dryness, leaving your skin clean, soft, and well-moisturized.
6. Add Bubble Bath
A wonderful way to enhance your bath is by adding bubble bath. The bubbles are perfect for pampering, as they feel soft against your skin, smell delightful, and help you unwind.
Bubble baths can nourish your skin, leave you feeling refreshed, and add a lovely fragrance. Plus, the bubbles provide a playful element, allowing you to relax and find joy in the moment.
7. Add Epsom Salts
Epsom salts are a fantastic addition to enhance your bathing experience. They soften the water, making it gentler on your skin.
Rich in sulfates and magnesium, they can also aid in relieving tension. Epsom salts offer a wide range of benefits.
To explore which blends suit your bath best, consider starting with our Antistress Bundle (3-Pack) or Aromatherapy Bundle (3-Pack). For optimal results, add 1/2 to 1 cup to a full bath when using them.
8. Add Essential Oils
A few drops of essential oils can enhance your bath with aromatherapy benefits. When choosing an oil, opt for varieties such as lavender, chamomile, or geranium for relaxation, or eucalyptus, peppermint, or turmeric for soothing tired muscles.
Our epsom salt blends like Deep Relaxation Bath Soak or Muscle Bath Soak already contain these natural oils, so you can enjoy aromatherapy baths without the hassle of blending ingredients yourself.
9. Add A Face Mask
For an enhanced spa-like experience, try incorporating a face mask into your bath routine. This addition not only helps clear and moisturize your skin but also promotes relaxation and unwinding while you soak.
Afterward, you'll emerge with softer, more supple, and clear skin, making it a perfect complement to your bath time ritual.
10. Apply A Hair Mask
Like a face mask, a hair mask provides nourishment for your hair. If you don't have a hair mask on hand, you can achieve similar results by mixing your conditioner with epsom salts at a 4-to-1 ratio.
This mixture effectively adds moisture and boosts your hair’s volume. Order plain epsom salt here.
11. Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating is beneficial for removing accumulated dirt, oil, and dead skin. It's best done during a bath when your skin is softened, making buildup easier to remove.
Consider using a loofah or exfoliating bath mitts for this purpose. You can also create a simple scrub using a 2-to-1 ratio of epsom salts to coconut oil.
Apply this mixture topically and gently scrub your skin to exfoliate effectively.
12. Scrub Your Feet
Soaking your feet in a bath and then scrubbing them with a pumice stone is effective for removing and reducing calluses. It's important to soak your feet for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing to ensure your excess skin softens optimally for easier removal.
Additionally, you can try using an epsom salt scrub on your feet for added benefit.
13. Invest In A Bath Pillow
A bath pillow allows you to comfortably lean back in the tub. They're quite affordable, making them a worthwhile investment for your bath time enjoyment.
With a wide range of styles to choose from, opt for one that provides neck support and cradles your head. This way, you can effortlessly sink back and relax during your bath.
14. Put Your Towel In The Dryer
Putting your towel, robe, and slippers in the dryer for a few minutes is a wonderful way to pamper yourself. It warms them up, ensuring that when you step out of the tub, you can wrap yourself in cozy warmth.
15. Apply Moisturizer
After you finish bathing, generously apply moisturizer to your skin. Your pores are open from the warmth of the bath, making it the perfect moment for moisturizer to absorb quickly.
This also enhances the effectiveness of key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid.
Conclusion
Follow these 15 tips to ensure you enjoy a truly relaxing and indulgent bath experience. For additional bath time tips and recipes, be sure to check out our blog.
At Better Bath Better Body, we provide valuable advice on enhancing your bath and offer a variety of epsom salt blends, which you can order here.
