9 Of The Best Products For An Utterly Relaxing Bath, According To Experts
There’s nothing quite like a relaxing bath at the end of a long day. Achieving that desired level of calm and self-care is less of a science and more a combination of prep, soothing ingredients and ambiance (a little peace and quiet doesn’t hurt, either). Relaxing baths can have great benefits, according to Alissa Bayer, founder of Milk + Honey spa, which has locations across the country. “Studies often cite everything from reducing inflammation and fatigue, improving mental clarity, detoxification, better sleep, the list goes on and on,” she says. “The tricky part is finding ways to truly unwind and relax in a way that works for you. I’ve found that taking some time to myself with a relaxing bath is an amazing way to reset and recharge. I absolutely savor my bath time ritual and use it as an opportunity to disconnect from technology, clear my head and reflect on the day and all of the things I’m grateful for.”
There's nothing quite like a relaxing bath at the end of a long day—and these are the best soaks, ... [+] salts and tools to help you achieve this self-care moment. getty
For her own routine, Bayer makes some herbal tea, grabs a soulful book and creates a mood. “Briefly burning a piece of precious palo santo wood is a great way to clear your mind and set the tone,” she says. “I’ll then soak for as long as my kids will leave me alone.” The brand’s The Art of the Bath Set is a great starter kit that provides useful tools for engaging all your senses as you unwind. Scroll down for more of the best products to help create the most relaxing bath experience.
An Update On A Bathtime Classic
Dermstore US Fur Bath Drops Buy From Dermstore Fur’s golden spheres may look playful when hanging out on the ledge of a tub, but these are no bath beads of our youth. Today’s version is encapsulated in vegan seaweed casings and contains a gorgeous blend of oils to create a relaxing bath. Co-founder Lillian Tung crafted these drops to help transport you to a calmer headspace—something everyone could use at this moment in time. “The combination of the soothing lavender, citrus fragrance and skin-softening oils turns an ordinary bath into a relaxing spa ritual,” she says.
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A Transformative Soak
Detox Market Natureofthings Restorative Floral Bath Buy From Neiman Marcus Natureofthings co-founder Jamie Pelayo says that once this floral bath is poured into warm water, it should be savored by practically all senses. “It’s all about the blend of potent anti-inflammatory, replenishing and hydrating ingredients punctuated by a transportive aromatherapeutic experience,” she says. Plumeria, jasmine and vetiver create a gorgeous scent that’s blended with nourishing shea butter and green tea oil, with the addition of capsicum pepper to help ease muscle tension—all of which create a transformative mind-body soak.
A Cool Way To De-Stress
Credo Bathing Culture Big Dipper Mineral Bath Buy From Credo Bathing Culture became a quiet cult hit during the pandemic, with its signature splashy rainbow jar that appeals to beach-lovers and urban types alike. The brand’s new Big Dipper Mineral Bath uses mineral-rich salts, green clay and jojoba oil infused with hemp-derived CBD to help melt away muscle stress and sore limbs. West Coast sea salts and clay leave a silky finish on skin. Co-founders Tim Hollinger and Spencer Arnold suggest following up your bath with the brand’s body or perfume oil to extend the aromatic experience beyond the soak and into the rest of your evening.
A Next-Level Candle
Vyrao Vyrao Ember 4-Wick Candle Buy From Vyrao Fashion fixture-turned-entrepreneur Yasmin Sewell’s new vibrational line of scents, Vyrao, has just launched a candle category that is sure to add a new dimension to your bathroom vibe. Each offers something special, like “Cade” for its soothing properties, “Birch Tar” for being restorative and “Elemi,” which is said to help align chakras. A nightly bather, Sewell suggests lighting the beautifully oversized candle as part of your ritual to let go of any unnecessary stress, fear and over-thinking, and as a gentle reminder to get centered. “Our Ember candle is created with ingredients to clear stagnant energy in your space and bring in fresh, new energy,” she says.
A Muscle-Melting Soak
susanne kauffmann Susanne Kauffmann Micropine Bath Buy From Susanne Kaufmann Inspired by the landscape of the Austrian Alps, Susanne Kauffmann’s aromatic bath oil is developed with essential oils derived from pine and spruce needles that help to revive tired muscles when dropped into warm water. Locally sourced oils like pine needle (anti-inflammatory and immune-booting) and spruce needle (cleansing and purifying) help invigorate both the mind and body. Plus it doesn’t hurt that the bottle is simply swoon-worthy. Kauffmann loves personalizing the bath according to one’s physical and mental needs. “It’s such a brilliant opportunity to give your mind a moment to rest and re-set, and this invigorating bath oil encapsulates everything I love about the Bregenzerwald mountain region—beautiful, local ingredients that deliver powerful results for the skin and body.”
Buff It All Away
Goop Goop G.Tox Dry Brush Buy From Sephora As many know, a bath ritual actually starts before one hits the water. Using circular motions (always toward the heart), use this curved wooden dry brush to buff away dead skin cells for some pre-soak prep. Goop’s G.Tox brush is made with natural, biodegradable sisal fibers from agave plant, and boasts an ergonomic handle to boot. “The main reason to dry brush before a bath is that it can increase blood circulation, which in turn supports lymphatic flow and drainage which can really help with detoxification while you are warm and sweating in the bathtub,” says Bayer.
Level Up Your Basic Cleanse
Necessaire Necessaire Body Wash Buy From Nordstrom Necessaire made a splash when it first hit the shelves for a look that we don’t always see in bath aisles—it’s elegant, luxurious and has that Parisian flair when it comes to packaging. But the body wash is a rare blend of form-meets-function: Not only is it aesthetically stunning, but it’s also a daily vitamin-enriched cleanser that’s available fragrance-free for minimalists or infused with essential oil-based scents for those who like to level-up. The star ingredient is niacinimide (vitamin B3) which cleanses, nourishes and balances to seal the deal on the perfect soak.
Grownup Bath Bombs
MOST POPULAR Ouai Ouai Chill Pills Buy From Sephora If you associate bath bombs with toddler time, you haven’t met celebrity stylist Jen Atkin’s version for Ouai. Wryly named “chill pills,” these fizzy tablets—formulated with skin-nourishing oils like jojoba, safflower and hemp—diffuse into hot water to emit a gorgeous jasmine and rose fragrance. And if little hands somehow find their way into the jar, stress not—the brand is known for its clean formulations.
A Chic Way To Unwind
Netaporter Costa Brazil Bath Soak Refill Buy From Costa Brazil When the refill bag is as chic as the efficacy of the formula, you know you have a winner. Costa Brazil’s bath soak is packed with magnesium-rich mineral sea and epsom salts to help you unwind, ease tension and of course, soften skin. Brazilian white clay detoxifies and sloughs away impurities, while aromatic Breu Branco resin calms. Bayer says it’s important to focus on clean ingredients that suit your mood. “Mineral salts (like Epsom or sea salt) and your favorite essential oils (or no fragrance at all), are all that you really need to have a great bath. Seaweed and clay can also be great additions to aid in soaking in minerals and detoxification.”
13 Products This Beauty Editor Swears by for the Perfect Bath
I used to hate baths. Like, truly despise them. When I was a kid, my mom would try to force me into a bath for a few minutes to calm my super-hyper, erratic self down. I'd dread the sound of the water running because I knew what was coming: me, bored out of mind, confined to a pool of my own filth doing absolutely nothing.
All this changed as I grew older and discovered the soothing, de-stressing experience that comes from a quick dip. Whiling away the hours with a good soak became a therapeutic oasis, and with the right products, I realized that it could be transformed from a basic cleansing to a full-blown spa session. We're not talking about those cheap bubble baths you remember as a kid; this bathroom repertoire is upgraded with elevated oils, salts, elixirs, and fragrances that will whisk you away into a haven of self-care. In a time where everyone can use a bit of escapism, these are the steps you need to turn your ordinary bathroom into a spa-worthy soak. Just sit back, turn on your favorite spa radio channel (yes, that's a thing), and bathe your cares away.
22 Luxury Bath Products To Boost Your Mood
Between work pressures, (a Mental Health UK survey found that 46% of UK workers felt more prone to extreme levels of stress now than they did before the pandemic hit) Omicron uncertainty and 'WFH' monotony, there's no better time to switch off, chill out and run yourself a bath–one that's jazzed up with luxury products.
Because, really, is there anything more relaxing than sinking into the tub after a long day, allowing your muscles to melt under a medley of bubbles, bath oils and steamy water, and letting your mind switch off from all those deadlines and to-do lists?
The answer is: no. Definitely not.
What are the benefits of a bath?
You know from your own experience that a warm bath can soothe away the day's stress. But there's science to back this up. A small 2018 study found that a bath, taken twice weekly for 15 to 20 minutes, was associated with a little but persistent mood lift in participants dealing with depression.
Suffering with your sleep? A bath can prove a useful tool, here, too. 'Sleep occurs when the core temperature drops in a normal circadian rhythm,’ explains sleep psychologist Katherine Hall.
‘When the blood vessels in your skin open up while soaking, excess heat comes to the surface of your body,’ Hall says. ‘As you get out of the bath, that heat energy dissipates into the environment, signalling the circadian rhythm to slow down your heart and breathing rates, priming you for optimal sleep.’
Finally, a bath is one of the simplest mood-boosters around. ‘As well as improving biological functions, a warm bath is also linked to an increase in serotonin and endorphins, two of the neurotransmitters responsible for wellbeing and happiness,' says Jo Kellett, Essential Oils Expert at Tisserand Aromatherapy.
The best luxury bath products: 22 of the best soaks, soaps and bubbles
What makes a soak that much sweeter? All the best luxury bath products, bath oils, salts, slabs and bubbles, of course! So, whatever your reason for bathing—mood, muscle recovery, self-care, sleep, the list goes on—do so with the very best luxury bath products by your side.
