Beat the blues with a mood-boosting soak
WORDS: SARAH COOPER-WHITE PHOTO: GETTY
There’s nothing like time in the tub for relaxing, reviving or rejuvenating, but studies show that despite most of us having a bath tub in our bathrooms, a third of us only use it four times a year! If you always prefer a quick shower instead of a long, luxurious soak, it’s time to reconsider. From soothing dry, itchy skin to calming stress levels and easing the symptoms of a cold, a bath can solve all manner of problems. Here’s how to make bathtime work for you.
Breathe yourself calm
Feeling anxious? Run a bath and choose products packed with soothing and calming ingredients such as Dr Hauschka Moor Lavender Calming Bath Essence, £17.50, John Lewis. Once you’re in the bath, breathe deeply into your abdomen to calm your mind and lower blood pressure. Imagine you are inflating your tummy like a balloon as you inhale and deflating it as you exhale. The warm water and lavender fragrance will help you relax further.
Boost your mood
It’s been proven that a bath at the end of the day can help you feel more positive. Adding a few drops of an essential oil such as rose geranium or ylang ylang will have an uplifting effect. We love Tisserand Indulgent Rose & Ylang Ylang Bath Soak, £14, tisserand.com.
Banish a cold
Steam helps dry out the mucus in your sinuses when you have a cold. It also raises your body temperature, which revs up your immune system. Try a glug of Weleda Rosemary Invigorating Bath Milk, £15.75, weleda.co.uk, when you’re feeling under the weather – rosemary essential oil has cleansing and uplifting properties.
Detox yourself
Don’t underestimate the benefits of an Epsom salts bath. They can help with fluid retention and draw out toxins, leaving you feeling lighter and fresher. We love Westlab Recover Epsom Bath Salts, £6.79, Boots.
Soothe dry skin
There’s a reason Cleopatra reputedly bathed in a donkey milk bath daily. It kept her skin smooth and ironed out wrinkles. The good news is you don’t need pints of donkey milk to keep your skin tip-top. Just a few capfuls of Elemis’ award-winning Skin Nourishing Milk Bath, £48, uk.elemis.com, swirled into warm (not hot as it will dry your skin more) bath water is
