Bathe in bliss: master your own self-care bath routine

A self care bath routine is the perfect way to release stress, condition your skin and, above all, unwind. But all too often, things get in the way. You finish work late, the kids are running wild, and there are still one thousand things left on the to-do list. But here’s how taking a bath could benefit you in the long run:

1. Enhances productivity
2. Enables you to communicate more effectively with loved ones
3. Lowers your blood pressure
4. Helps you make healthier choices
5. Restores your body
6. Lowers stress
7. Increases sleep quality
8. Nurtures your mental health

If you want the benefits of a bath, you need to curate a blissful bath routine and select the best bath self care products. Keep reading for bath self care ideas and how to enhance your bath ritual.

Begin with a nourishing bath soak

A dream bath always needs a beautifying bath soak to reset your nervous system. Our Skin Nourishing Milk Bath transforms plain water into a velvet, tranquil escape. Milk Protein gently removes dead skin cells and nourishes parched skin. Japanese camellia and sweet almond oils hydrate and lock in moisture for a satin-smooth feel. 

If you have sore muscles or are post-workout, tip in a sachet of Musclease Herbal Bath Synergy. The therapeutic effects of sea salt enhance blood circulation and ease tense muscles. Rosemary and maritime pine reduce inflammation with the double benefit of a fresh, uplifting aroma.

Pour your chosen bath soak under running water and mix well until it dissolves.

Set the ambience

While your tub fills, change your bathroom into an oasis by setting the ambience. Before stepping into the soothing water, spritz our Calming Space Spray and inhale the dreamy mist of light, floral fragrances. Play calming music to relax the senses and reset your brain.

You can also create soft lighting using candles and dimming overhead lights. Why not try one of these ELEMIS candles for a blissful bath?

• Mayfair No.9 Scented Candle - Induce relaxation with the floral smells of chamomile, lavender and geranium. The scents have a mild sedative effect, making this candle the perfect option for a bedtime bath. 
  
• English Garden Scented Candle - Step into the blissful English countryside with the sweet notes of rose, dewberry and peony.
• Regency Library Scented Candle - Tuck yourself away amongst the comforting pages of books with the earthy aromas of cade, cedarwood and sandalwood.
• Afternoon Tea Scented Candle - Reminisce about summer gatherings in the garden and enjoy the delectable scents of black tea, bergamot and raspberry leaf. 

Sweep your worries away with dry brushing

Dry brushing has been used for centuries to psychically exfoliate dead skin cells, reducing the appearance of cellulite and scarring. The process stimulates blood flow and increases cell rejuvenation for glowing skin. It also drains lymphatic fluids, which can build up around the body, causing inflammation and redness.

Before you get in the bath, use the Body Detox Skin Brush. Apply gentle strokes towards your heart, starting at your feet and working your way up, remembering the insides of your arms. The stomach can be tender, so it may be an area you want to skip. Once you have finished, rinse the brush, and leave it to dry. 

Exfoliate with a luxurious salt scrub

Dry brushing unearths old skin, making it the perfect time to indulge in a skin scrub. Soak in the scented bath and unscrew a tub of Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow Body Scrub. 

The mineral-rich salts slough away roughness while coconut oil and hibiscus melt into your skin, revealing a luminous complexion. After rinsing off the scrub, relax in the delicate scent of frangipani flowers.

Apply a soothing mask

Unwinding in the bath is the perfect time to give your skin extra TLC with a Herbal Lavender Repair Mask. Smooth on the clay texture and let kaolin, rosemary, thyme, and lavender soothe and depuff your eyes. After one to fifteen minutes, use a soft cloth to sweep away the mask for a cashmere-smooth complexion. 

Lock in moisture after lying in a conditioning bath soak with a luxurious body oil. The Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend not only deeply hydrates but also uses camellia and sweet almond oil with vitamin E to fade the colour of stretch marks by up to 17%*.

If you are using the Musclease Bath Synergy, follow up with our De-Stress Massage Oil, formulated with a blend of tension-releasing essential oils.

Once you are dry, warm a small amount of oil in the palms of your hands and apply in circular motions or using upward strokes. Concentrate on areas of your body susceptible to dryness or irregular skin texture, such as stretch marks.

*Independent clinical trial March 2023. Results are based on 35 people over 3 months.

If you want to create an indulgent bath, there are ways you can ensure it’s as relaxing as possible. Below are a few de-stress ELEMIS ideas:

Take your time

Try not to rush through your bath, but enjoy the experience. Appreciate your surroundings, the feel of warm water, the silky texture of your bath soak, and the scent of essential oils. Take a moment without thinking about what’s next on your to-do list.

If you have a time limit, select one or two things to nurture your skin instead of barrelling through a twelve-step skincare routine. Skip exfoliation and enjoy a nourishing bath milk or swap the oil for a refreshing face mask. Tailor it to suit you and the time you have to yourself

Consider journalling

Baths are a tranquil space to check in with yourself and reflect on your day, goals, or how you feel. Try these journalling activities for the bath:

• Free write — Open your journal and start writing. You can begin mid-thought and see where your pen takes you. Don’t worry about grammar or sentence structure. Journalling is for you and you alone. You can set a time boundary of five to fifteen minutes if that helps.
• Reflect on your day — Ask yourself, ‘What’s gone well today?’ What did you enjoy, what was your biggest lesson, and what do you want to take forward into tomorrow?
• Reevaluate your goals — If you feel overwhelmed or lost, it could be time to revisit your goals. Jot down what you want to achieve in the next month or even year. How can you help yourself get there? What are you already doing that is bringing you closer?
• Ask yourself: how am I feeling? — So often, we are told to suppress emotions and get on with life, never allowing ourselves to feel fully. Emotions can arise in the bath because you are no longer distracted by day-to-day activities. Journalling can help you work through them and find peace.

Try some breathing exercises

Even in the bath, you may distract yourself by scrolling on Pinterest, watching Netflix, or listening to a podcast. Instead, take a moment and just breathe. Below are some simple breathing exercises:

• Square breathing — Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, breathe out for four, and hold for four. Then start the cycle again, repeating as often as you want.
• Set a one-minute timer — Start a sixty-second timer on your phone, lie back and just breathe. Listen to the sound of your breath in and out, in and out. Acknowledge any background noise, then come back to your breath.
• Smell the flowers, blow out the candle — A straightforward breathing exercise for beginners is visualisation. Inhale through your nose as if breathing in a garden full of flowers. This is easy to imagine with one of our luxuriously fragranced candles. Next, pretend you are trying to blow out a candle and let your breath escape through your mouth.
• Alternate nostril breathing — This exercise helps regulate your nervous system and both sides of your brain. Pinch the right nostril with your thumb, leaving the other nostril clear.
• Breathe in through the left nostril, then pinch it closed with your ring or middle finger. Hold your breath with both nostrils closed for a few seconds. Then, remove your thumb from the right nostril, releasing the breath through it. Inhale through the right nostril, pinch it shut and repeat.

Relax and unwind with ELEMIS body and bath products

Don’t underestimate the power of taking time out for yourself. Put down the laundry, close your laptop and say good night to your kids. It’s time to relax and unwind with the ELEMIS bath and beauty range.