Ease stress and learn how to relax properly – straight from your bathtub

Melt away mind-body stress and learn how to relax by restoring a sense of inner wellbeing with our expert bathtime advice

Words: Katy Sunnassee | Images: Shutterstock

Avoid bath bombs

We know bath bombs are super fun, but they can strip your skin of moisture. ‘Nothing should fizz in the bath – save the bubbles from your Champagne!’, says Lorna Veale, founder of No Secrets Beauty (nosecretsbeauty.com). ‘The main ingredients of bath bombs are bicarb of soda and citric acid, which strip your skin. They’re better for cleaning your home, not your body!’

Try bubble meditation

‘Relaxing your mind is key and I do this with “bubble meditation”,’ says Claire Croft, founder of British luxury bath, body and home fragrance brand, Abahna. ‘Lie back in the tub, clear your mind and focus on the bubbles from the bath foam as they move, change form and pop – it’s mesmerising and helps clear your mind.’

Abahna Mountain Flowers & Spring Water Luxury Bath Foam

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Add oil to your body first

Bath oils help recreate a spa-worthy feel at home while also helping lock in moisture to your skin – but they do leave a mess afterwards. ‘Bath oils make your tub slippery and leave a residue even after draining out all the water,’ says Lorna. ‘Instead, try applying oil to your body before you get into the bath. ‘When you apply oil before a bath, you create a barrier between your skin and the water, which reduces the drying effects of the hot water. What’s more, the water will help seal in the goodness and moisture from your oils, making them easier to absorb.’

Massage Q+A Skincare Vitamin A.C.E Cleansing Shower Oil

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Cocoon yourself in candle wax

A relaxing bath needs a relaxing candle, and this Beeutiful Body Candle (beeutiful.co.uk) also doubles up as a moisturiser! Enjoy the scent while you’re in the bath then after, extinguish the candle, dry off and carefully massage the pool of warm soy, beeswax and coconut oil into your limbs for all-over hydration. Choose from Neroli & Vanilla, Warm Orange & Ginger or Rose Spice.

Beeutiful Body candle

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Purify with seaweed

Sinking into a bath of seaweed might not sound all that appealing but it has some serious health benefits. For a straight-up seaweed hit, try VOYA Lazy Days Detoxifying Seaweed Bath (£24, voya.ie), which contains hand-harvested, organic Irish seaweed, based on a 300-year-old seaweed bath tradition. ‘Seaweed purifies and balances the ocean,’ says Mark Walton, co-founder of VOYA.

‘A hot seaweed bath is better than a wet steam because the sea greens rebalance skin instead of dehydrating it. The electrolytic, magnetic action of VOYA Lazy Days Seaweed helps your body release excess fluids from congested cells and draws out fatty wastes through the skin. It also helps to replace depleted minerals such as potassium and iodine.’

For best results, soak the seaweed in a bath of very hot water to rehydrate it and release the plant’s alginate properties. Add cool water to ensure a comfortable temperature, and release the seaweed from the net if desired. The seaweed can be dried and reused within three days, and it makes for an excellent garden fertiliser after use!

Lazy Days Detoxifying Seaweed Bath

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Enjoy salt power

You’ve no doubt heard of Epsom salts, but were you aware of just how good they are for you and your skin? When Epsom salt is added to water it breaks down into magnesium and sulphate. As you bathe, these minerals are quickly absorbed through the skin’s porous epidermis, travelling to muscles and blood vessels beneath. ‘When it comes to muscle recovery and relaxation, athletes and recovery experts have long known of the benefits of Epsom salts,’ says Dr Alisha Damani, NHS doctor and founder of The Medic Today (themedictoday.co.uk). ‘There is ample evidence to support the use of magnesium in inducing relaxation, reducing inflammation, as well as supporting muscle and nerve function.’

Add a generous handful of Westlab Recover Bath Salts (£9.99, westlabsalts.co.uk), with willow, eucalyptus and arnica to soothe your body and revive your mind.

Epsom Bath Salt

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Bathing dos and don’ts

Create the best bathing experience with this helpful guide by Abahna founder, Claire Croft:

• Do leave it 40 minutes or more after eating before having a bath.
• Don’t have a really hot bath just before bed as it can increase your heart rate and disrupt sleep.
• Do keep your bath water temperature between 38-40 degrees Celsius. This helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and increases the secretion of noradrenaline, which is what you want as it helps calm you.
• Don’t soak for longer than 20 minutes at a time, as extended bathing can dry out your skin and sap your energy.