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A Good Bath
Luxuriate in the richness of spa-like baths right at home. All you have to do is reach out to your kitchen cabinet.Just imagine the residue that stays behind on the skin’s surface! And yet, a nice refreshing bath is important not only from the hygiene point of view, but if done the right way, it can boost your mood and make your skin glow with health!
You heard it right. You can transform your bathroom into a spa by these small, easy changes.
1. Massage, massage and massage
Richness of spa-like baths right at home
Dermatologists and skin experts can’t emphasize this enough. A quick body oil
massage, 10-minutes before your bath, has many benefits. It helps in exfoliation—removal of dead skin cells from the surface.The physical act of massage boosts blood circulation and enables detoxification. Increased circulation in turn reduces aches and pains and helps you distress.
A layer of oil prevents moisture from escaping the skin’s surface during a bath. This goes a long way in keeping the skin hydrated and itch-free. “During the summer months use lighter oils, such as—coconut, eucalyptus or jasmine for a massage. Heavier oils, such as almond are best suited for winter days,’’ says William.
2. Bring on the goodness of essential oils
Essential oils give plants their fragrance. They contain vitamins, plant hormones and other natural elements. Many of us associate aromatic, essential oils with expensive spa treatments.
Bathroom must-haves
Back brush
It is a must for proper exfoliation. Opt for a vegetable back brush.
Use a back brush for cleansing the back.
Pot pouring bags
These will keep the bathroom smelling fresh and nice.
Shower gel or body scrub
Choose them over regular soap as they are not harsh on the skin.
Body scrubs can be made at home as well (read recipes later).
Pumice stone
Scrub feet regularly with a pumice stone during a bath.
It is necessary to slough off the dead cells.
Essential oils
Always keep calming (lavender/sandalwood) and energizing (lemon/peppermint/camphor) oils handy.
Aromatic candles
Keep a collection that addresses different moods—calming, energizing or healing.
The truth is that this is not always the case and you can reap many health benefits when you use them at home. Aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils for physical and emotional benefits.
The use of aromatic scents has been shown in many studies and in individual experience to have a very real, if temporary, effect on people’s feelings and moods. So, while we wait for science to prove conclusively if aromatherapy can lower your blood pressure, we’re more than happy to recommend a scented bath if it makes you more relaxed (or rejuvenated). And God knows how much we need that!
The right oil to use Different oils have different effects on our senses. Take your pick:
To rev up Try bergamot, camphor, cinnamon, peppermint, rosemary, lemon, geranium. They perk up your senses by increasing blood circulation and help you focus better. Start your day with a bath scented with their energy.
Calm down with jasmine, lavender, chamomile, and sandal wood and ylang ylang. A perfect end to a tense, high stress day.
Aches and pains Lavender can help deal with migraine and also high blood pressure. “Sandalwood essence helps relieve PMS symptoms,’’ says Arthur, an herbal beauty expert.
How to use these oils?
Tub bath Fill the tub with water. Keep it warm in winter and tepid in summer. Add 10 to 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to it and go for a full body soak.
However, you can have a luxurious bucket bath. All you have to do is add 7 to 8 drops of an essential oil in the last rinse and step out of the bathroom feeling and smelling delightful.
Shower bath like a tub bath, a shower bath too, is a luxury in many Indian homes because of poor water pressure.
Freshen up through a bath
However, if you are lucky enough to have a powerful shower, drop a little essential oil on the floor, right below the shower, and inhale the aroma as it rises up.
You will need warm water for this. “Or, you could wet a towel, add a few drops of the oil on it and rub it on the body,” says Dr Blossom, an aroma therapist and skin expert.
3. Exfoliate and cleanse
Scrubbing to exfoliate should be an important part of your bath routine. You may use readymade body scrubs or use natural exfoliants such as oatmeal, cornmeal, almond meal and sea salts. You can use a bath mitt (easily available at most department stores) or a vegetable back brush.
Caution People with sensitive skin or skin problems should avoid dry brushing.
Usually, soaps are drying in nature and can’t exfoliate. The next best thing is to use a shower gel and back brush.
Your skin needs care
You can buy a back brush (opt for the natural brown variety) from any department store. Pour some gel on to it and gently rub the back brush over the body to build up lather. It will cleanse as well as exfoliate. However, if you can spare more time, and are more discerning, this is worth a try: the use of herbal, homemade body scrubs for exfoliation and cleansing, instead of soap. Sample some easy-to-make, yet indulgent mixes:
* Mix the powder of almonds (for dry skin)/green gram (for oily skin)/oatmeal (for sensitive skin) with an oil of your choice. Use plain water in case you have an oily skin or are prone to boils.
The bathroom black list
O Avoid taking hot water baths/showers
O Do not use anti-bacterial soaps for bathing.
O Do not stands under the shower for more than 5 minutes. It strips the body of moisture
O Do not scrubs too hard. Exfoliation should be gentle
O Keep herbal and eucalyptus essential oils away from the reach of children. Harmful if consumed
* Rub the mixture all over the body with massaging strokes. If you feel it is dry, add some milk.
* Rinse off with bath water that has been enriched with the aroma of an essential oil, rose water and herbal leaves (soaked in the water).
* Make a mix out of powdered oatmeal, sandalwood and rose petals.
* Put this dry mixture in a new sock and tie it up.
* Dip this sock into a bowl of thick milk for 10 minutes.
* Rub this sock all over the body during the bath, letting the mixture squeeze out slowly. This will soften dry skin and leave a light fragrance.
* Add a few drops of lavender oil or rose oil into the left-over milk and pour it over the body.
* Rinse it off with warm water.
A baggy exfoliation for a tub bath
* Mix 1/2 cup of dry oatmeal and 1/4 cup buttermilk into a thick paste.
* Make a bag using four layers of muslin cloth. Put the paste in the bag