Thursday, January 8, 2015

Relaxation...Tranquility...BATH TIME!



Two months ago, I started taking baths because of my poor blood circulation. My hands and feet were always cold which were tolerable, but recently my bad circulation symptoms got significantly worse. I have read somewhere that submerging your body in warm/hot water really helps with the circulation.  Therefore, I was more interested in investing  in these products to sort of treat these symptoms as well as to enhance my bath to a luxurious experience. Besides, when you are under stress, it is good to take a bath here and there to relieve some of that tension.

First, I have some tips:

1) Use a combination of different bath products: When taking a bath, don't think you have to just solely use one bath product. I personally love making my bath really fragrant and concentrated so that it feels like I am not just sitting in a pool of bland water. Throw in some rose petals (if you have some), bath oils+butters, bubble bath gel, oatmeal, you name it. If you are worried about the mixture of different scents, don't worry. It'll all smell good. Trust me.

2) Find a scent that really relaxes you: Choice of scent is very crucial for me when I am taking a bath. Personally I love the scent of roses, lavender, and herbs really relaxes me. I don't really know how to elaborate on the reasons why these particular scents relax me, but something about them are really calming without being loud and in my face. It reminds me of a luxurious expensive spa. Experiment with different scents and figure out which one is fitting for your palette, but I recommend lavender or eucalyptus if you don't know where to start because these two scents are widely known for relaxing the body and the mind.

3) Make sure to use hot water instead of warm: For me hot water seems to be more effective than warm in treating my circulation problem. It really makes my muscles relax and sort of makes them numb(?), which makes me very loose and relaxed from being tense and all knotty.

4) Be clean before you take a bath: You don't want to take a bath in your own filth, so take a shower before you get into your bath. Also, wash your tub beforehand if you think it has been awhile since you cleaned your bathroom. It's gross.

5) Turn off your brain: This is your personal time (besides you are naked and all). Make this experience as enjoyable as possible! Watch your favorite light-hearted shows while taking a bath, listen to relaxing music, use your expensive cream that you have saved up for, and forget the stressful topics that you always think about while you are on your way to work or something. Just turn it off!

PRODUCTS THAT I USE

Lush products: I first started out with only using one bath bomb from Lush, but their bath bombs are in my opinion mainly for aesthetic functions which I completely don't care about. I much prefer their bath melts which are concentrated with butter and essential oils in the shape of a small bar soap. These are excellent because it really moisturizes your body and kicks off a heavy scent. My favorites are Dreamtime and You've been Mangoed. Lush is not in everyone's preferences, but if you like them, you have to try these two.

*The pink circular bath bomb looking thing in the picture is called The Rose Queen.

Aveda Stress-fix Soaking Salts: This particular bath salt was a game changer for me. The smell of almost bittersweet lavender in my bath really made me relax. Also the salt it-self makes the bath water almost...cooling (like icy-hot but not really?) which is so wonderful when relaxing my muscles. However, this is $42 per tub so I wouldn't say this is for everyone, but If you love (emphasis on the love) lavender, you definitely should purchase this.

Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Honey Bath: I personally dislike the scent of sugar, baked goods, or vanilla, but this I LOVE. The sweetness of creme brulee mixed in with my lavender herbal smell really warms up the scent and the vibe of the whole bath experience. However, I don't personally think this creates enough bubbles to be used alone. Also, it is VERY expensive ($42), so use it discreetly when you are pouring this in your bath.

Aveda Rosemary Mint Body Lotion: This is not the best lotion that I have ever used at all. To be honest, the moisture level is very mediocre. I solely use this after I take a bath to make the scent from the bath linger with me a little longer. I apply this on my neck and on my arms and the smell of rosemary and mint continues my bath experience even when the bath is actually finished.

Michael Todd Avocado Mango Mask: Bath water can be quite drying on your face if you don't have any hydrating mask on your face. I had some reservations about this mask before I started taking baths because it had no effect on me before. When used while taking a bath, it really makes my skin plumper, softer, and tighter (in terms of pore size). Although this is great during a bath, I don't think this mask is worth the $30 something dollars. I believe the Origin's hydrating mask is very similar to this but lesser in price.


I wouldn't necessarily recommend any of these products that I have mentioned since bath preferences are very subjective and should be designed to fit your own taste. However, I do highly recommend anyone to try taking a bath in general because it really is useful when it comes to giving you relaxed body and soul. What do you use when you are taking a bath?

Best,




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