Bathing has had social, wellness and beauty connotations throughout history and has long been used as a form of healing therapy in many ancient cultures.
Unfortunately for many of us, bathing has become non-existent and almost entirely replaced by a quick shower as we grapple to find enough hours in the day.
It’s time to rethink our priorities and revise the lost art of taking a bath. From a beauty as well as wellness aspect, we will reap the rewards.
Sinking softly into a warm bath is not just an exercise in self-care, it can also enhance your body’s function and mental health. A growing body of research has shown that a bath can calm the nervous system, reducing the levels of stress and anxiety in your body and improving your mood. Positive anti-inflammatory and blood sugar responses have also been demonstrated, which can help protect against illness and infection.
With the right bath products, bathing can help rebalance the skin’s pH levels and soothe dry or irritated skin. For maximum moisture, immediately apply a body lotion or cream after towel drying your skin.
Many beauty houses have specific products to elevate the humble bath and create a stress-relieving, skin-loving multi-sensorial experience. One of these companies is Jo Malone London. I spoke with their national Education Manager, Sarah-Louise Purcell, who walked me through the brand’s extensive bath and body range. This includes bath oils, post-bath body creams and matching candles in scents including the cult English Pear and Freesia and Red Roses. ‘Create a new morning ritual, a night of pampering or a moment of escape with a luxurious bath,’ says Purcell.
L’Occitane is another beauty house that believes in the benefits of bathing. They offer bath oils, bath salts, bath bombs and fizzers, bubble baths, body washes and soaps. Like the rest of their range, their ingredients are sourced from Provence and their lavender and almond ranges are still their best sellers. As an added bonus, their bath products are now available in refills.
MOR is an OG of the art of bathing beautifully and believes strongly in the positive power of bathing. Hydrate and cleanse with their collections of Bath & Body sets – available in their signature fragrances.
Cold-water therapy using ice baths is growing in popularity, not least for their purported health benefits. If you’re on the cold bath bandwagon, the Cold Bath Company offers a unique take on bath salts, designed to be used specially with cold water therapy.
Whatever the temperature, a stress-relieving soak allows you to switch off from the stresses of life. And, if you really are time-poor, try applying a hair mask or face mask before hopping into your bath for a total body beauty rejuvenation that maximises your precious time. CBM
