Feel-Great Key to AGE IN REVERSE!

Just say ahh! Celebrities swear by baths to turn back the clock on how they look and feel

Grandma always told us a warm bath could fix us right up when we were feeling under the weather— and she was right! Now doctors are powering up the benefits of bathtime even more, recommending speciality soaks infused with simple nutrient-rich add-ins that nourish skin and leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. “Warm bathwater opens pores to maximize nutrient absorption into skin, helping with coldweather woes like dryness, bloat and body blemishes,” explains Debbie Palmer, M.D., a dermatologist based in New York and author of Beyond Beauty. Simply choose from the following recipes for the one that’s right for you, add a capful of bubble bath to the mix and soak for 20 minutes.

TO CALM DRY SKIN

Get quick relief from itchy, parched patches that pop up as temperatures drop with a mix of oatmeal and coconut milk, suggests Dr. Palmer. Oatmeal’s anti-inflammatory properties soothe skin while coconut milk’s vitamin E and lauric acid moisturize. To do: Fill a sachet made of an old pair of panty hose with 1 cup of old-fashioned oatmeal; place in a warm bath with 1 cup of coconut milk.

TO EASE BLOAT

Indulging in comfort foods combined with a reduction in physical activity this season can cause the lymphatic system to become sluggish, which leads to water retention. The pampering fix? An Epsom salt and grapefruit essential oil bath. The salt’s magnesium, calcium and potassium help flush excess water and toxins from the body, and grapefruit oil revs circulation to improve lymph flow. To do: Add 1 cup of Epsom salt and 3 drops of grapefruit essential oil to bathwater.

TO BANISH BACK ACNE

Bundling up against the cold can trap oils against the body, which clogs pores and leads to body blemishes. Tea to the rescue! “Green tea calms inflammation and reduces redness while its antibacterial catechins ward off acne-causing bacteria,” says Dr. Palmer. “And tea tree oil works like an antiseptic to clean out pores.” In fact, tea tree has been found just as effective as benzoyl peroxide in healing blemishes. Bonus: Massaging this mix onto the scalp can nix dandruff . Tea tree oil thwarts bacteria and fungus and green tea soothes flaking.

To do: Steep 3 green tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water, then add 4 drops of tea tree oil. Let cool for 30 minutes, remove the tea bags, pour the mixture into bathwater and massage the remainder onto the scalp for 1 minute; rinse hair.

“I buy [Dead Sea salt] and use it religiously on my skin in the bath. That’s my beauty in a bottle right now for soft skin.” Vanessa Williams, 54