Rub-a-dub-dub
JAZZ UP YOUR BATHTIME WITH SOME NATURAL INGREDIENTS THAT WILL CLEANSE, CALM AND REVITALISE YOUR SKIN.
AN OH-SO CLEANSING MUSTARD SOAK
Got a tickle in your throat and a sniffle that just won’t quit? Perhaps some achy muscles in need of TLC? Mustard baths are an age-old British tradition, used to open your pores, stimulate circulation and sweat out anything that ails you. Plus, they’ll warm you up a treat in the chillier months.
YOU WILL NEED: 1 1/2 cups Epsom salts 1/2 cup mustard powder 1/2 cup baking soda
10-15 drops of essential oils of your choice (eucalyptus, peppermint or rosemary are ace for clearing your mind and nose, as well)
Tip all the ingredients into a large bowl and whisk them together, taking care to break up any lumps in the baking soda. Then, pop your mixture into a jar or sealed container. When you’re ready for a dip, add 4 or 5 heaped tablespoons into a hot, running bath, swishing the water around to spread the powder out. After 20 or so minutes of soaking, rinse your body with some fresh water, then grab something snuggly and dry and wrap yourself up.
A RATHER NOURISHING GREEN TEA BREW
Have you ever tried dipping your body into a green tea bath, in the same way you might dunk a teabag into your water-filled mug? It’s a nifty way of soaking up all those antioxidants and detoxifying bits found in tea leaves – and it might just relieve sore muscles and calm your mind, while you’re at it. YOU WILL NEED: 5-10 green tea bags (chamomile tea would also work!) 1 cup Epsom salts a handful of fresh jasmine flowers (optional)
Fill your tub with hot (but not scalding) water, and whack in the tea bags, as well as your cup of Epsom salts. Give the bath a gentle swirl to spread the salt crystals around, then let the tea steep for about 15 minutes. When the water has turned a pale shade of greeny-brown, take the tea bags out – being careful not to drip all over your bathroom floor! Scatter some jasmine flowers in the water, then take a deep breath and slide on in.
A VERY SOOTHING ROSE MILK BATH
Cold weather sucks the moisture from your skin faster than a thirsty kid with a Sunnyboy ice block. Enter the milk bath: a calming soak packed with natural lipids, proteins and acids, great for rehydrating, gently exfoliating and soothing dry skin. (If it’s good enough for Cleopatra, it’s good enough for us.)
YOU WILL NEED:
1/2 cup milk powder
1/2 cup dried rose petals 1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup pink Himalayan salt 1/4 cup baking soda
Pop all your ingredients into a blender or processor and pulse until the mixture is combined in a fine powder. You’ll have enough of the milky, floral concoction for two baths, so when you’re ready for a soak, simply add half to a full, warm tub. (You could even sprinkle some fresh rose petals on top or dissolve in some honey for an extra luxurious touch!)
A SWEET AND ZINGY GINGER DIP
Handy for more than just a fragrant stir-fry, fresh ginger can be added to a steamy bath to – word has it – speed up circulation, aid digestion and help you break a therapeutic sweat. It also just smells zingy as all get-out, so take a page from ancient China’s book and have a dip with the spicy root.
YOU WILL NEED:
2 cups Epsom salts
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp jojoba oil a few drops of lavender essential oil
Mix up the Epsom salts and baking soda and toss it in a warm bath, then add the freshly grated ginger. Swish the water around so the ingredients have a chance to soak and dissolve. Next, combine the lavender oil with the jojoba, which acts as a ‘carrier oil’ (if essential oils come in direct contact with your skin, it can be a bit burny and uncomfortable!). Once they’re mixed, add the oily blend to your bath and stir. Then, carefully slip in and relax.