How to create a healing bath

“When you have a beauty salon, people sometimes can’t pinpoint why it’s so great. I think it’s the sensory experience. It smells great, there’s soft music …” says Kelly. “Often when you have a bath at home you forget about those things, but they can add so much to your experience when you do have the time to have that quietness and that moment.”

• Create ambience. Arrange scented candles for soft lighting and a lovely scent in one. Play relaxing music from a portable speaker or wear noise-cancelling ear buds and listen to a podcast or meditation app in peace and quiet.

• Gather treats. Bring a book or magazine to read and a cool drink in case you get too warm. Cucumber and mint water is popular in spas because it also cleanses the palate. Roll up a small towel to rest your head on, unless you have a special bath pillow.

• Mask up. You could put a sheet mask next to the bath and lay it over your face once you hop in, or slather a traditional face mask on beforehand. Make sure it’s not a mud mask that tightens too much. A hydrating mask will be more relaxing.

• Add tonics. Bath oils are ideal when dry and scaly; soaks are soothing with their salts and sensory with their petals, herbs etc. Of course, bubbles are always fun.

• Buff up. If you do have dry skin, soak for at least 10 minutes to soften your skin (and relax!) before beginning to scrub. You can use a microfibre mitt on its own for a light polish, or slather on a dedicated body scrub for deeper exfoliation.

• Towel off. Nothing says spa like a fluffy towel, robe and slippers. Remember to dab dry, so any oils used stay on the skin.

• Lock in. Your skin absorbs some moisture from the bath, but once you hop out, you need to seal it in with moisturiser or it will soon evaporate, leaving you dry again.

• Sip away. Resist the urge to jump back into the fray – you wouldn’t at a spa. Instead, retire to a quiet room with your cucumber/mint water to ease yourself back into the world.