As the winter nights close in on us, there is nothing quite like a relaxing bath experience. Whilst we would all love to take a trip to the spa and immerse ourselves in total zen, the reality is it’s not always feasible. But did you know you can make your own at home spa bath on a budget? Keep reading to find out more.
Create Ambiance
The first step to your spa experience is to create a serene spa atmosphere. Light some candles, dim the lighting if possible and take a few moments to be in the present and relaxed. Take the time to forget about the hectic week you’ve had or the pile of dishes in the sink.
Everyone’s idea of relaxing is different, so grab a book or start an episode of your favourite Netflix series and wind down. If you prefer music, try some ambience-fitting music or the latest charts if you are a pop lover.
It’s also worth noting to keep hydrated. Grab a beverage of your choice from a hot cup of tea to a glass of wine to take the edge off. The choice is all yours.
The Perfect Bath
So we’re not suggesting to go out and buy a new bath, but your old bath might be the reason your experience isn’t as relaxing as you may like. Burlington has a beautiful range of freestanding baths, that will take your nighttime regime to a whole new level.
For a modern approach, take a look at the Charlotte Edwards range. With a water capacity of 215 litres, we can guarantee once you get in you will never want to leave.
Bath Salts
Bath salts are great for full body detox and there is a huge variety on the market. From unscented to bath salts specifically for sleep or muscle relaxation, there is a bath salt for every need.
Dr Teals are a good choice and also relatively cheap. I myself like to go for lavender bath salts as the aroma and feel of the salts make the bath extra relaxing and ready for a good nights sleep.
I only recommend to salt bath once a week and always make sure to use a thick body moisturiser afterwards as salt baths can dry out your skin.
Bubbles and lots of them!
Bubbles aren’t just for children, I mean who doesn’t love them! Bubble baths are nostalgic and great for adding a special addition to your bath and will leave you feeling utterly soothed in both body and mind.
Essential oils
Essential oils are as they are named, essential! Oils have a much deeper purpose than just being a nice aroma and can be stress-relieving, mind-soothing and muscle-relaxing.
The first step to adding essential oils to your bath is to combine them with a carrier oil. Oil and water do not mix, so chances are that if you’re adding essential oils straight into your bath water you won’t be getting all the benefits. Oils such as coconut, jojoba, or olive will work best.
The second step is to pick your scent. You can mix and match your oils to create the ultimate relaxing blend of aromas. For the ultimate relaxation try adding Lavender and Chamomile. For muscle relax try Rosemary and Eucalyptus.
Don’t forget to wait until your bath is full to add your oil mix and then circulate the water a few times to ensure you have the perfect blend.
Bath Oils
If you are not a fan of essential oils, why not try bath oils instead. They are great for keeping your skin hydrated in the heat of the bath – especially if you are prone to salt baths which can dry out the skin.
Bath oils serve a similar purpose to essential oils but don’t need to be mixed before adding to the water. Grab your favourite scent and watch your worries disappear.
Face Mask
The ultimate at-home spa experience would not be complete without a face mask. Take the time to work on your skin and your body will love you for it. In the winter months, I love to use a hydrating face mask and one that doesn’t break the bank.
The Garnier Moisture Bomb facemask is a firm favourite and it is perfect for bath times to pop on for 10 minutes. If you are feeling extra boujee, cut two slices of cucumber to place on your eyes whilst you relax. The antioxidants in cucumber will help with puffy eyes and dark circles.
Exfoliate
So I won’t lie, I don’t find exfoliating the most relaxing experience but the soft sensation afterwards makes it a must-do for a spa bath. Allow yourself to soak for 15 minutes or so whilst your face mask is on and give your body a good scrub after. Again don’t forget to moisturise as exfoliating will remove dead skin cells and leave fresh skin exposed.
Invest in a fluffy robe
No spa experience would be complete without a big, white fluffy robe to wrap yourself in when you get out of the bath. For an extra tip, leave your robe on a warm radiator or in the dryer for 10 minutes before getting out to keep warm in the winter weather.
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
Moisturising has been mentioned several times throughout the post and rightly so. Hot water baths had the tendency to dehydrate your skin, to lock in the remaining moisture for that silky smooth feeling.
And that rounds up our top tips to create the most relaxing at-home spa experience Repeat these steps once a week to keep up your relaxing regime and ensure you keep up with your self-care.
