The stress of everyday life can really take a toll on our minds and bodies. But what if washing your worries away before bedtime was as simple as taking a bath? Well, guess what? It is.
Next time you’re feeling tense in the evening, just run warm water, grab your towel and spike your bath with healing salts, aromatherapy oils and dried botanicals. We’ve tinkered and tested and put together our three favorite recipes. The basic ingredients — outlined below — are super easy to source, then follow the directions thereafter.
Epsom Salts: Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) can be found at your local drug store. The magnesium that’s absorbed through your skin soothes sore muscles and joint pain, calms your nerves, mends your mood and promotes restful sleep.
Sea Salt: Mineral-rich sea salt and Himalayan pink salt can be found in the culinary salt aisle of your local grocery store. You can also use Dead Sea salt, which can be found in the cosmetics section. These salts have a coarse, crystal-like texture. Dissolved in bath water, they soften and nourish the skin.
Essential Oils: Distilled from plants, essential aromatherapy oils can be found in the cosmetics section of your local health food market (Whole Foods has a fabulous selection) or ordered online. Think of them as the purest and most potent scents found in nature. They are used therapeutically to promote physical and psychological wellness.
Dried Botanicals: Dried botanicals are little bits of plant material such as rosemary leaves or rose petals. Find them at your local grocery store or order them online. Like essential oils, though more gentle, dried botanicals have therapeutic effects for both mind and body. Plus, they add a splash of color without resorting to using food coloring.
Mason Jar (optional): Of course you can store your bath salts in any container you like, but the recipes below are sized to fill one mason jar perfectly. If you’d like to make a bigger batch, just multiply the recipe amounts and fill multiple mason jars.
Relaxing Lavender, Rosemary and Sea Salt Soak
Ancient Greeks and Romans “believed the scent of lavender to be soothing to untamed lions and tigers,” according to Mountain Rose Herbs. They were onto something, since modern research confirms that the sweet, floral aroma is known to lower heart rate and blood pressure significantly while inducing a relaxed mood. Mixed with rosemary leaves and healing salts to soothe body aches, this soak will sedate your inner tiger before bed.
Ingredients
1 c epsom salt
1/2 c sea salt
1/4 c dried lavender flowers
1 tbsp dried rosemary leaves
10-15 drops essential lavender oil
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Spoon into a mason jar or any airtight container. Use entire recipe for each bath.
Calming Calendula and Chamomile Soak
Bathing in calendula — more commonly known as marigold — will soften and heal your skin from head to toe so you’ll slip into those sheets and off to sleep in no time. Chamomile is a known natural sleep aid and nerve tonic used all over the world. Research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine shows it even eases anxiety and depression. To enhance your experience, we suggest brewing a cup of chamomile tea to sip before, during or after your tub time. We love it with a tablespoon of honey.
Ingredients
1 c epsom salt
1/2 c sea salt
1/4 c dried calendula petals
1/4 c dried chamomile flowers
Optional: 1 tea bag chamomile tea to drink during your bath
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Spoon into a mason jar or any airtight container. Before bathing, brew a cup of Chamomile tea and enjoy. Use entire recipe for each bath.
Oh So Pretty Rose and Himalayan Pink Salt Soak
This mix is almost too gorgeous to use. The romantic, powdery aroma of rose will simultaneously relax your mind and rouse your senses — as will floating amidst rose petals. Himalayan pink salt — one of the purest and most mineral-rich salts available — will transform your tub time into a therapeutic spa experience. Go ahead and pamper yourself: Bath time is the ultimate me time.
Ingredients
1 c epsom salt
1/2 c Himalayan pink salt
1/2 c dried rose petals
10-20 drops essential rose oil
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Spoon into a mason jar or any airtight container. Use entire recipe for each bath.
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