How to Take a Perfect Bubble Bath
Benefits a bath can have on the body.
- Irritated, dry, inflamed and other skin damage issues, can make the skin feel sore or look unhealthy, this can be combated and eased after a soak.
- Encourages the bodies circulation, promoting the overall appearance of even skin tone.
- Because pores are opened when in contact with heated water, they are more likely to absorb greater amounts of the beauty products and healing agents that have been added to the tub.
- Improves the chances of a good nights sleep by aiding relaxation.
- Helps the skin to expel toxins and dirt in the skin, leaving it clearer and cleaner.
- Alleviates tension in the muscles.
- Refreshes and awakens the body when it is hit by lethargy and tiredness.
- Speeds up the bodies natural detoxification processes.
- Abates the problem of stiff joints.
Tips, treatments and time.
Cleanliness is as much a necessity as it is a pleasure. Ensuring that the body is free of accumulated pollutants and filth, not only benefits our health but also makes us feel better. A long quite dip in the bath can be a welcomed indulgence, especially at the end of a particularly long, hard or stressful day.
It's an activity that many of us take for granted which in fact offers us a plethora of favourable advantages for our general well being, like assisting effective moisture retention and soothing aches. Generally our bathtub moments are refreshing, boosting and relaxing. A good bath leaves you smelling good, looking gorgeous and feeling better then you did before you had a dip.
A bath has become a regular part of our beauty and health regimes and just half an hour, once a week can reduce stress levels, but what else can we do to ensure that bath time is as pleasurable and as beneficial as it possibly can be? Lets look at some of the tips and tricks that can be employed, to make it one of the best experiences of the week.
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Did you know?
The first use of the word bath was in 1930 during the interwar period, it's not even 100 years old yet.
Whereas the word tub has been around since the late middle ages, first appearing in 1386, over 600 years ago.
Since language has evolved the two are now commonly used together in the form of bathtub.
Popular bath treatment ideas.
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Honey.
- Chamomile.
- Orange.
- Lemon.
- Ginger.
- Baking soda.
- Rosemary.
- Geranium.
- Oats.
- Lavender.
- Milk.
- Essential oils.
- Salt.
- Mint.
- Tea tree.
- Aloe Vera.
Preparation.
Before beginning to run the bath it is a good idea to make sure that it is clean and dry. The tub can gather dust and get a bit grotty while it has been out of use. There might also be a residue left over from a previous session, as well as hair or skin cells.
Get your bath time treat off to a great start by wiping away any water that may have been left stagnant in it and eliminating any germs or impurities that maybe lurking there.
Gather everything you require first, typically these will be items like:
- Clean towel, the softer and fluffier the better!
- Dressing gown.
- Flannel.
- Sponge.
- Muslin cloth.
- Webbed body polisher.
- Other similar washing aids.
- Gels.
- Bubble bath.
- Oils.
- Fizzy bath bombs.
- Soap.
- Antibacterial cleansers.
- Other favourite cleaning products.
- Slippers.
- Exfoliating mitt.
- Natural bristled skin brush.
- Moisturizing cream.
- Lotion.
- Plunge.
- Soak.
Double bubble.
Add the desired amount of cleaning products to the bath and begin to run the water into it. Whilst the bath is filling up with water you can save time by executing other preparation techniques. This is a good time to skin brush, exfoliate and tone your face as well as your body, priming your skin for the rest of the pampering session when you actually enter the bathtub.
By sluicing off the dead skin, as well as smoothing and refining it first will promote improved pore absorption later, giving the skin a better chance of taking in moisture, nutrients, and other beauty and healing ingredients.
As the bath runs encourage greater bubble production by splashing and mixing around the water and cleaning products with your hands and finger tips. By checking it every now and again you will also be able to gage the temperature and adjust it if and when necessary. Also keeping an eye on the depth of the water as it rises.
When you are done with all the preparations clean any product off with warm water and a clean cloth and pat yourself down with a clean towel, this is a good time to apply any facial treatments, face masks or eye treatments.
By this time the bath should be ready for you to get into. A good tip is to make sure that the temperature is not overly hot because not only will you end up looking lobster red when you exit the bath, it can also damage and dry out the skin. It can even cause the appearance of broken veins.
I know it might sound like a bit of an odd method but use your elbow to check that the bath is not going to scorch you, as your fingers and toes are far less sensitive to heat then some other parts of the body and it could end up being painful or shocking if the temperature is too extreme.
The tub wants to be full enough to be able to immerse yourself in when lying down but not so full that you are unable to add anymore water, which you may wish to do to adjust the temperature.
To induce sleep, unwind and drift away, the warmer the bath needs to be. However if you are wanting to awaken and energise keep the water on the cooler temperature levels. It will be easier to gage what is more suited to you when you are actually in the bath and can gradually increase or decrease the desired heat, by employing either tap.
A bath pillow is a great investment, when you are lying down it gives comfort and support for both your neck and head. Some parts for your body may still be out of the water, no matter how hard you try and get yourself completely covered. Knees, chest, neck and shoulders are particularly susceptible to exposure, in these instances direct the water over these areas by gently scooping as much as you can in sweeping easy movements.
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Induge and enjoy.
Just 30 minutes of soaking time a week is proven to be beneficial, however for people prone to suffering from dry skin ten minutes is sufficient enough and will still make a noticeable difference to the appearance and condition of the skin.
Similarly time restrictions can be an issue for many of us, so try and aim for at least twenty minutes to gain real relaxation benefits.
If you are fortunate to have the luxury of time at your disposal, make good use of it by treating yourself to an all over body massage. Start by applying gentle pressure to the temples and head, small circular actions work well. Then continue to work your way over the other areas of the body.
Shoulders, limbs, stomach, hands and feet will respond better to a more forceful approach, however the result should never cause discomfort or pain. Note that Movements over the limbs work best when they are long and extended.
Fingers and toes will also benefit from some gentle manipulation and rubbing. Use your thumbs to knead away tension in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. After knots and muscle tension has been relieved, simply lie back for as long as you are able and enjoy a rest in the tranquil surroundings and calm atmosphere.
Finishing up.
When you're done and it's time to get out, you may find that sometimes the products can leave a residue on the skin, this can be sticky and gives the skin a feeling that it is not quite clean, if this is the case, rinse your body under the shower, wiping off the effected areas with either your hands or a clean product free cloth. When you feel satisfied that you're completely clean, dry yourself off with a clean, soft and fluffy towel.
When you dry, employ a patting method as apposed to a wiping one, as skin can be prone to an adverse (even if only mild) reaction. You also want to avoid wiping away any moisturizing qualities that have yet to be fully absorbed. Remember to dry areas like inside of the thighs, back, behind the knees, armpits and yes even behind the ears!
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Massage in a good quality Moisturizer to finish.
While pores are open and nails are soft, after a bath is an excellent opportunity to make easy work of plucking eyebrows as skin is less likely to get red and irritated, and will be a whole lot less likely to sting.
Cutting nails is also a quicker task to carry out about now as nails are softer and more pliable, meaning that tackling the thicker nails on the toes are less of a chore to remove.
It is also an ideal time to combat dry or hard skin on the bottom of the feet, particularly the heels. Using a rough fiber board, an emery board, pumice stone or callus removing impliment (ped eggs are especially good), work with the natural contours of the feet in sweeping motions removing as much of the dead skin as you can. Then apply a specialized foot cream to keep them soft and protected.
It is also a good idea to drink a glass of cool, clean water afterwards too, as this will help to reydrate you.
What's best about baths?
Comments
Georgina Crawford from Dartmoor on May 25, 2015:
I'm a big fan of a bubble bath. Great hub!
wrenfrost56 (author) from U.K. on May 03, 2013:
Thank-you Michelle Hennen I hope you enjoyed your bath and my hub :)
wrenfrost56 (author) from U.K. on May 03, 2013:
Thank-you for taking the time to read and comment purnimamoh1982, I don't know about you but I still haven't managed to finish the 5 stella hubs in 5 days challenge. I hope you're doing better. :)
Michelle Hennen from Vigo, Spain on March 28, 2013:
I was in the middle of writing a hub, and now I think I will break for a bath...
purnimamoh1982 on March 28, 2013:
Wonderful, You have made such a beautiful hub in one day. I envy your productivity.
