Beauty Baths: 6 Natural Ingredients To Soak In For Health And Beauty

A long, warm water bath is relaxing and uplifting after an exhausting day. And while you are soaking up, might as well add something to your bath water to improve your health and enhance your beauty. The market is flooded with products to add to your beauty baths and may even cost a bomb. Fret not, your kitchen cabinet has natural ingredients like oatmeal, milk, baking soda and more, which are pretty good to give you a relaxing time in your bathtub. These natural beauty ingredients will help you to bust stress, reduce inflammation, soothe sore muscles, and keep you looking younger for a longer time.

Here we discuss 6 natural ingredients for a complete beauty bath while providing health benefits.

Best natural ingredients to put in your bath

Oats

We all know that a bowl of wholegrain oatmeal is the perfect start to a day. No doubt, this powerhouse breakfast has amazing nutritional benefits, but have you ever thought about adding it to your bath? Oats contain beta glucans that are known to soothe dry skin, rashes sunburn and even eczema (an inflamed skin condition). It’s a natural cleanser that helps to keep pores clean and free from impurities. Besides, the healthy fat and protein content maintain the natural moisture barrier of skin.

How to use it in bath: Make a fine powder of oats in a high-power blender. Take 1 - 2 cups of powdered oats in a bowl. Add honey and warm water and mix. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes before adding to running water in your bathtub.

Honey

Honey is a natural sweetener with antibacterial and antioxidant benefits. For centuries honey has been used as a topical healing agent for skin conditions due to its antibacterial properties. Presence of polyphenols (natural antioxidants) in honey supports immune health and prevents oxidative damage to cells. It’s the perfect defence against signs of aging. Use honey to get rid of dead cells without causing skin inflammation.

How to use it in bath: All you need to do is add 1 cup of raw honey to your running bath and soak in for at least 15 minutes.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is a naturally occurring mineral salt – a compound of magnesium and sulfate. The soothing property of Epsom salt makes it a favorite bath soak of many. Epsom salt dissolved in warm water is easily absorbed by skin, replenishing body’s magnesium levels that gets depleted under stress. An Epsom salt soak helps to relieve body ache and sore muscles after a long tiring day.

How to use it in bath: Add 1 – 2 cups of Epsom salt to warm water. Wait for 5 minutes to let Epsom salt dissolve before you hop into the bath. Soak in for at least 15 minutes (up to three times a week) to reap the healing benefits. You can also add about half-a-cup olive oil for extra moisturization.

Lavender

Lavender has wide usage in the beauty industry. Lavender essential oil is a common ingredient in spas and wellness centres, associated with various body treatments, across the world. A few drops of lavender essential oil in the bath relieves stress, reduces muscle soreness and inflammation as well. For generations, people have been using lavender to treat skin conditions like acne, itching and irritation, as it aids in purifying and detoxifying skin.

How to use it in bath: Add 7 - 8 drops of lavender essential oil to your bath under running water; or add it to a small cup of milk or Epsom salt to disperse oil in bathtub more efficiently. Soak in for 15-20 minutes for a relaxing and refreshing experience.

Milk

Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian queen was rumoured to have taken milk baths for soft supple skin. Milk contains lactic acid – a type of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) – that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, leaving you with silky smooth skin. Rich in protein and fat, milk helps to moisturize and soften rough skin, resolving skin dryness. Besides, it soothes sunburns and gives you a radiant complexion. No wonder, milk has been a beauty ritual since ancient times.

How to use it in bath: Add 2 to 3 cups of milk to your bath under running water. Indulge yourself with a 15 - 20-minute soak to experience soft supple skin, like royalty.

Baking soda

Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a common kitchen ingredient, but widely used in bath products. This natural exfoliator helps to keep your knees, elbows and heels soft and smooth. Its natural anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal property aids in calming, relieving and soothing irritated skin, while restoring skin’s pH balance and neutralizing acidity.

How to use it in bath: Dissolve 5 - 6 tablespoon of baking soda to warm water. Soak in for 10 – 20 minutes and reap the multiple skin benefits from this household staple.

The takeaway

The bathtub is your me time. Whatever you add to your bath make sure you find it relaxing and refreshing. Most important, it should heal you mentally (destress) and physically (giving relief from pains and aches). The soak in ingredients discussed here will give you just what you want and deserve.