Stressed? Take a Bath!
By Jamie
There is absolutely no denying the relaxation that a soak in a warm bath can provide.
However, regularly soaking in a bath, especially in hot water, is not good for the long term health of the skin. Over saturating the skin with water can break down its immune/healing response and can actually make skin drier.
Whether it is five or ten minutes or the infrequent twenty to thirty minute soak, the repose and quiet serenity of a bath can give you the time to feel the texture changes in your skin. A bath also calms stressed out, responsibility weary nerves.
Following are some ideas for enjoying a relaxing bath without harming your skin. Start running the bath with water that’s only slightly hotter than normal. If you have normal to dry skin, drizzle in a teaspoon or two of almond, olive or sunflower oil. If you have oily, blemish prone skin from the neck down, do not use oils. Instead, add a little organic bubble bath.
For all skin types, add some bath salts. These should preferably be fragrance free to avoid irritation and breakouts. Epsom salts are a great, incredibly inexpensive addition to any bath.
Light a scented candle or two and place them in strategic locations so that the light can flicker in the water and the mirror. Tiny oil lamps can also help radiate fragrance throughout the room.
If you have a portable CD player, place it in the bath room so that you can play some relaxing music.
Turn down the lights or turn them off completely and bathe by candlelight. Prop a towel or bath pillow behind your head and stretch out in the bath.
While you’re soaking, take the time to gently buff a wash cloth over your body. Instead of soap, which is too drying on the skin, use an organic moisturizing body wash instead. Once a month, exfoliate your skin with an organic body scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin.
When you get out of the bath, apply a moisturizer to your still damp body. This will allow for the maximum amount of moisturizer to enter your still open pores.
Performing this bathing ritual about once a week will do wonders to calm your frayed nerves as well as soothe your skin.