If you follow me on Instagram/watch my Insta-Stories, you know… I am big on baths.

I cherish my nightly (yes, every single night) bath routine. No matter how busy my day, I always make time for a bath. Usually I take my bath after dinner, relax for about 20 minutes, & then buckle down at the computer for a few hours. It helps me wind down from the day, harness my chi, & just is a nice breather from all the go-go-go.

I am also really ALL about the experience. I actually put a weird amount of effort into setting the bath scene. I have to have candles, mellow music, a good book, & all of the accoutrements needed to make my bath a relaxing escape. I guess you could say… I am kind of a bath time aficionado & MAJOR ADVOCATE of the power of a good bath (I swear, it fixes everything!).

5 Tips to Elevate Your Bath Time Game

I. make yourself comfy

I like to spend a good 20 minutes in the bath (or more, depending on how good the book is), so comfort is really key. I just, for the first time ever, got a bath pillow & I kid you not- probably my best purchase of 2017 so far. I also have a chic gold bath caddy which makes accessing my favorite products, book, & beverage super convenient (grabbing stuff off the toilet is not really chic or relaxing).

II. always multi-tasking

I like to enter the bath with both a face & hair mask on. Like I said, I am gonna be there a while- so I might as well give my skin & hair some TLC. For your skin, bath time is extra ideal for doing a face mask cause the heat opens up your pores. I am currently obsessed with the J.J. Young Pore Glow Face Mask (it is SUPER cooling & refreshing) & my go-to hair mask is the Davines Nounou nourishing hair mask.

III. mellow your mood

You have got to set the scene. Personally, I like to light a few candles, dim the lights, do 5 minute Headspace meditation, put on a mellow playlist on my Spotify, & then- read for the remainder of the time.

Reading is a big part of what makes a bath relaxing for me, cause honestly, I never have time to read & it’s one of my favorite past times. It’s a great break then the shitty television I watch. Sometimes though, it is nice to just shut my eyes/give them a break from working so hard all day.

(although I will say, I tried to convince Zack a TV in the bathroom would be so fun. LOL!)

IV. bring treats

when I am feeling really fancy, snacks come to the bath. Something about having a bite in the bath is just so bougie to me. If it’s a holiday bath situation, the drink of choice would be champagne- but mostly it’s either lemonade or a London fog (depending on the season).

As for snacks, I am all about a good cheese & fruit plate.

V. get creative w/ the bath additions

I kinda go crazy when it comes to the bath additions, cause they really are what make bath time super luxurious. Plus, if you have pain, there are things you can add to the bath to actually help soothe that discomfort. A few of my faves:

+ OILS: my absolute FAVORITE skin oil of all time. BUTTERelixir contains Sweet Almond oil, Argan oil, & lavender/chamomile essential oils. I add a couple drops to the bath & it leaves my skin so so soft post bath (plus, smells amazing!).

+ BUBBLES: I don’t like to skimp on the bubbles, & Dr. Teals is the best when you are looking for some next level bubbles. I like the lavendar ‘Soothe & Sleep’ + the Epsom salt detox ginger & clay bubbles.

+ ESSENTIAL OILS: essential oils are my jam. I don’t always add them to every bath because a lot of the products contain essential oils (& cause I probably have them diffusing too), but if I am ever feeling under the weather or sluggish I will add in a lemon essential oil, peppermint essential oil, and/or a eucalyptus essential oil. You can learn more about my favorite essential oil combos here.

+ EPSOM SALTS: I try to workout everyday, plus I have a low back injury, so pink Himalayan epsom salts are an absolute essential. I’ve tried tons of epsom salts in the past, but these really calm my achy muscles!! Between Zack & I (he also loves a good bath), we go through bags and bags of this stuff. 

** optional: when your done with your bath, take a cool rinse in the shower. It helps close up the pores & hair cuticle after all that time in the heat! Plus, it’s just refreshing. **