Bathing Beauty

Soaking in a warm bath is a delightful and therapeutic way to relax your body and your mind. Toss in a few handfuls of mineral salts infused with aromatic essential oils, and your simple bath can also provide a host of health benefits:

• If you lead an active lifestyle-and particularly if you work out regularly-then you’re no stranger to tired, aching muscles. A good, long soak in a tub with mineral-rich bath salts can help to reduce muscle soreness and joint pain.
• If you’re stressed, a warm bath can help you unwind. Bathing in warm water with natural mineral salts has been shown to lower blood pressure.
• If you suffer from insomnia, or have a difficult time getting to sleep, choose bath salts with relaxing lavender or chamomile essential oils.
• A good soak also opens up your pores, allowing minerals in the bath salts to cleanse, hydrate, and detoxify your skin. Bathing with mineral salts stimulates circulation and cellular regeneration, leaving skin soft and smooth.

The health benefits of a warm bath are due partly to the natural salts’ ability to restore mineral balance via the skin. They contain magnesium, which helps the nervous system, eases stress, and can relieve water retention; calcium, which strengthens bones and nails; and potassium, which plays a role in nerve function, muscle control, and blood pressure. Bromides in the salts help heal and relax muscles. And you need the sodium for a healthy immune system.

What more reason could you want to indulge yourself in a nice, long, luxurious soak?

1 Turn an ordinary tub into an at-home spa treatment with Aura CaciaAromatherapy Mineral Baths (shown here in Heart Song). Mineral-rich sea salt, mild cleansing sodium borate, skin-softening sodium bicarbonate, and attitude-altering pure essential oils smell delightful and are good for your skin and your mood.

2 Get relief from seasonal sniffles plus a tonic for your skin with Kiss My FaceCold & Flu Soothing Bath & Shower Gel. A few capfuls of this aromatic blend of eucalyptus, menthol, fennel, and horehound ease tightness and tension, help open up blocked sinuses, and clear your head. Olive oil, aloe vera, allantoin, and vitamins A and E soothe dry, winter skin.

3 Relax, detox, and revitalize with Masada is My Time 100% Natural Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts. These fragrant (also available in unscented) therapeutic mineral salts from Israel’s Southern Dead Sea ease muscle aches and pains, stimulate circulation, draw out toxins, reduce itching and redness, and soften skin.

4 Submerge your stress with HellomellowUnwind Pink Himalayan Bath Salts, infused with mood-lifting essential oils. Mineral-rich pink Himalayan salts detoxify, tone, and soften your skin while calming your nerves and easing muscle soreness.

Sip ‘n Soak
Complete your soak with a steaming mug of healing tea. We like Numi Organic Tea’s Pu-erh (poo-air). Pu-erh goes through a 60-day fermentation process, which lends a bold flavor with a hint of malt. Rich in antioxidants (more than green tea), Pu-erh has been shown in studies to reduce cholesterol, improve digestion and metabolism, and even support healthy weight loss. Available in Chocolate Pu-erh, Magnolia Pu-erh, Emperor’s Pu-erh, and Mint Pu-erh, all from Numi Organic Tea. A splash of milk and natural sweetener turn this brew into a coffeehouse-style treat.