Having a bad day? Take a bath. Need some me-time? Draw yourself a bath. Just want to relax? The solution is a bath. Picture this—a dimly lit scented candle, aromatic bath salts, warm bubbly water, all paired with soothing music that pretty much slows down your fast paced day. Feeds your mind, body and soul, doesn’t it?
While the vibe fits into the millennial-gen-z mood, the concept of baths dates back centuries. Traditional baths were common in Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Russia and, evidently, they had it right. The lavender scent, the ambience, the relaxing embrace of the warm water—there’s so much to love. Whether you’re blessed with a bathtub at home or are headed to a hotel (with a bathtub as one of your top requirements), here’s how you can celebrate International Bath Day. Remember the idea behind this day is to Hakuna Matata life, so let your worries melt away, the moment you step foot into the bath. Here’s how to do it.
First, prep the bath
Start by running some warm water across your bathtub to rinse and remove any residual dirt, soap or limescale. You can even use a little bit of table salt to scrub down the surface. Once it is rinsed and cleaned out, draw your bath. It’s important to keep the water temperature between 36-40*C—anything above this can be harmful for your skin.
Then, add in the ‘pretty’
It’s time to bring out the aromatic bodycare products—throw in a few drops of your favourite essential oil, a spoonful of bath salts and a foaming shower gel that isn’t heavily scented (if you want to create those bubbles). Rustle your hands through the water to mix it all together.
Tira recommends:
Soulflower Lavender With Himalayan Pink Rock Bath Salt
Kimirica Love Story Bath Salt & Bubble Bath Moisturizing & Relaxing Bath Care Duo
Kama Ayurveda Tea Tree Essential Oil
Obviously, set the ambience
Before you step into the bath water, dim the lights of your bathroom and light a scented candle. Avoid lighting it anywhere close to the bathtub, in order to avoid any fire hazards. Next, set a playlist—go for tunes that either make you happy or relax your mood. Want to make the most out of your bath? We suggest keeping a book handy too, in case you want to catch up on your reading. Alternatively, you can slather on a face mask while you enjoy your soak time.
Tira recommends:
Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Home Candle
Kimirica Love Story Scented Candle
Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional Deep Retreat Clay Mask
Beauty of Joseon Centella Asiatica Calming Mask
It’s bath time
Dunk in, sit back and relax…that’s all it takes. Please note, experts recommend sitting in the bath for no more than 15 minutes. The combination of lukewarm water and scents can dry out the skin if you soak for too long.
Go for some post-bath love
It’s time to rinse off. Carefully unplug the bath and begin cleansing your skin thoroughly. Feel free to exfoliate (if you’ve got the time) with a gentle body scrub. Once you’ve patted yourself dry, make sure to apply a moisturiser on your body to renourish the skin.
Tira recommends:
The Body Shop Argan Body Scrub
Marks & Spencer Meditate Hand & Body Lotion
