Why I Have A Bathtime Ritual (And You Should Too)

There are two types of people in this world: People who love baths, and people who haven’t taken a good bath. (Kidding, but only kind of.) I happen to fall into the first category of bath lovers, as I’m a firm believer that a good bath can nourish the mind, body, and soul. That said, I approach my baths with a specific mindset and ritual, which is why I find them so enjoyable and relaxing. 

What do I mean by “bathtime ritual?” Well, for me, a bathtime ritual includes all of the tasks I do and products I use to set the atmosphere, mood, and experience. 

Below, I’ve included the specific steps I take and my go-to products for the perfect bath. Check them out and give them a try, especially if you’re overdue for a “treat yourself” moment. 

Step 1: Assemble the atmosphere and set the mood. 

Music, lighting, and a beverage are absolutely essential whenever I take a bath. First, I always turn off the bathroom lights and then light my favorite Jo Malone candle. The darkness calms me down and lets my eyes relax, which I definitely need after hours of staring at computer and phone screens. Then, I’ll queue up music while I let the bathtub fill up. I’m sure you can find playlists on Spotify that are specially curated for bathtime (they even have playlists of spa sounds), but I usually just put on jazz or piano music, or an artist I love. I keep my bluetooth waterproof speaker in my bathroom on purpose, so if it gets wet, it’s okay. Last but not least, I boil water for a cup of herbal tea. You could replace this with a glass of wine (every now and then, of course), but I prefer the smell and calming effects of the Pink Stork Lavender Herbal Tea. Now, Step 1 is complete! 

Candle: Jo Malone Grapefruit Scented Candle 200g (2.5 inch)

Speaker: JBL CLIP 3 - Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Herbal Tea: Pink Stork Calm Tea: Lavender Herbal Tea, 100% Organic, Stress Relief + Relaxation + Sleep Aid

Step 2: Prep your skin and add ingredients to your bath.

Before I even step into the bathtub, I make sure to dry brush my body. Dry brushing is a wonderful way to exfoliate your skin, increase circulation, and promote lymph flow and drainage (you can find a tutorial on how to dry brush here). Next, I add my ingredients. In my opinion, no bath is complete without salts, bubbles, and/or scents! If you have sensitive skin, look for products without fragrance or ones that are marked hypoallergenic. I personally love a classic bubble bath, but I also take baths with Epsom salts, especially when I have sore muscles from my workouts. You could add a few drops of essential oils or a nice smelling body wash into the mix if you want—just make sure to check which essential oils are safe to bathe in. Add these products to your bath while the water’s running, and enjoy!

Dry Brush: Premium Dry Brushing Body Brush Set

Bath Salts: Lord Jones Bath Salts

Bubble Bath: Herbivore Natural Coconut Milk Bath Soak

Epsom Salts: Dr Teal's Epsom Salt Soaking Solution and Foaming Bath

Body Wash: Kiehl's Bath & Shower Liquid Body Cleanser

Step 3: Throw in a little extra self-care. 

Taking a bath is definitely an act of self-care, but who says you can’t multitask? If you’re someone who doesn’t have much time on their hands (or just gets bored in the tub), you can add a face mask or under eye patches to your bathtime ritual! I’ve listed a few options below (hint: you’ve seen one of these in a recent Pure Joy Wellness Approved!). 

Face Masks: Neutrogena Hydro Boost and Hydrating Hydrogel Mask, SK-II Facial Treatment Mask

Under Eye Patches: MBR Medical Beauty Research - Awake & Lift Eye Patches, Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches

Step 4: Finish up with attentive care. 

Your bathtime ritual doesn’t end when you drain the tub—drying off and moisturizing are important for maintaining healthy skin! Yes, you helped shed some dead skin cells when you dry brushed, but hot water tends to dry out our skin, which means post-bath our skin needs moisture. Grab a soft (not rough) towel, dab yourself dry, and then apply a hydrating body lotion or oil, whichever you prefer. 

Towels: Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Towels

Body Lotions: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Cream, Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Moisturizer

Body Oils: OSEA Undaria Algae Oil, Herbivore Natural Coconut Body Oil

There you have it! My full bathtime ritual. I encourage you to carve out a little me-time for yourself to take a bath this week, or plan to do so on the weekend so you have something to look forward to! 

Until then, head over to our Pure Joy Wellness Private Facebook Group, where you’ll find plenty of expert tips and advice for improving your health, nutrition, and well-being. 

xo, 

Renata