The Lazy Girl’s Guide to: Bathing

Making your own beauty products can take time and effort, and sometimes you just can’t be bothered. That’s where my ‘The Lazy Girl’s Guide To‘ posts come in! They’ll feature simple ingredients you can use pretty much in their raw state. I’ll try to always feature ingredients in these posts that you can probably find them in your cupboard right now; or failing that, cheaply in your local supermarket or health food store.

So, to kick it all off, here’s a list of ‘chuck ’em in’ bath ingredients for a cheap, relaxing and beneficial bath!

1. Dead Sea Salt – My personal favourite – I love it so much, I’ve written a whole post on it! In short, it’s brilliant for your skin; packed full of balancing, rejuvenating, anti-aging and healing properties. Just sprinkle a few handfuls into your running bath water. (If you don’t have any Dead Sea Salt to hand, normal sea salt makes a nice alternative)
2. Green Tea – I’m sure you’re all aware of the heroic properties of Green Tea. In a bath, it’s both energizing and mood stabilizing; and packed with antioxidant, anti-aging and healing properties. Pop 5-10 tea bags in as you run the water.
3. Honey – It’s believed that honey has been used as a healing agent for 10,000 years, but its also softening, soothing and moisturizing. Like all the best natural ingredients, honey is full of antioxidants! To use, add a couple of tablespoons to running the water.
4. Milk – Nothing says extravagant quite like a pure milk bath! Obviously, that’s going to be expensive and a bit of a waste. It’s best to use a couple of handfuls of full-fat, powdered milk as it’s both exfoliating and moisturizing. The lactic acid is very similar to the alpha hydroxyl acids, found in many expensive skin creams; both are effective at dissolving the proteins that hold dead skin cells together. (Combine with honey to bathe like Cleopatra!)
5. Red Wine or Champagne – and you thought milk was luxurious! The polyphenols in red wine are amazing antioxidants, and that tartartic acid in champagne helps to lighten skin, as well as reduce discoloration and fine lines. Both are great for cleansing and reducing the appearance of pores. Just add a couple of glasses to your bath – it doesn’t matter how cheap or old it is, or (in the case of Champagne) if it’s gone flat.
6. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is amazing for any skin conditions, especially itchy ones like eczema. It’s ultimate soothing and calming ingredient. Adding a few handfuls to your bath works wonders!
7. Cinnamon –  Cinnamon is a great natural disinfectant, astringent and detox-ifier; all of which helps to cleanse the body, especially after you’ve been ill. It’s also good at invigorating and elevating your mood, and warming you up on a cold day. Just pop 3-4 sticks of cinnamon into the running water. If you don’t have sticks, a sprinkle of ground cinnamon works as a good alternative.
8. Lemon – Lemon are great for refreshing, reviving and healing skin; and apparently, the citric acid helps to draw out toxins from your skin. They’re also good at tightening and shrinking pores! Lemon baths are especially great in hot weather, as they help to cool down your skin. Just thinly slice up a lemon or two, and throw into your bath. (Alternatively, mix it up with some other citrus fruits. Orange, Grapefruit, Lime all work well!)
9. Ginger – Another brilliant bath spice, ginger’s anti-bacterial properties help to sweat out the symptoms of colds and flu. A ginger bath with also ease sore muscles and draw out toxins from the body. Like cinnamon, it’s great for raising your temperature on a cold winter’s day. A couple of handfuls of grated ginger is best, but a sprinkle of ground ginger works if there’s no fresh ginger to hand.
10. Lavender – Famous for it’s relaxing properties, I couldn’t really write this list without including lavender. Amazing for relieving stress and tension, lavender also helps to relax inflamed, stiff and tired muscles. It’s also great for helping you sleep! Use a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil in your bath, or sprinkle in a few handfuls of dried leaves. (Chamomile works as a fab alternative; it’s also extremely calming, and works especially well on dry and irritated skin. I like to use 5-10 Chamomile tea bags in a bath.)

Let me know if you try any out! Would love you hear what you think.

Panda Eyes xx

N.B When using tea bags in my bath, I like to tear the bags open to release the leaves. This isn’t necessary, and is definitely the messier option.