How to create your signature self-care ritual

There's nothing quite like relaxing into a hot soaky bath. All the troubles slip away as your stiff muscles melt under the suds. Skin gets so soft. The bubbles become a barrier to the outside world so that no one can bother you. Aromatherapy, candles, any extent that you take your ritual is sure to be divine.

The benefits of time in the tub are plentiful. To ease the mind. Release muscle tension. Relieve aches and pains. Nourish the skin. Deeply moisturize. Cleanse. Detoxify. Melt away stress. Encourage a peaceful sleep. Reset and gain clarity.

Then there’s the catch. Bath salts & soaks can be pricey. They’re also typically laden with perfumes and other chemicals. When your body is submerged in warm water, you become especially susceptible to the harmfulness of toxic ingredients. Skin is the largest organ. Therefore, the total body coverage of warm water makes bath time the place where your skin is most absorbent.

So you see, your self-care routine can go one of two ways. It can take part of your paycheck and allow toxins to enter your bloodstream. Or it can be a glorious opportunity to infuse your body with luscious moisture. Don’t let the fine fragrance fool you, both natural and synthetic routes are sure to be luxurious and leave your skin soft and smooth. But the natural route will give your skin organic nourishment to repair rather than mask.

DIY Bath Salts

Essential oils are wonderful, but they’re not water soluble. That means if you just pour them directly in the bath, they’ll sit on top on be lost on you. In order to reap the full benefits, the oils will need to be dispersed evenly into the water.

Here’s the solution: mix the oils into bath salts and then add pour in the tub! When the salt dissolves, not only will it disperse evenly, the salts help to push the essential oils evenly into the skin. When the warm water cools, the salts help draw toxins out of the body. Cue: detoxification!

You can use Epsom Salt or Dendritic Salt. Both can be purchased at your local health food store and are as good as any bath salts. Be especially careful with epsom salt that it doesn’t contain added perfumes. That lavender bath salt bag most likely contains synthetic fragrance and it’ll be safer and cheaper to use lavender essential oil. Epsom salt is easy to find, but dendritic salt is finer and stronger when it comes to drawing toxins from the body. Seriously, this is so much less expensive it’s not even funny when you consider the bulk and variety you can get with this DIY version. And you have control of the quality and purity. Don’t forget to select your favorite oils to go along with your salts.

Here's another solution: For aromatherapy without the salts, you can add your calming essential oils to a carrier oil. You can use coconut, olive, sunflower or jojoba oil to name a few. Like the salts, the carrier oil will help disperse the essential oil evenly into the bath.

Create your sacred space

I found two decorative canisters from Pier1 to hold the salt and my oils. It’s easy to find a really pretty large candle holder and a carafe, pitcher or decanter that fits your style. You’re already well into your self-care ritual by creating a beautiful space!

Note: Make sure you have a spoon or a scoop for the salts. You don’t want wet fingers in there. The salts need to stay dry because water can grow bacteria.

Relaxation in 4 easy steps

So here’s what I do, I combine the use of salts and a carrier oil (currently: avocado) to get all the yummy benefits.

Run the hot water.
Scoop about a cup or two of salt into the tub.
Drizzle the essential oil + carrier oil mixture.
Soak for at least 20 minutes and let your troubles melt away.

Others options:

Skip the carrier oil and add about 5 drops essential oil to your cup of bath salts.
Skip the salts and add 5 drops essential oil to a spoonful of carrier oil.

I can’t even begin to explain how heavenly it was to get out of the tub for the first time after trying bath time ritual. I got into bed, my skin so gloriously silky from the oils. My body always feels so dry, I’m constantly applying cremes to my hands and legs. It’s the moisture my skin's been thirsting for all this time. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover this ritual. The simplicity of making your own bath salts gives the tub magical powers.

Make it yours

Maybe you’re an essential oil aficionado and can create a concoction to suit your mood. Perhaps a glass of wine and some jazzy tunes are all you need. Make time for yourself. Schedule it, if you have to 30 minutes of me-time. Your mind, body, and the rest of the week will be thankful for your self-care routine.

A few guidelines for selecting your essential oils

Stay away from these guys: black pepper, peppermint, cassia, spearmint, wintergreen, cinnamon, clove, hyssop, camphor, summer savory, oregano, thyme. They can burn your skin!

Enjoy any of these lovelies: bergamot, myrrh, ylang-ylang, clary sage, rosemary, sandalwood, melaleuca, lemongrass, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, rose, jasmine, basil, marjoram, cardamom, eucalyptus, wild orange, grapefruit, geranium, juniper berry, geranium, lime, cedarwood, cypress, patchouli.

Muscle-Soothe: 5 drops of marjoram + 4 drops lemongrass + 3 drops lavender

Relaxation: 5 drops lavender + 4 drops chamomile + 3 drops frankincense

Mood Boost: 5 drops lemon + 3 drops rosemary + 3 bergamot

Mix essential oil combos with 1 tablespoon of the carrier oil.

As always, no nasties here. Only natural goodness that will keep you feeling sexy & smelling like roses. Hope you enjoy endless opportunities to soak and chillax with this cost-saving, safe (and did we say way more eco-friendly?) way to create your own bath salts.