At the end of a long day, there's nothing better than a warm bath — they help relieve stress, are great for skin health, calm sore muscles, and are just relaxing overall. Many women choose to take bubble baths, while others opt for more "grown-up" baths. After making our own homemade bath bombs, we were excited to learn about all the other at-home bath additives we can put into our bathtubs.
Although the warm water can be relaxing on its own, there's a variety of natural products you can put into your bath to make it even better for your health.
Baths are luxurious on their own, but with bath salts, bath bombs, oils, fragrances, and more, you can make your bathwater even more amazing.
If you like lounging in the tub, you're going to love these simple bath additives. Keep reading to find out the benefits of each ingredient!
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Tea, Jell-O, Honey
#1: Green tea has anti-aging benefits, as well as antioxidants, which can detox and strengthen your skin. All you have to do is toss five to 10 tea bags into the bathtub while it's filling up, then let yourself soak in the benefits.
#2: Jell-O, which is made of gelatin, can soften and smooth your skin. Plus, the sweet, fruity smell can enhance your mood and give you positive endorphins. To make a Jell-O bath, pour half a box of sugar-free Jell-O into your bath, then relax in the sweet, colorful water.
#3: Honey is naturally antibacterial, so it can clear up breakouts and clean dirty skin. Honey is also hugely moisturizing, so it will lock in hydration and make you glow. Just add one cup of honey to your bath while it's filling up, then enjoy the skin-healing benefits.
Milk, Epsom Salt, Olive Oil
#4: Milk has been used for centuries to soothe, calm, and heal skin. The lactic acid in milk can help your skin feel smoother and softer, and can help it bounce back more easily. Add two cups of powdered milk to your bath while it fills up.
#5: Epsom salts are known to relieve sore muscles and other aches and pains. Your muscles will instantly be relaxed and recharged. Epsom salts can reduce inflammation, so just add half a cup of Epsom salt to your bathwater while the water is running.
#6: Olive oil can help boost your immune system to fight against infections and protect your body from harm. Olive oil can also help nourish and moisturize your skin. To use it, pour three tablespoons of the oil into your bath and stir it into the water.
Oatmeal, Lavender, Lemon
#7: Oatmeal is known to relieve itchiness and other skin problems (this is why people use it for children with chicken pox). It can also help restore skin to its health after irritation. All you need to do is add oatmeal to your bathwater — but if you don't want the oatmeal to stick to your skin, place it into a cheesecloth or tea ball.
#8: Lavender is one of the most calming plants out there — its scent and properties are known to relieve tension, stress, and muscle soreness. Lavender will restore balance to your body, and help put your mind at ease. To use lavender in your bath, put a few drops of essential oil or a few pieces of dried lavender into the water.
#9: Lemon can be used in a bath to refresh and energize your skin. Citrus is known to help revive your skin and tighten pores, but it also has emotional benefits — it can make you happier! Squeeze the juice of five or six lemons into your bath, or just use three-quarters of a cup of bottled lemon juice.
Ginger, Eucalyptus, Baking Soda
#10: Ginger has warming properties, which make it great for cold, flu, and muscle relief. Ginger will also raise the temperature of your skin. To use ginger in your bath, put one tablespoon of freshly chopped ginger into the running water.
#11: Eucalyptus has a variety of benefits, from fighting inflammation and bacterial infections, to strengthening the respiratory and immune systems. Eucalyptus can detoxify and clarify your skin, and invigorate your health. Use a few drops of eucalyptus oil in your bath and mix them into the water.
#12: Baking soda has a ton of health benefits — it's good for teeth, hair, skin, and more. Baking soda can help soften skin and alleviate irritation. To use, just add four or five tablespoons of baking soda to your bath and stir it into the warm water.
Cinnamon, Chamomile, Sage
#13: Cinnamon's smell is comforting and warm, which can help you feel happier. Additionally, like ginger, cinnamon will raise the temperature of your skin. Cinnamon is also known to remove toxins and disinfect, which helps refresh your skin. To make a cinnamon bath, either put a quarter cup of ground cinnamon into cheesecloth or drop a few sticks of cinnamon directly into the bath.
#14: Chamomile is known for its health benefits in tea form, but it can also be perfect for bath time. The flower can calm skin irritation, soothe inflammation, and nurture your skin. Additionally, chamomile can help you mentally unwind. All you need to do is drop a few chamomile tea bags into your bathtub, then let them soak for 15 minutes before taking them out.
#15: Sage is an antiviral with immune system-boosting properties. Sage can help you visualize and focus, and is known to increase alertness. Use sage essential oil to create a sage bath — just put a few drops into the hot water.
Fennel, Nutmeg, Apple Cider Vinegar
#16: Fennel, which has a lovely licorice-y scent, can help support a healthy digestive system. It can also act as an anti-aging remedy, help reproductive health, aid detoxification, and support emotional health. Use fennel oil to create a fennel bath — just a few drops in the warm water will do!
#17: Nutmeg, which most people know as a spice for autumn pies, also comes in oil form. Nutmeg oil can help with insomnia, skin conditions, respiratory problems, and more. Because it's a sleeping aid, nutmeg can help uplift and rejuvenate you. Like other oils, just a few drops in your bathtub will be plenty.
#18: Apple cider vinegar fights fungus, soothes skin, eases body odor, helps hair health, and more. One of the greatest benefits is its purification properties. While filling your bathtub, add one or two cups of apple cider vinegar, then soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
Red Wine, Roses, Seaweed
#19: Red wine has properties that help it cleanse and moisturize your body. If you drink a glass of wine while soaking in your red wine bath, you'll notice that it can also cleanse your palate and release endorphins.
#20: Roses can calm your mind, soothe sore muscles, and aid relaxation. Roses have vitamin C, which can reduce wrinkles, moisturize, and fortify the skin. Use either rose essential oil or fresh rose petals to make your rose bath.
#21: Seaweed has a lot of minerals in it, which can help sustain hormone level balance, stimulate the thyroid, and benefit a variety of organs. Seaweed can also help the body defend itself against harm. Place dried seaweed into a cheesecloth or tea ball, then let it steep for half an hour in the tub.
Aloe Vera, Himalayan Sea Salt, Coconut Oil
#22: Aloe vera has a ton of benefits — it's known to cure skin irritation, like sunburns and bug bites. It can also balance your skin, since its minerals have antibacterial and moisturizing benefits. Add some aloe gel to your bath while the water is running.
#23: Himalayan sea salt can detoxify your body, deeply clean your skin, stimulate your circulation, help you sleep, and more. Himalayan sea salt can make you feel more focused and empower you to follow your dreams. Dump some Himalayan sea salt into your next bath and stir it in to test out the benefits.
#24: Coconut oil in a bath can help repair damaged skin, soothe your body, and heal minor injuries. The incredible ingredient is also known to help you feel more alert and focused. Use a few drops of the oil in your bathtub to get the incredible benefits (just be careful not to slip when getting out of the slick tub).
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