Hot baths can make you drier than a prune, especially in winter when the wind whips and daily activities make you sweat like mad under multiple layers. Don’t sacrifice the simple pleasure of a hot bath – just add these pantry ingredients to your water, and moisturize while you unwind.
Moisturize and anti-age with milk and honey
Historically acclaimed beautifying milk baths date back to Cleopatra’s time. The lactic acid in milk proteins removes dead skin cells, and it’s alpha hydroxy is known for it’s anti aging effects. Honey is softening, moisturizing, and also contains antioxidants that neutralize free radicals that cause signs of aging. Add powdered milk and pure honey (½ cup of each) to exfoliate and moisturize. Now imagine gorgeously bronzed men are fanning you with palm leaves and feeding you grapes.
Moisturize and detoxify with epsom salts and olive oil
Epsom salts are awesome collaborators for a winter bath. The sulfates in it help flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and deep cleaning your skin. Putting the right minerals into your bathwater triggers reverse osmosis – which pull salts from your body along with harmful toxins. For a super detoxifying bath, add 2 cups of Epsom salts to your bath and ½ cup baby oil or olive oil. Don’t use soap – it’ll interfere with the action of the salts.
Moisturize, soothe and beautify with oatmeal powder
Remember back in the olden days when you had chicken pocks and you had to put that panty hose ball of oatmeal into the bath with you? This bath is inspired by that – but much more beautifying. Start by whipping up a batch of colloidal oatmeal. This is simply oatmeal ground in a blender to make a fine powder that disperses easily into the water. Colloidal oatmeal is a cleanser, moisturizer, buffer and a soothing and protecting agent. It’s great for eczema and rosacea, and protecting skin.
Related Video: Homemade Cure for Dry Skin
