Fiona McKim
The older I get, the more convinced I become that there’s nothing more decadent than a soak in the bath. No slice of chocolate cake, no ice-cold glass of wine, no gorgeous face cream could ever come close to the indulgence of an hour in the tub. It’s the ultimate antidote to a busy day, a busy brain, and a body exhausted by either of those things.
Most bathing products, from foaming gels to aromatic oils and soothing salts, don't have much to do with how you look. These lotions and potions are all about how you feel – and isn’t that nice? That's not to say a bathtime buy can't have beauty benefits. If you pick something with the right ingredients and drop it into a steamy bath, it'll do its thing on your skin, whether that thing is nourishing ashy limbs, smoothing skin like the best body exfoliators, or scenting you from top to toe in a floral fragrance.
But it's also fair to say most of us take a bath for mental and physical benefits, rather than aesthetic ones. We want to relax, recover after exercise, soothe aches, or simply steal an hour away from the noise of daily life. Baths can make a huge difference to how we sleep, too, setting the tone for a peaceful, rather than restless, night.
The best bubble bath, oils and milks, according to our beauty editor
Whatever the reason you want to lock the bathroom door, light a candle, and full the tub, the best bubble baths and bathing products will enhance that intended effect and then some. From energising foams to sleep-enhancing salts and skin-nourishing oils, these are the grown-up bathing buys we rate. Best get that water running…
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
This bath milk is formulated with rosemary and lavender essential oils, as well as the star of the show, arnica, which gives it a powerful herbal scent. It’s one of those smells that as soon as I catch a whiff of it, I instantly start to feel calmer – even before I’ve spent an hour lounging in the tub. If you don’t love herbal smells as much as I do, though, don’t panic when you pour this into the bath. The fragrance verges on overwhelming initially, but disperses really quickly.
The arnica really does work wonders for sore, tired muscles. I used this after two back-to-back pilates classes and a weekend of packing to move house, and barely ached at all the next day. The only slight downside for me was that although it’s a milk, if you put the recommended two to three capfuls in it dissolves into the water and you can’t see it, so it looks a bit like you’re just lying in water.
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
I got my very first bottle of Olverum when I was twenty-one and loved it so much that I rationed it, using it in teeny tiny drops to make the bottle last for as long as possible. Ten or so years later, and I’m still using it in a very similar way (just maybe pushing the boat out to a whole capful) because you only need the smallest amount to fill not just the entire bathroom, but also the hallway and any other nearby rooms, with scent.
It’s my go-to when I’m struggling to sleep or feeling frazzled and on edge – I think bath soaks with excessive amounts of lavender can feel a bit too try-hard. The calm and slightly medicinal scent of eucalyptus is the most notable of the blend of 10 essential oils, and works wonders to clear a busy brain. Bliss.
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
I know it’s much more chic to say that you love bath oils and milks than bubble bath, but I’ll never not feel childlike delight when I see a bath brimming with bubbles. The instructions say ‘pour generously’ so I did and it filled the tub with lovely soft bubbles and a delicate scent.
This is a new fragrance from Sanctuary, and although it’s very different from their signature (this is very aquatic and clean rather than fruity), it has the same energising, feel-good factor. It’s a really good option for anyone who doesn’t like traditional bath oils, which can be very heavy and herbal. Or, if you’re a morning bath person and want something that will wake you up rather than encourage you back to sleep. It also rinses out the bath much easier than an oil, which earns it a few extra brownie points.
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
I love how Aromatherapy Associates turn everything into a ritual. You can just pour this straight into your bath, but for an extra moment of calm, they recommend warming a capful between your hands, breathing in the scent and massaging it onto your torso before getting into the tub.
For the sake of research, I gave it a go the fancy way and it was a total treat. The pro of applying it directly to your skin is that the scent lingered for much longer and also made my skin feel super soft – on par with when you’ve had a massage and you’re all beautifully basted in delicious-smelling oils. This can be used in the shower too, which is handy if you don’t have a bath or are short on time but still want to unwind.
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
If you’re looking for a bath product that will leave your skin super soft, this is it. Without clear instructions on the bottle on how much to use, I went in heavy-handed with this – and I didn’t regret it. It turned the whole tub milky white and when I got out of the bath half an hour later, my skin was noticeably more hydrated than when I got in.
I think this will be particularly good during the winter when skin needs a little extra TLC and we tend to neglect moisturising from the neck down. Glycerin, a hardworking humectant that draws moisture into the skin, is high up the ingredients list, flanked by nourishing oils to seal in hydration. Scented with cherries, this is very sweet, which won’t be to everyone’s taste. I personally really liked the fragrance, but it didn’t stick around on my skin for very long afterwards.
Reviewed by: Jess Beech
A spa in a bottle, I can’t imagine anyone not being won over by this gorgeous scent. Three capfuls make for a bathroom that smells like a fancy hotel and a bath full of fluffy bubbles. It’s much more than just a pretty scent, though, and has been formulated with arnica and magnesium to ease muscle tension and speed up recovery post-workout – so you’re not hobbling around for three full days after spin class.
Oat extract is a nice addition too. It leaves skin soft and calm, which is just what sweaty, overworked, Lycra-clad-until-very-recently-limbs need. The bottle is a really good size, so you’ll get plenty of baths for your buck. A true overachiever.
What I looked for when testing these bubble baths
- Scent: Relaxing bubble baths tend to feature lavender quite heavily but there are other fragrances to suit your mood. Floral scents like rose and jasmine are uplifting while herbaceous scents like rosemary and ginger can have a rejuvenating effect.
- Bubbles or no bubbles: Sensitive skin types may want to avoid bubbles as these can be stripping on the skin. But you can look for nourishing formulations with ingredients like shea butter or glycerin to keep skin hydrated.
- Formulation: Bath oils are fantastic for dry skin as they nourish the surface of the skin, whereas suds from the best bubble baths cleanse the skin. Bath salts tend to be detoxifying, so pick a formulation depending on your needs.
Jess Beech is an experienced fashion and beauty editor with more than 10 years of experience in the publishing industry. She has written for woman&home, GoodtoKnow, Now, Woman, Woman’s Weekly, Woman’s Own and Chat, and was formerly deputy fashion & beauty editor at Future plc. With thick and curly hair, she was the main tester for this guide.
Fiona McKim has been part of the woman&home beauty team for more than a decade. During that time her work has included interviewing countless experts, reporting from backstage at Fashion Week and judging the woman&home Beauty Awards.
How to take a bath that boosts your mood
We asked the pros for their tips for getting the most out of your bath:
- Rinse your bath: "The first thing to do when having a bath is to make sure it is ‘clean’ from any cleaning products that you may have used," says Lorna Veale, founder ofclean beauty brand No Secrets. "Most have warnings on the side like toxic or corrosive. You don’t want to sit in a bath with them swimming around. Rinse your bath with hot water to make sure there is no residue of these products.”
- Find the right temperature: "Give yourself 20 minutes in the bath and a little time to relax and gather yourself afterwards," Veale advises. "Your water should be between 36-38 degrees Celsius, and the room should be 25-30 degrees Celsius ideally."
- Create the right environment: ”The right environment is more conducive to relaxation or meditation under soft lighting,” says Luke Taylor, Masterblender at Aromatherapy Associates. “Perhaps light a candle and put on some music or just bathe in silence if you can."
- Breathe: Veale suggests, "to help you float away, try breathing in through the nose for five seconds and out through the mouth for five seconds, increasing to ten seconds for each, and continuing for two minutes. Finally, try to complete your ritual slowly, perhaps by using the softest towel to pat yourself dry."
- Make time to rest afterwards: It’s no good having a relaxing bath only to jump straight into action as soon as you get out of the tub – especially if you’re not having a bath right before bed. “After bathing, take time to rest, preferably for at least ten minutes,” advises Taylor. “Try to use calming or sedative oils at night, with the more stimulating, energising scents to be used earlier in the day – this helps to support the natural rhythms of the body.”
Which scent should I choose for my bath?
Overwhelmed by choice? We asked Taylor for his aromatherapy expertise to help you find the right scent to suit your mood.
- If you want to relax… “Lavender is renowned for its powerful properties and rightly so – it has been used to create a sense of relaxation and calm for many years – this is mainly due to its effect on the central nervous system. Camomile, as you may be familiar with in camomile tea, is also very good for relaxation and helping to switch off. I also find Ylang Ylang to be very useful in aiding relaxation – the heady floral scent creates a sense of happy yet calm.”
- If you want to feel energised… “Generally, the sharper citruses are our friend here. Both grapefruit and lemon are fantastic to give an energy burst and wake you up. Other fresh, invigorating essential oils such as peppermint and rosemary are also great for sharpening the senses and making you ready for whatever lies ahead in the day.”
- If you want to feel calm… “Camomile is great for calming both mind and body. I like to combine it with Frankincense for clarity of thought, and petitgrain is great for creating balance.”
- If you want to feel uplifted… “I find beautiful florals and citrus are great for uplifting my mood. Most people can appreciate the sunny warmth of sweet orange, or the exotic, long-lasting effects of jasmine. Both are perfect for creating feelings of well-being or happiness. Other florals, such as geranium, with its mood and hormonal balancing properties, or rose, with the caressing and nurturing environment it can create, are other good scents to consider.”
- If you want to sleep better… “The obvious go-to here is lavender, which is great, but wouldn't be my first choice. I recommend vetivert for helping create a tranquil environment with its potent sedative properties – it is second to none and creates a sleep so deep that the individual wakes up full of energy the next day. Camomile, patchouli, and grounding sandalwood are also good choices when looking for something to help unwind.”