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skin health

2 min read

Your best bath ever

The complete guide to a relaxing bath (or shower!)

your best bath ever

The complete guide to a relaxing bath (or shower!).

story highlights

  • Even a brief shower or bath can help promote relaxation.
  • Following a few easy steps can transform bathing from a chore into the highlight of your day.

Many of us don’t realize it, but body care plays a big role in our cultural history. Through the centuries, bath and shower rituals have served many purposes beyond hygiene – from healing and purification to relaxation and socialization.

Today, the idea of trying to squeeze a relaxing bath into our packed schedules often seems like an unattainable luxury. In reality, it’s more relevant than ever: some studies even suggest that people who take regular baths are happier and less stressed than their peers!

Fortunately, making your next bath a restorative experience is surprisingly easy. Follow these easy-to-implement steps to bring a sense of calm and balance to your day – whether you’re taking a five-minute shower or a relaxing bath.

every minute counts
Most days, we don’t have time for an immersive, relaxing bathing experience. That’s ok! Even a quick shower or bath can help to promote healthy sleep, ease tension and even promote creativity.

set the ambiance
Begin each bath or shower with a clean bathroom and a calm environment: choose soft lighting, a scented candle or a relaxing playlist. Think about your bath products, too; soothing scent profiles like those featured in the Dermalogica Body Collection can also help create a relaxing atmosphere.

hydrate
Particularly if you’re enjoying a long bath, keep a glass of water on a bench or tray to help you stay hydrated.

bathe clean
Taking a cue from traditional Japanese bathing culture, we recommend a quick pre-bath shower using a skin-nourishing cleanser like Conditioning Body Wash. This allows the bath to be simply about relaxing and soaking.

temperature matters
Whether bathing or showering, avoid making the water too warm: super-hot temperatures can dry out your skin, and potentially cause skin conditions like Eczema or Rosacea to flare up. A good temperature benchmark is right around your own body temperature: 98.6 degrees.

don't overdo it
Take some time to relax, but don’t exceed 30 minutes: prolonged showers or baths can strip away skin’s beneficial oils and disturb its natural lipid barrier. If skin feels dry after your bath or shower.

after the bath
When possible, take a moment after the bath to center yourself before returning to your daily life: read a book, sip some tea, and relax for as long as your schedule allows.