One of my most favorite ways to relax & restore my mind & body is by taking a bath. When I begin this ritual process I know this is my time & helps to anchor my week (even if I do this in the middle of the week!) with a sense of calm & intentional self-care.
My tub takes about 20 minutes to fill, so I set a timer as not to overflow the tub & so I can do all the bath prepping during that time. This list I’m sharing might seem like a lot when written down, but it's really not once you get your own routine down.
Tip: make sure to keep all your favorite bath time essential oils & tools handy right in the bathroom so that you don't need to go running around the house collecting everything.
This is just my personal ritual, so please allow yourself to find your own process, & in the meantime I hope mine might help you create or inspire yours. Tag me on Instagram at @mere_jane in your posts & use #BeWellBath so I can see yours!
And I’ve also added my bath time faves to my Amazon Wellness Shop, check that out here.
BE WELL BATH RITUAL
Start to fill up a hot tub
Make a beverage
Hot Cacao (see my recipe here)
Hot Tea
Big glass of water with a drop of doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil
Diffuse Eucalyptus + Rosemary
These two oils together create that fresh, relaxing, spa vibe.
Burn Palo Santo or Sage
The earthy aroma makes me feel super grounded.
Light some candles
This creates a great ambiance, especially when you can turn the lights off.
In a glass jar, make your Be Well Bath Salt mix:
8oz Epsom Salts
1oz Baking Soda (Aluminum Free)
4-6 drops doTERRA Essential Oils
1T Fractionated Coconut Oil
(measurements don't need to be exact!)
My favorite blends
Cedarwood + Serenity + Geranium
Vetiver + Yarrow|Pom + Lavender
Frankincense + Clary Sage + Roman Chamomile
AromaTouch + Lavender + Copaiba
DIY your own blend
Oils for Happy, Healthy Skin - Frankincense, Myrhh, Sandalwood, Lavender, Cedarwood, Yarrow|Pom
Oils for Hormone Balancing - Geranium, Clary Sage, Ylang Ylang, Clary Calm
Oils for Total Relaxation - Serenity, Balance, Roman Chamomile, Copaiba, Lavender
Oils for Grounding - Vetiver, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Copaiba, Balance
Oils for Body Aches & Pains - Helichrysum, Marjoram, Lavender, Frankincense, Copaiba, AromaTouch, Deep Blue
Dry Brush with DDR Prime + Pink Pepper Essential Oils
WHY DRY BRUSH?
- Unclogs pores & gently exfoliates to the skin = promotes smoother brighter skin
- Decrease cellulite by increasing circulation to the area, distribution of fat deposits, & supporting more muscle tone
- Assists in lymphatic drainage & increase blood circulation
- Rejuvenates & stimulates the nervous system through contact with all of your nerve endings in your skin
HOW?
Get a brush with natural, soft-ish bristles. Your brush should NOT scratch or leave marks, however your skin could get a little temporarily pink from the stimulation (that’s a good thing!). Especially those with sensitive skin (like me), make sure to get a brush that feels invigorating, not painful.
Skip over any cuts, broken skin, sunburns, eczema patches, or anywhere you think it might otherwise get more irritated
Skin should be totally dry, before a shower or bath.
I like to put 1 drop each doTERRA’s DDR Prime blend & Pink Pepper Essential Oils in my hands, rub them together, then rub my hand on the bristles to distribute the essential oil.
Key here is you always want to be brushing in long soft strokes towards your heart. The lymphatic fluid flows through the body towards the heart, so it's important that you brush in the same direction.
Start with the bottoms of your feet, then move upwards from ankles to knees to thighs to bum. You can pause & focus in any specific areas you need.
Moving to midsection, I go upward, followed by clockwise strokes on the belly. Make sure not to forget your sides from your waist up to your armpits.
Then chest going down towards the heart.
Then palms of hands, followed by long strokes from tops of hands towards shoulders.
And lastly you back, you’ll actually go down from neck area to your lower back.
Don’t dry brush your face ;)
Whether taking a bath or not, you do want to at least rinse after Dry Brushing since you’re eliminating lots of skin cells
WHY DDR PRIME & PINK PEPPER?
Now there are a number of Essential Oils you can use with Dry Brushing (or none at all), but with my personal history of not-so-normal-acting skin cells (know what I mean?) I want to use Essential Oils that specifically support cellular health & oxidative stress. DDR Prime is formulated just for this & Pink Pepper is high in Limonene, which is a chemical constituent that is germ-destroying, anti-inflammatory & supportive for stress in the body too.
Now hop in the tub slowly (make sure it's not too hot!)
Soak for 15-20minutes
Turn on a podcast, a meditation, or simply enjoy the silence.
Drain the tub & shower as usual
Then the best part: finish your shower on ICE COLD. If you're new to this (or it's winter time), it's going to take some adjusting, so ease into how cold you make it & stay in it as long as you can. I promise it will get easier & you will learn to crave it. Even if all you can do is run the cold faucet over your feet & splash your face a few times, do that.
WHY ICE COLD?
- Increases alertness & energy
- Promotes better circulation = better cardiovascular health
- Immune boosting
- Tightens skin pores & hair follicles which helps keep moisture in your skin & dirt out
- Speeds up recovery from exercise & muscle soreness
- Stress reducing, boosts mood, combats depression
- Weight loss! Cold water activates the brown fat, which results in an increase in energy & calories burned to keep your body warm
- Builds your ability to do & endure difficult things which makes you stronger mentally & emotionally (I find this to DEFINITELY be true)
Don’t have a bathtub?
No problem, you can create the same experience with a relaxing & soothing Foot Soak. Just grab a bucket! And in that case, I highly recommend choosing some oils from the Body Aches & Pains or Grounding category 👌🏼.
Safety with Essential Oils in the bath
Some essential oils can be hot or spicy, therefore I do not recommend using in a bath the following oils, but not limited to: Cinnamon, Clove, Cassia, Oregano, Thyme, Ginger. I also do not recommomend any citrus oils due to their potential to be photosensitive in the 48hrs following contact with the skin. If you’re using an essential oil blend, just make sure to read all the oils contained in that blend.
Coming soon - Be Well Face & Body & Be Well Haircare blog posts!
Don’t have Essential Oils yet? Hop over here for more info on how to get them at 25% off.
As always, know that all recommendations are based on my personal experience & are only in reference to doTERRA Essential Oils, not any other brand on the market. What I share on this blog is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any kind of health ailment.