Full Circle Makeup Moment! Trigger warning: this video contains a conversation about domestic violence. Depending on where in the world you are, it feels as though there's no better time of year to soak in a tub than post NewYear, when the holidays are over and we settle into the quiet, dark months of January and February. If you were lucky, you may have received some delicious bathing goodies over the holiday that can be put to good use now.
Whatever the time of year I love nothing more than to sink into a hot bath - and relax. I rarely have time for pampering treats, like massages or days at the spa, so if I have any free time night or day , and want to really switch off and de-stress, I light a candle, run the bath and unleash some of my favourite bath-time treats. It does the trick for total body warming in a way that a hot water bottle never could.
If I want a refreshing, exfoliating, cleansing experience, I opt for a shower instead. As a make-up artist I spend a lot of time contorted in odd positions with my right hand held up for extended periods and as a result get a lot of tension around my neck and shoulder area.
When I'm in the bath I like to do some gentle stretching as the combination of having the time to do them slowly and the water makes it feel more effective. Nothing strenuous, just simple things like pushing my elbow gently across to the opposite shoulder with my opposite hand always make a very satisfying loud crack and pointing and stretching my feet to relieve calf ache from standing up all day. I also like to massage my neck and shoulders once the hot water has done its thing and softened the muscles an connective tissue.
Lots of small, firm circular movements on relaxed muscles feels just great! Take care you don't have the water too hot. Hot but not scorching is the way to go as research shows that an overly hot bath can actually have the opposite effect and cause insomnia. If you notice you start to look like a boiled lobster and your feeling light headed, reach for the cold tap! After a long, hot bath glug down a large glass of water to avoid dehydration. You can use anything you have to hand to soften the water or just go au natural but here are some gloriously, blissed-out bath treats I think are great for different skintypes and tastes, including some of my personal favourites.
