Baths are a great way to unwind and just let the stress of your day melt away. They are relaxing, refreshing, and you can hit two birds with one stone by getting clean and getting some well-deserved alone time. Yet for some reason, most people I know don’t indulge in the magnificence that is bath taking. As self proclaimed “bath guru,” I will help you achieve bathing enlightenment with just a few simple tips that can maximize your soak!

1. The Green tea bath.

I first heard about green tea baths when I was looking around for ways to help with my hands constantly sweating. Soaking in tea is used to help calm the nerves and actually has a plethora of other health benefits. Such as:

- It makes your skin softer. Green tea has Vitamin B in it, which is great for keeping your skin looking and feeling young.

- Bathing in green tea can help soothe sore muscles, perfect for a post-exercise cool down.

- Green tea baths can help remove many of the toxins in your skin that cause breakouts.

So let’s move on to making a green tea bath. It’s as simple as buying a box of green tea bags and throwing them into your tub while you fill it up with hot water. I recommend about three or four bags, but the amount will vary based on the size of your bath tub. Make sure to pull off the paper tab at the end of the string, and then throw the bags in. It’s important to put them in after finding the right temperature for your water so the bags can steep while the tub fills up. I also advise that you do not try to steep them more by moving them around because this can cause the bag to rip, filling your tub with green tea leaves which (from personal experience) are a huge pain to get rid of.

WARNING: Make sure you only stay in the bath for as much as half an hour. Being in hot water for too long can make you dizzy, and even pass out. Not something you want to do when surrounded by water.

2. Bath salts.

Moving on, the next bathing companion I will be telling you about are bath salts. Epsom Salt, which is scientifically known as magnesium sulfate, is a mineral compound that can help relieve muscle soreness and aid your relaxation when in the bath. Epsom Salts can be used for soothing muscle pains, treating sunburns and exfoliation

Just stop by your local RiteAid, CVS, or Walgreens and ask about their bath salts. Usually you use the cap to measure how much salt you need to put in your bath. The brands I’ve used recommend two caps full and that you spend no more than half an hour in the bath. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to rinse off the salt left on your body by taking a quick shower.

3. Bath bombs.

The last kind of bath I’m going to share with you is probably the most luxurious if you buy them from the right place. Bath bombs. Even the name is powerful. My first experience with a bath bomb was when my older sister took me to a magical store called Lush (which by the way is an amazing place, especially for bath bombs). At the time I went with my sister, I was already a frequent bath taker, so the idea of bath bombs was very enticing. Bath bombs are dry balls packed with essential oils, soaps, and some things that will make your bath water fizz. You just toss them in the water after filling up the tub and hop in. Lush has some pretty amazing ones that can turn your bath water into interesting colors and fill your bathroom with an amazing scent, along with all of the other benefits I’ve mentioned in the previous baths such as exfoliation and fixing muscle soreness. The bath bomb is truly the king of bath time assistance.

4. Bath extras.

Lastly, I have a few recommendations that can make your “you time” even more amazing. Use any combination of these tips along with any of the methods mentioned earlier:

Lighting incense.

Let your mind zen out while your body melts away.

Try adding about a cup of baking soda to your bath.

Baking soda is amazing for cleaning your body and soaking in it can feel fantastic.

Scented oils.

Don’t feel like lighting an incense? Or maybe you live somewhere that open flames aren’t allowed, like a college dorm room? Then scented oils are just what you need. You can safely add them to your bath to get the same great smelling effect that incense gives you. Plus, once you get out, you’ll be carrying the scent with you for a while. Just don’t use scented oils with incense. Too many different scents can give you a serious headache.

That’s all! I hope that these tips can help you beef up your bath time, or if you don’t take baths maybe consider giving it a try. I promise it’s great for your mind and body. Who can say no to that?