BATH TREAT - RELAXING
We always get impressively high scores for these products, in part because… well, who wouldn’t want a great excuse – like taking part in Beauty Bible’s in-depth trials – to lie back and soak in fragrant waters, and to unwind awhile…?
We reckon that over the past three rollercoaster years, the sheer muscle-soothing, brain-relaxing power of hot water infused with stress-busting essential oils or rebalancing botanicals has become even more vital in our lives. Clearly, our testers absolutely agree; several of our own favourite products feature here, but as ever, that holds no sway with testers.
You’ll find some truly great winners below – do scroll down and (ahem) soak all the comments in. And next time you’re feeling a bit down – or overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted with being locked down/shielding – treat yourself to one of these and run those taps. Our prescription is then to head straight for bed: the action of the brain cooling after a hot bath has been scientifically proven to beckon sleep. (You’re welcome.)
GOLD AWARD L’OCCITANE Lavender Foaming Bath
And here is the star of L’Occitane’s bathing range, back for its umpteenth win, this year grabbing Gold. (We’ve honestly lost count of how many times this has been victorious.) Pioneeringly, L'Occitane have been decanting this bestselling foaming bath into aluminium tins for years; among the most eco-friendly packaging solutions around; it's also now available as a refill pack, to top up the tall tin. But what seduced the testers yet again (and what our questions to them are focused around) was really the bath treat itself: a foaming bath oil infused with lavender essential oil harvested in the Haute-Provence, which fills the bathroom with its calming and rebalancing scent – and indeed several testers commented on the fact it transported them to Provence. (Meanwhile, every tester also commented that because it foams, a body moisturiser is called for, post-soak.)
£29.50 for 500ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Loved this. The aroma of lavender filled my bathroom and floated through the rest of the house. I am now an addict and have purchased two more’ • ‘Love, love, love it. Tired body and stressed before; relaxed and smelling divine afterwards’ • ‘Calmness in a bottle; a really good, relaxing bath product that makes lots of bubbles’ • ‘It improved sleep and my skin felt soft afterwards. It creates beautiful bubbles, and the scent is lovely’ • ‘Before: anxious. After: calmer, sleepy. I really think this is a lovely bubble bath; makes you feel like a very sophisticated kid! It produces a lovely number of bubbles, and the smell is amazing’ • ‘As I submerged myself into the bath and laid back and relaxe, I could almost picture myself walking through a lavender field in Provence’ • ‘This is just the ticket if you are looking for a calming and restorative bubble bath. The fragrance is very strong, and I was instantly in Provence!’
£29.50 for 500ml - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL OSKIA Moon Salts
We think OSKIA founder’s story about creating this fragrant, hydrating treat will resonate. ‘During lockdown, a long hot bath became the most important part of my daily selfcare routine - my moment of calm…a warm hug. It helped me hugely emotionally and re-affirmed the fact that selfcare is of vital importance to our emotional and mental wellbeing. I experimented with different oils and different actives to find my perfect bath soak – one that would relax me both physically and mentally.’ It comes in a hefty glass jar that beautifully showcases the blend of Himalayan salts, coconut milk and betaine (among other ingredients), infused with rose, oudh and lavender, with magnesium to help beckon sleep. Refills available.
£68 for 500g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Mood before bath: excitement and anticipation. After: totally calm and chilled out and slept like a baby. Recommended for anyone who isn’t a lavender scent lover or who wants to relax and unwind at the same time as getting their skin nice and soft’ • ‘After using, my skin felt calm and soothed. I was surprised at just how hydrated and supple it also felt as previously, when I have used salts, skin would feel tight and dry afterwards’ • ‘It has very much altered how I previously viewed bath salts; I have really enjoyed the calmness after using them – a real lift’ • ‘I just loved this; mood-boosting and so uplifting and I would happily swap any product that I have ever used previously, to use this forever!’ • ‘A real winner! I have previously loved nothing more than sitting in a bath of bubbles, but this was amazing – so rejuvenating for both my mind and my body’ • ‘A spa experience in your bathroom! I felt like Cleopatra. The smell was incredible from the moment I opened the lid, without being overbearing. Very relaxing, felt so special.’
£68 for 500g - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Molton Brown Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel Bath Salts
This much-loved eau de toilette from Molton Brown is now incarnated in bath salt format, snazzily packaged in a turquoise recyclable aluminium canister. Even with our powers of fragrance description, we can’t better Molton Brown’s up sum of the scent, in which gifted perfumer Carla Chabert has blended elements of fig leaves, bergamot, salted cypress and marine notes: ‘A salt-sprayed collision of the ocean swell against rugged outcrops. Waves lapping in uncharted caverns. A peninsula awaiting great exploration. Awash your sense with sea-soaked adventure…’ All that, without having to leave the comfort of your bathroom, never mind pop on a sou’wester. Lots of five-star reviews on their site – and her are our testers’ thoughts.
£22 for 300g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I cannot praise the fragrance highly enough; some bath products smell nice when they first go in but soon wear off, before the bath is over. These salts kept their fragrance throughout the bath (and I'm in there a good 30-45 minutes!), and my skin carried the scent too for a good few hours after. My husband even noticed the fragrance and he's not normally one for things like this!’ • ‘I would recommend this as a treat-yourself item; it delivered on its promise to soothe, balance and pep me up. I felt mentally balanced and “reworked” after’ • ‘Reminds me of time in Italian spa – I’m taken back every time’ • ‘Ver softening – skin always feels more than a plum and less of a prune afterwards’ • ‘This is the type of product I'd save for a special treat rather than use every day. Certainly helped me unwind and feel very pampered. It has a very luxury spa feeling about it. This is the type of product I'd save for a special treat rather than use every day’ • ‘Mood before: a bit achy! Afterwards: very relaxed and calm... and a bit less achy!’
£22 for 300g - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL Aroma Active Sleep Salt Soak
Aroma Active’s is the most affordable of our winners, below our long-term tenner ‘ceiling’ for Beauty Steals – although with inflationary pressures, we’ve recently nudged that upwards.) Created by the same team behind Aromatherapy Associates, this is a generous and sustainably-packaged (sturdy brown paper) bag of varying salts, including magnesium sulphate, Epsom salts, plus hop extract and valerian to relax, sunflower oil and glycerine to add nourishment, and a blend of essential oils hand-picked for their ‘calming and centring effects’ – grounding Buddhawood, lavandin and ylang ylang.
£15 for 500g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I’d definitely buy and recommend – a lovely example of a relaxing bath product, the perfect companion to a long soak to alleviate stresses and strains’ • ‘Beautiful lavender fragrance with a hint of hardworking minerals – like a health spa in a box! I think it prolonged the feeling of relaxation after a bath’ • ‘Much more of a treat, compared to my usual plain magnesium flakes, so I really enjoyed using. A potent blend, so I only needed to use a little and have still more to enjoy’ • ‘Surprised when I ran the bath – I loved how the water turned a deep blue colour. Strong relaxing fragrance and I smelt it on myself afterwards; skin was really soft and silky, too’ • ‘Felt that it helped my muscle aches and pains’ • ‘After a few uses this has become my go-to bath product. I love the smell and the experience I get using it; what I also love is how soft your skin is afterwards! ’ • ‘My new favourite bath treat, definitely a keeper for me for the smell, relaxation and sleep! My skin felt lovely very soft and actually, it was moisturising enough on its own’ • ‘I was definitely calmer after using, and therefore fell asleep faster.’
£15 for 500g - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD de Mamiel Anchor Bath Soak
Last year, holistic therapist Annee de Mamiel’s Altitude bath soak won Gold in this category; this time, her Anchor salts pushed our testers’ buttons. (Or more precisely, their ‘off’ switch.) Anchor began life as a sleep-beckoning balm, blending oils of lavender, eucalyptus, lemon myrtle, pine leaf, patchouli, fragonia and peppermint – some of which might sound uplifting and energising, rather than relaxing, but in practice (based on our testers’ experiences), they do indeed work to soothe. The Anchor-infused salts (Himalayan, Dead Sea, Epsom and more) come in chunky glass bottle – one to two capfuls per bath is recommended – and are priced to be a serious treat.
£60 for 400g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Liked the fact that the salts immediately melted into the pouring water from the tap and didn't remain gritty in the bottom of the bath as some salts do’ • ‘I like to treat myself to a bath spa experience particularly on a Sunday evening, with candles and beautiful bath treats and this was my favourite product so far, to do that. As soon as the product hits the hot water the room is enveloped in the wonder fragrance that sings to every sense in your body. I can easily spend an hour and a half in the bath with my sparkling spring water and relaxing music. I may look like a prune but I’m a very happy relaxed one! ’ • ‘My husband remarked on how quickly I fell asleep I normally toss and turn a lot’ • ‘Skin felt like I had used an oil on it Fills the whole bathroom with a lovely aroma that immediately makes you feel happy. Like a warm hug!’ • ‘On an average day I walk 15-20,000 steps and I am always achy (nurse life) I really did feel that the combination of hot water and these salts made a huge difference, soothing aches and pains.’
£60 for 400g - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD GAIA Calming Bath Oil
GAIA is one of our favourite spas in the world, based in Devon’s Boringdon Hall, where we’ve enjoyed some of the best and most transporting treatments in our whole (and quite extensive) career of road-testing wellness destinations. You can bring GAIA’s magic home via the products used in the award-winning GAIA flagship and available online (as well as at an increasingly wide network of other spa locations). This is a nourishing, replenishing bath oil to deliver ‘inner peace’ and ‘clear the mind’ via its blend of neroli, clary sage, lavender, orange and grapefruit. Just a capful or two is all it takes, to be swished into the water before you submerge yourself.
£30 for 100ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Absolutely loved this product. It felt heavenly and indulgent and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I would LOVE this as a gift’ • ‘Loved it. Got into the habit of using the Gaia Calming Oil whenever I needed total relaxation – and it worked, without fail’ • ‘I adore bath and bath products and this one was amazing. The oil smelled divine, relaxed my body and helped me sleep with no worries on my mind. Skin was nourished and relaxed, too’ • ‘Before bath I felt tired and stressed… The bath calmed me down, relaxed and made me sleep like a baby’ • ‘A perfect product. Hits the nail on the head and does exactly what it promises, supplying wellness via an all-natural elixir. A must-have for all busy women and men, I reckon’ • ‘After bathing, skin was baby-soft and smooth. The fragrance reminded me of a very expensive spa – honestly, the ultimate indulgence, with a heady scent, delivering silky skin in the bottle’ • ‘It helped with general body aches and after bathing I felt relaxed and floaty. It feels like pure luxury to use.’
£30 for 100ml - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Tropic So Sleepy Bath Foam
Another for those who prefer a little froth at bath time, from multi-Beauty Bible Award-winning Tropic, whose So Sleepy pillow mist – infused with the same zzz-beckoning blend – also won a Beauty Bible Award, in 2021. ‘You’ll float in wild lavender and chamomile-scented clouds, before effortlessly slipping into heavenly dreams,’ Tropic promise. (Three other scents are available, NB). ‘Like drizzling liquid gold into your bathtub’, the brand continues, with the blend incorporating macadamia oil and aloe vera extract to hydrate and condition; while the product is sulphate-free, for gentleness – and as an eco-bonus, refills are available!
£18 for 260ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘My absolute favourite product from this round of testing; my bath literally felt like I was swirling silk around. Skin was nourished, and the smell nourished my soul; I slept better, and my wellbeing improved by using this. I will definitely be repurchasing; I cannot fault it in any way’ • ‘My husband actually asked if he could use some in his bath because it smells so good! I would certainly recommend it to others. The fragrance blend is wonderfully relaxing and quite potent too; you don't need to use too much as it foams adequately with just two to three capfuls’ • ‘Helps to relax and unwind after a busy or stressful day and definitely improves mood and sleep. My skin felt soft and nourished afterwards (I did use moisturiser as well, only because my skin can be a little dry, so I felt I needed the additional hydration)’ • ‘I always bathe – never shower – and love a relaxing, warm bath. I am happy to spend money on a product that smells nice, feels nice on the skin, has a lingering scent and delivers an overall feeling of relaxation’ • ‘I would buy it as a gift for someone who was going through a stressful time or having trouble sleeping.’
£18 for 260ml - click to buy