BATH TREAT - UPLIFTING
At times when you’re feeling less than lively, a bit slow and in need of reviving – even when you’re a bit low and things could generally look rosier – it’s encouraging to know that a sloosh of one of these, some pleasantly hot water and the time to give yourself some well-earned TLC really can help shift things. We’d be happy to receive any of these as a gift – and if that doesn’t happen, we’re certainly splashing out on them ourselves.
GOLD AWARD and BEST NATURAL OSKIA Vitamin E Bath Oil
This luxurious blend won a Gold in the same category two years ago and our testers nearly wrote a book on how much they love it this time round, giving it a very high average score. The mind and body cherishing blend contains pure vitamin E to nourish skin and over 30 floral and super berry oils including (wait for it!) blueberry, raspberry, iris, rose, jasmine, African lime, Sicilian lemon, oud, palmarosa, vetiver, English chamomile, cedarwood, bergamot, wild mint and organic black pepper. All these, they promise, will restore and soothe your mind, and leave your skin soft, smooth and beautifully scented. Testers went into rhapsodies about the scent – so much so that we can only include an indicator of their paeans of praise. OSKIA founder Georgie Cleeve founded this bio-nutritional brand in 2010 with her husband George, based on her experience as a skincare therapist, nutritional/cosmetic researcher and formulator. Her attention to detail and quality is unparalled.
£79 for 120ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. This oil really feels luxurious and makes bath time into a real spa experience. The fragrance was lovely; every time I used it in the bath the whole of the upstairs of my house smelt like a spa and it really made me look forward to getting in the bath. My skin felt great after every time using it. In the bath my skin felt very soft and once out the bath my skin felt really soft and hydrated. Every time I use it my fiancé comments about how it smells like a spa in the house (in a good way!) and has made comments about how nice I smell after. It actually makes your skin feel very soft and nourished I found you don’t need two capfuls as they recommend, one is plenty’ • ‘I think this could put me in the party spirit if used before a night out as it's very fresh, bold and exciting in scent. It's also about some me time and enabled me to relax my mind and my muscles. Adding music to a bath routine and some candles to sooth and relax or glass of wine to get the party started would be good. Scent is incredibly powerful and this little bottle of joy does so much for me, whether I need to relax before bed or have some TLC before a night out. Skin felt luxuriously warm, bright, moisturised and refreshed, which made me look more radiant and as if still away on holidays’ • ‘I felt so relaxed and fresh with skin feeling invigorated and moisturised; suddenly I felt more able to start again or simply relax and wind down for the night. A brilliant bottle of wonderfulness very luxurious and beautiful’ • ‘It has a divine fragrance - a beautiful combination of iris, jasmine, rose, wild mint, oud & black pepper. So special. Before my bath I felt tired after a long day of work, school runs, animal caring etc with lots of rushing here, there and everywhere. After my bath my mood was lifted and I felt much more relaxed, my head was clearer and the overwhelming feeling of the day was gone. My 16 year old daughter noticed the amazing smell which unfortunately meant I had to let her try it out too….she was equally impressed! ’ • ‘It's a luxurious product and I would love to use this regularly as my staple bath-time treat’ • ‘The product made me feel like I was walking in a beautiful green garden with lots of amazing smelling flowers. My skin was so soft and it reduced the pain in my shoulder from an injury I had last year. The product came out creamy when run under the water and did not leave a horrible rim around the bath. The smell lasted for the whole bath and was still in the bathroom after running the bath water away. I really liked that the product was against animal cruelty and also was suitable for vegans. I also liked the packaging it looked very up market and the little note in gold on red paper was a nice touch’ • ‘If you are looking for a bath product to 'pick you up' before a night out this is the one.’
£79 for 120ml - click to buy
SILVER AWARD L'OCCITANE Verbena Foaming Bath
Verveine is otherwise known as verbena, which L’Occitane explain is cherished for its soothing and softening benefits and distinctive lemony fragrance. As this now legendary French brand says, just close your eyes and imagine you’re walking down the paths of Provence where the fresh organic verveine leaves are piled high in baskets. Mmmmm… In this soft silky bath foam, sun-drenched organic verbena extract and essential oil are blended with a coconut and palm oil foaming agent plus sodium laureth sulphate to create a mass of bubbles.
£29.50 for 500ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘This definitely energises and uplifts the mood - I like to take a bath after a long day at work. So this provided the boost I needed for the rest of the evening. It helped wash away the stress of the day and uplift my mood so I felt more energised to go out. I love how fresh this smells. I feel absolutely pampered with this - the soft bubbles it creates and the scent is long lasting. With other bath foams the smell disappears after a few minutes, but this lingers and stays on your skin. Really lifts the mood and is such a clean scent. I already use L'Occitane bath foams as they are a firm favourite so will be adding this to my collection. I would recommend for the luxury, the mood lifting fragrance and the sustainable packaging. My skin felt soft after and didn't need moisturiser’ • ‘The fragrance was a lovely clean citrusy fragrance that lasted well and filled the bathroom. I was relatively relaxed before my baths and felt quite invigorated afterwards. It did put me in a happy mood’ • ‘Creamy and indulgent, good quality. I love the citrus smell, Very pleasant citrus fragrance; fresh and invigorating. The consistency is Creamy and indulgent – it doesn't strip the skin like the average bath foam. The fragrance is perhaps better suited to summer than cold winter nights, nevertheless it did help to release the tension accumulated during the day: it has an energising quality. It felt gentle on my skin, leaving it delicately scented and soft. I was feeling tense and stressed before I first used this and after definitely felt more energised. It felt gentle on my skin’ • ‘I liked the lemony scent - very refreshing and uplifting. My skin felt soft afterwards with a scent of lemon. I didn't need to apply a moisturiser, as my skin did feel nourished afterwards. I would recommend this product if someone was after a nice citrus-y bath product and I like L'Occitane products in general and have used many of them.’
£29.50 for 500ml - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Urban Retreat Rejuvenating Citrus Essential Bath Oil
Orange oil furnishes the cheerful citrus element in this bath oil, with vitamin E to hydrate and moisturise on a base of grapeseed oil to improve elasticity and softness, as you relax and restore. The nourishing ingredients help to promote skin clarity, radiance and smoothness, the brand promises. The last in the very short ingredients list is isopropyl myristate, a naturally derived moisturiser, which enhances the performance of the other ingredients. This divided testers both because of fragrance and bath cleaning – necessity of…. So three testers gave it full marks with several giving it eight or nine and then three at the other end of the score scale.
£24 for 120ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. At the end of a long day, my bath is one thing that cheers me up, well to be fair that and a glass of wine, but I am here to discuss the oil. The ritual of running the bath, placing several drops of this luscious velvety oil into the water and enjoying the moisture and scent it emanates is my favourite part of the day. Totally changes my mood, feel relaxed and I smell and feel wonderful. It certainly made my skin feel soft and nourished, coupled with a little bit of 'colour from a bottle' it made my skin glow. So yes I guess if I felt good about my skin then yes it did put me in good 'party' spirits’ • ‘I found out quickly I did not need to add bubble bath or use body lotion after using this product, absolutely no need. Even the following morning my skin still felt soft and I could still smell wafts of orange from my arms. The fragrance completes an already amazing product; it’s not your usual lavender spa smell. It has sweet notes of orange which envelope your body once in the bath’ • ‘ The bottle containing the oil is ideal, it has a dropper which I love, just dropping the oil under running water makes me smile and look forward to my bath even more. Sounds silly but it’s a nightly routine. Little drops of happiness I call them. Looking at the packaging you can tell this a high-end oil, looks and feels expensive. Friends and relatives have been in my home after I have taken a bath, all of them commented on the amazing aroma coming from the bathroom. It’s a treat, and given how you feel afterwards it’s a no brainer, you wont be disappointed’ • ‘this oil when added to my bath the first time I used it make my mouth water, it has a wonderful zingy fresh aroma which cant help but make you smile. I loved oil so much I've been on the urban retreat website to look when other products they have (got to be honest I hadn't heard of them) there's lots of products. I also used this oil in the shower as long as you've a not slip addition to the floor of your shower a few drops of oil and the aroma in the shower enclosure is beautiful. This aroma would also be great as a room fragrance if the company ever decides to branch into reed diffusers. Glass bottle so easy to recycle I like that, or maybe refills will be available in the future’ • ‘The Asda delivery driver turned up to bring my shopping one evening when I was running a bath our bathroom is down the hall from the kitchen door and he asked what the lovely smell was it’s a very inclusive fragrance everyone will like’ • ‘This fragrance makes you want to smile its so fresh and fruity, you cant help but feel energised after a bath with this oil added, this would be a great pick me up before going out after a long day’ • ‘I have really enjoyed using this bath oil. I usually use bath bombs but after using this I think I'll stick to oil in future. My skin is so soft and I love the smell so much I leave the bathroom door open so that it can escape into the rest of the house. My skin felt wonderful afterwards - Really soft and smelling gorgeous. It was really easy to get dry as the water just floated on top of my skin’ • ‘This luxurious oil definitely does wonders for my well-being. Gives me a feeling of ultimate relaxation. A must before a night out to help me to look gorgeous.’
£24 for 120ml - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD WELEDA Pine Reviving Bath Milk
If you fancy being wafted off to a pine forest, this warming aromatic bath milk could be your new best friend. The cult all-natural brand – now an amazing century plus since it was founded – promises this milk is restorative and uplifting. Perfect after a tiring stressful day. It’s also particularly good for helping breathing if you’re a bit congested, we can say from experience. The pines here are silver fir and Siberian fir concentrated in essential oils. We love that Weleda say the product is ‘excellent for fatigue, stress and nervous exhaustion of the spirit. You’ll breathe easier and feel more joyful, while cold, damp and low spirits are driven away.’ Tip from one reviewer: pop a couple of capfuls in a footbath to revive tired dry feet. We like it!
£15.75 for 200ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Oh I feel more relaxed and soothed after each use. It’s like the electric blanket of the beauty oil world. Loved, loved loved my bath milk. I have had a stressful few months, as I recently lost my mum and have been devoting Sunday nights to have a good soak. The wonderful scent really helps me feel grounded and safe and I sleep so well on Sundays. Colleagues at work tell me I look chilled on Mondays. It is an absolute belter of a product. It is made with love and you can tell with the detail and the use of quality scents. It is a win for me’ • ‘A good addition to my bathing ritual. I use in the mornings and find it makes feel slightly more energetic and in a good mood! I always like Weleda products. They are effective, no [synthetics] included in the formula and well priced. This is fresh smelling and invigorating, and my skin felt soft after. I would use this when feeling in need of an energy boost’ • ‘Yes! This has a very fresh, uplifting scent that certainly lives up to it's "reviving" claim.t The scent is refreshing without being too intense and has a very natural spa like fragrance that I really enjoyed, particularly for a morning bath. I definitely felt more awake and refreshed after using this product. It was fantastic for a revitalising morning bath or as an afternoon perk up. My skin felt soft and smooth without feeling like it had any sticky or oily residue on it which I really enjoyed’ • ‘I really enjoyed this product, especially the scent. I'm usually drawn to products aimed at sleep, de-stressing or calming for my bath, but was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the uplifting fragrance. I love that this is very unisex and made the whole bathroom smell really fresh and clean after my bath. I particularly appreciate that it didn't leave residue on my skin or the tub like some other similar products I have used previously’ • ‘I'd recommend it to anyone who would like to feel more awake and refreshed. I think this would be a great gift for a new parent for example’ • ‘Very nice fresh pine scent. Skin felt cleansed, fresh and soft – lovely. It felt quite luxurious to use and I would recommend as a bath treat. It turns the water a milky colour which I like’ • ‘Worn out from a hard day at work this definitely gave me a spring in my step after using it for a nice long soak. Skin felt very soft and velvety.’
£15.75 for 200ml - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Olverum Bath Oil
We’re long-time fans of this: as Jo wrote, ‘it’s a wonderful clears-your-passages bath oil infused with easy-breathe-y oils of rosemary, lavender, lemon, thyme, verbena, eucalyptus and pine’. It’s been so popular over the many decades – it launched in 1929! - that there’s now a whole bath range to match, plus a new packaging look with a stunning bottle and fab new typography. You only need a capful so the generous 200ml bottle should last a good 40 baths, according to our maths – which works out at well under a pound a bath. However, one thing: there’s almost nothing as individual as the perception of smells. So the majority of testers loved the fragrance (as does Team BB) but a couple of testers absolutely did not, which brought the average score down.
£39.50 for 125ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘The first time I used this, I had travelled over 5 hours to get home after visiting family, I was very tired and desperate for some pampering before work the next day. I smelled the bath oil before pouring half a cap full into the bath; I was so surprised how such a small amount filled the whole room with this beautiful, invigorating, citrusy smell. It made me feel like I was in a spa and couldn't help but take deep breaths to take in the air around me. My skin felt supple after a few minutes and I stayed in the bath much longer than I normally would as I enjoyed it so much. I felt refreshed, clean, soft and really calm after my bath’ • ‘I used this in my bath the morning before a festival. It made me feel relaxed and refreshed before getting ready and my skin smelt amazing afterwards’ • ‘I'm a total convert to Olverum Bath oil, from how beautiful it looks on my bathroom shelf to how it fills the room with it's beautiful citrusy spa like scent and totally relaxes me while completely hydrating my skin. I'm not a regular bath user, but anyone who has a bath every now and then to enjoy a moment to themselves will love this bath oil. It doesn't leave the bath dirty like some products and the bottle lasts a long time because you only need to use such a small amount for the incredible results’ • ‘Overall this is a fabulous product, really uplifting but at the same time calming. The scent lasts and lasts both in the air in the bathroom as you bathe but also on your skin afterwards. Skin is left with an oily sheen, which you can continue to rub to gain maximum moisturisation. Skin is left soft and you certainly don’t need a moisturiser afterwards’ • ‘Really liked the simple packaging which gave it a classiness. The glass bottle can be recycled which is great. However, it being nice to look at why not keep out on display, unless you live with people who are going to pinch it and squander it on themselves, in which case keep it in your knicker drawer’ • ‘This has to be one of the nicest bath oils that I have ever used. It is simply like a spa in a bath. Gorgeous subtle spa scent, cleared my mind and left me feeling recharged for the day. The bottle that the oil comes in feels so luxurious and would be a perfect gift for anyone. This is now my new favourite bath oil and I will continue to use this. Simply stunning.’
£39.50 for 125ml - click to buy