How to Take a Bath: Products and Tips For a Relaxing Soak

There are a number of ways you can relax in the comfort of your own home, and taking a bath is a classic go-to. Yes, spas are great and all, but you can elevate your own bathroom to feel like a five-star resort in minutes — without having to step a foot outside or spend an arm and a leg on the experience.

Picture this: the lights are dim, soft music is playing in the background, and the room smells of lavender. All you need are a few of your favorite items — a book, a face mask, a generous glass of wine, some restorative bath products — and you’re on your way to the most relaxing at-home soak you’ve ever had in your life. Elevated showers are trending on Pinterest right now, but it’s hard to beat the comfort of a warm bath. You can practically feel the stress melting away when you step into a warm tub.

If you’re in need of some zen time to unwind at the end of a hectic week or looking for creative, fun ways to practice more self care, you can create the perfect bath in just a few easy steps. Make no mistake: this is no average bath routine — you’re about to have the best damn bath of your life.

Tip #1: Put on Some Relaxing Music or a Podcast

Set the mood for your bath by putting on your favorite playlist or album. Pick something that makes you feel happy and relaxed. You can also use this time to listen to a podcast or meditate.

Tip #2: Light a Candle (or 2)
An essential step in creating ambiance is lighting a few candles. One of our favorites is the Diptyque Baies Candle ($74). Place them throughout the room so that when you turn the lights off, the space is filled with a beautiful glow.

Tip #3: Use Essential Oils in the Room

Adding essential oils to the room can transform the soak into an aromatherapy experience. You can diffuse your favorite essential oil to fill the room with the scent or add a drop to your inner wrists and behind your ears for a more targeted experience. We like using lavender because it gets us ready for bed, but chamomile, ylang ylang, or citrus oils (if you want to feel invigorated) also work.

Tip #4: Add Bath Salts

You can enhance your soak by adding bath salts to the tub. The PopSugar Lavender Magnesium Bath Flakes ($7) are made with pure magnesium to help relieve sore muscles, reduce stress, and improve sleep with a comforting warm vanilla lavender scent.

Tip #5: Use a Bath Bomb or Bubbles

Make the soaking experience way more enjoyable by adding a bath bomb or bubbles to the mix. For a bath bomb, the Lush Deep Sleep Bath Bomb ($10) fills your tub with a dreamy purple hue and smells of lavender oil, chamomile, and neroli. Or, if you prefer bubbles, try the L’Occitane Lavender Harvest Foaming Bath ($42).

Tip #6: Do a Face Mask

Take advantage of this time to do a soothing or deeply hydrating face mask. It can be of the sheet mask, peel-off mask, or wash-off variety — whatever you’re feeling. We like to use the time to let a restorative face mask work its magic, like the Laneige Bouncy + Firm Radiance Boosting Sleeping Mask ($36) paired with the Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm ($20).

Tip #7: Read a Book

Grab a gook book and use the time to unwind and get lost in it. Reading in the bathtub can be a great way to detox from technology and get you ready for bed.

Tip #8: Do a Hair Mask

Another area you can give a little TLC to? Your hair. The bath is a great time to do a hair mask because you can easily let it soak in mess-free and rinse it out when you’re finished. We like the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Weightless Mask ($45).

Tip #9: Pour a Fun Drink
Refreshments are always a must. We can’t think of a better way to relax than with a glass of your favorite drink within arms reach. Pour yourself something good before hopping into the tub — it’s all in the name of self-care.

Tip #10: Do a Body Treatment or Mask

After soaking for a little while, you can finish off the whole DIY spa experience with a body treatment or mask. Try exfoliating your skin with the Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish Exfoliator ($69) and get ready for the softest skin of your life.

Tip #11: Finish With a Luxurious Body Moisturizer and Your Favorite Pajamas

When you’re finally ready to step out of the bathtub, don’t just rush into your next activity. Extend the self-care moment a little longer by slathering on a hydrating body butter, like the Nécessaire The Body Cream ($48), before slipping into a fluffy robe or your comfiest pair of pajamas. For a luxurious pair, we love the Eberjay Frida Tencel Modal Shortie Short PJ Set ($136).

Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at POPSUGAR, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.