The Perfect Bedtime Bath for a Great Night’s Sleep

Many people swear by the power of a bedtime bath as a way to de-stress and get ready for sleep. But what makes the perfect bath?

I’ll let you know my favourite things, but before we get into how to have the perfect bedtime bath, let’s quickly go over exactly why a before-bed soak is a great way to get ready for bed.

It’s all about the heat, but not in the way you may imagine, studies have found that your brain needs to lower its temperature slightly in order to fall asleep.

That’s why it is easier to fall asleep in a room that’s cool rather than one that’s too hot. Being cooler will not only help you to fall asleep quicker, but it will also promote a night of better deep sleep.

What has this got to do with a bath, that’s typically warm, not cold? Well, when you have a soak in a nice warm bath, blood vessels expand and this draws your blood to the skin, which is why you get those rosy cheeks!

Then when you step out of the warm water, your core temperature starts to drop, and it’s this cooling effect that is so good at helping you get to sleep.

Ok, now that we know why a before-bed bath is so good, let’s see what makes a perfect bedtime bath. I’m going to go over a few of the little details that will help you to have a perfect bedtime bath.

Here are 6 tips to create a perfect bedtime bath ritual:

1. Be prepared to be ready for bed

If you’re like me, once bath time is over, all you want to do is towel yourself off, put on some soft comfy pj’s and head straight to bed. So make sure you’re all ready before bathtime.

If you’ve had a luxurious soak and you still have a heap of chores to do, then you are going to undo all the good work your bath has done to relax you. So, before you get into that tub, make sure absolutely everything is done for the day.

2. Get Some Privacy!

Nothing will drain any relaxation you’ve been working on quicker than family members banging on the bathroom door. Before you head for your bath make sure every member of the household knows you’re not to be disturbed unless something very significant has happened. (By very significant I mean something like you know: someone’s badly bleeding, the house is on fire, etc.) 😉

If you only have one bathroom in the house, then make sure everyone gets the opportunity to use it before you get in there!

3. Create the right ambience

What’s the main difference between your bathroom and a high-end spa? It’s all about the ambience. When you walk into a spa the whole atmosphere oozes relaxation, right?

So, dim the lights a touch, light a few candles and play a little bit of relaxing background music. These are three things you can do to create calmness.

Creating the perfect ambience isn’t just about music and lighting, it’s about calming all the senses, including your sense of smell.

Light a nice scented candle, either a beeswax or soy candle, scented with essential oils. Stay away from chemical fragrances! Or if you’re sensitive to candles, try diffusing some essential oils. Lavender and ylang-ylang are well known for their relaxing qualities. As you soak in your bath let the aroma carry you to a deeper level of calmness and relaxation. Calming essential oils can help to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and boost your mood.

Make sure to download a nice relaxing playlist to your phone. And now you’re ready for an amazing spa experience.

Try not to fall asleep completely in the bath, as that could be a little dangerous! It might be helpful to set a timer for 20-30 minutes or so.

4. Remember your drink

In order to help you fall asleep after your bath, a relaxing drink can help.  A nice cup of chamomile tea, or a sleepy time tea, which are well-known to relax and help with sleep.

5. Soak in some luxurious skincare benefits

A great way to finish your day is to give yourself some self-love! By using a natural skin-soothing product in your bath, you not only give your skin a softening boost, but the essential oils will give all your senses the calmness you desire. I have three options you may enjoy:

BATH MELTS

My Skin Soothing bath melts are a wonderful mixture of cocoa butter and coconut oil to moisturize and soften the skin.

To Use – Simply pop 1/2 – 1 bath melt into a warm bath. They will melt on contact with warm water and after bathing you’ll be left with soft silky skin! Essential oils of lavender and ylang-ylang provide a calming and relaxing bathtime. ♥

BATH CREAMERS

Bath creamers are a cross between a bath melt and a bath bomb! These are beautiful in the bath as the luxurious shea butter is very moisturizing for the skin without leaving the bath too oily.

To Use – run a warm bath and pop one in just before you get in. Relax and enjoy it! These have a relaxing, sensual fragrance perfect for an evening soak! The shea butter will leave your skin sensuously soft.

ME♥TIME Bath & Massage Oil is a sensual bath and massage oil that is liquid gold for your skin, it creates a protective layer that prevents moisture loss, and has a relaxing effect on your body and mind. It’s ideal to help you relieve dry, irritated and cracked skin while helping to soften skin. Fantastic for a relaxing massage.

6. Moisturize your body afterwards

Use a moisturizer on your freshly hydrated skin to keep the moisture in. Use one that continues your theme for a good night’s sleep by using a moisturizer that has essential oils that will not only help your dry skin but will also help you sleep better. My Body Lotion with Lavender and Fir is a perfect choice to not only help with skin; it can help relieve fatigue and has a sedative effect on the mind, body, and spirit. It can also help relieve any muscle aches and pains from your day. My Nourishing Whipped Body Butter has amazing moisturizing qualities and the essential oils are calming and relaxing too.

Well, there you have it, my six-step recipe for the perfect bedtime bath and great night’s sleep.

So clear your late-night schedule, put a Do Not Disturb sign up, and get your ambience on!!

To Your Health,

~ Lorraine