There’s nothing quite like getting home from a long, hard day at work and filling a bath with bubbles. It may seem like a luxury but nevertheless, both the psychological and physiological benefits can’t be overlooked. Bubble baths are known to not only improve stress levels and overall mood but can also reap muscle-relaxing properties. As if that wasn’t enough there’s also environmental perks to taking a bath. If you’re anything like me, you let the shower head stream water until it runs cold. While little compares to a long, steamy shower, going the bath route has the potential to save a surprising amount of water. (This rule obviously only applies if your showers are of substantial length).

Many people marvel at the sight of adding an ounce of bubble bath under running water. The amount of bubbles created from such a small amount of runny liquid is indeed eye candy (for those who enjoy these kinds of things). But let’s just back up for a minute: What is the point of bubble baths? Are there any benefits? And why is it best, as always, to take the natural route?

How Your Skin Reacts In The Bath

What happens to your skin in the bath?

Your skin is not only your biggest organ but is also pretty complex in and of itself. It’s essentially the armor that protects everything inside of your body. The problem (and blessing) is that the epidermis is not an impenetrable shield. The substances that we put onto our skin get absorbed by the epidermis into the body and eventually the bloodstream. This is mostly a good thing, for instance if you need to apply a topical treatment or want to soothe the skin from the inside out. But it means you have to be extra careful of what you put on your skin. It should come as no surprise that the longer you’re exposed to something, the more likely it is to be absorbed into the body. Insert one-hour bubble bath here and you can see why we might have a problem.

Bubble baths may initially seem harmless – and they can be – but it’s important to be aware of fragrances, dyes and other harmful ingredients that can be found in your chemical-based bubbles. Going for an natural formula means that not only will the ingredients not harm your skin or body, but they have the ability to nourish your skin from within.

The Importance Of Bubbles

Bubbles are not just for fun.

The truth is that putting less bubbles in your bath just won’t have the same effect. If you ask me, it’s like washing the dishes without soap or shampooing your hair without a lather. Those suds are what gives you the cleanliness. This concept isn’t only psychological but has scientific reasoning behind it. A bathtub full of water alone won’t wash away the dirt and oil unless the water is soaked so it can break it down. The bubble bath creates molecular structure bonds which bind to the air creating a breakdown of foam. This foam then breaks down when the soil is added to the water. Essentially, the bubbles are what ‘cleans’ you. Water alone won’t do a thorough job.

An active ingredient (there are many different ones; it depends on the bubble bath) is responsible for causing this to happen. It’s pretty simple, but you should be very cautious when picking out a bubble bath for men, women, or children. Our skin partially absorbs the stuff we put on to our bodies. This makes it crucial to know what you’re literally soaking yourself in. You think that you’ve prepared the bath to feel like pure bliss – until you read the ingredients label that is.

DIY Bubble Bath Recipe

You can ensure that you’re making the most of your bubbles is by making your own! Most of what we put onto our skin is eventually absorbed into the bloodstream so it’s important to be careful with what we put on ourselves. With this in mind, why not try a DIY bubble bath so that you can know exactly what’s going into your bath.

Mix ½ cup of warm distilled water and ½ cup liquid castile soap. Follow up with ¼ cup of vegetable glycerin and 30 drops of the essential oils of your choice. My favorite essential oil combo for a soothing bubble bath is a mixture of lavender, chamomile and frankincense essential oils. Lavender is renowned for its ability to increase sleep quality, reduce anxiety and calm the mind. Meanwhile chamomile essential oil promotes healthy skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile also calms the central nervous system via a compound called apigenin that can result in a sedative effect. The frankincense essential oil promotes healthy digestion and has the potential to reduce anxiety and stress. Now that you know all the amazing benefits, just pour some into your bath as needed and relax!

Maple Holistics Eucalyptus Bubble Bath Review

If you’re not sure where to begin on your bubble bath adventure, then our very own Maple Holisitics Eucalyptus Bubble Bath might be the place to start. When you add this to your bath immediately after turning on the faucet, you’ll get a substantial amount of bubbles and sweet scent. It feels like immersing yourself in nourishment. Let go of physical and psychological pressure to give yourself that all-round spa experience. Our formula is silicone, paraben and cruelty free so there’s really nothing to worry about when it comes to quality.

Now that you know that you can’t go wrong with a Maple Holisitics Eucalyptus Bubble Bath let’s take a closer look at the ingredients to really understand why it’s as good as it sounds. The presence of Aloe Vera means that the bubbles serve as a moisturizer., as well as a healing agent. Aloe has been touted for centuries for its ability to speed up the healing process, nourishing the skin from within. Moving onto the namesake of this product: Eucalyptus. The health benefits of this oil are extensive. Not only is it used as a an antibacterial, but it is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties to relax your muscles. Combine this with its aromatherapy qualities and you’ve got yourself a bubble winner.

Ingredients To Look Out For

It’s important to know what you’re putting in your tub.

Several ingredients commonly found in bubble baths can put a damper on your bathing bliss. Not only are we dealing with an industry that’s rife with green-washing, but many products in the personal care industry contain ingredients that we wouldn’t go near with a ten-foot pole. The problem is that often you’re completely unaware of what you should be looking out for, let alone why these ingredients are no-no’s.

No-go ingredients include anything containing SLS which sucks the moisture out of your skin with its aggressive drying properties. Whilst this is often what creates that luxurious lather it’s not all that great to be soaking in the bath with it. You also want to avoid anything that has “fragrance” on the ingredients label. Fragrance is not an ingredient, so be aware that something fishy is going on when you use anything containing it. Lastly, be on the lookout for phthalates. We use this substance as a fragrance-enhancer but it can also interfere with our regular hormone functioning. As if that wasn’t bad enough phthalates are also toxic to the environment and wildlife. Looking out for these three ingredients will have you on the right track to improving your bubble-bathing experience. But it’s really only the tip of the iceberg in terms of going au-natural in your products.

Conclusion

Bubbles are not just for fun or aesthetics, they have real potential to ‘clean’ your skin. But this means that it’s important to know exactly what kind of ‘cleaning product’ you’re using. When done correctly baths have the ability to moisturize the skin and slough off dead skin cells.  They can also help to alleviate muscle pain and other physical benefits. With so much to gain, reading some labels seems like a small price to pay.

If, like me, you’re not ready to give up bubble baths just yet then you’ll be glad to know you don’t have to.  Every chemical-based product has a natural alternative. This means that you’re able to limit your skins exposure to anything harmful being absorbed into the body. Contact dermatitis, dry skin, and eczema are some of the milder side effects which can result from the consistent use of harmful ingredients. Make sure that the bubbles that you’re using are from a reliable source and look out for those who don’t highlight their ingredients. There’s no reason why bath time should be irritating and allergy-stimulating, instead of fluffy, comfortable and relaxing. The bottom line is that if you want to truly enjoy your bubble bath and nourish your skin from within, the natural option might just be the best option.