I Have a Bath Every Single Night and Have Invented the Perfect Routine

One of the key observations that I have made throughout my time as a beauty editor is that there are really only two different types of people: those who shower and those who bathe. Those who shower find it easy to wake up an hour earlier than necessary before work to refresh their body (and their senses) with a zingy shower gel before they start the day full-steam ahead. Those who bathe, on the other hand, might instead opt for a long, indulgent soak as a means to unwind at the end of the day. I fall into the latter category.

I struggle with the fact that I’m not a shower person, and I think this is down to the fact that people can be quite protective over their washing method. Because that’s the truly bizarre thing about these two types of people: They absolutely can’t understand how on Earth anyone could ever possibly want to have it the other way. Therefore, whenever I tell someone that I am, in fact, a bath person, I’m often met with a bunch of reasons as to why bathing is much worse than showering. It’s more wasteful, you’re sitting in your own dirt, it can irritate skin, it’s way too time-consuming, etc.

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(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

But the truth is, after years of trying to be a shower person, the last year or so has seen me fully embrace bathing. In fact, it’s safe to say that if I swap out my nightly bath for a shower, it throws my rhythm and I struggle to sleep. Now, my nightly bath has become as much a part of my beauty regimen as cleansing my face or applying SPF.

Really, a bath to me is so much more than a way to get clean. It’s become a sort of mediation—a timeout if, you will. As time has gone on, I’ve adopted different rituals for different needs because if there’s one thing I’ve learned about baths, it’s that there’s a soak for everything. In fact, now I believe there is very little that can’t be solved with a well-curated bathing routine. If I’m feeling down in the dumps, I’ll reach for a super-nourishing soak and feel comforted, or if I’m desperate for a good night’s sleep, I’ll be sure to add in my most sleep-inducing salts.

So if you consider yourself a shower person but you struggle to switch off come evening, I urge you to give a curated bath a go. But if you’re still not convinced, don’t take my word for it. Keep scrolling for all there is to know about the benefits of bathing, including the best soaks out there.

The Benefits of a Bath

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(Image credit: @THATSCHIC)

Besides the fact it’s a very relaxing way to clean yourself and warm water often helps soothe aching muscles, the benefits of a bath stretch way beyond the physical. Acupuncturist, aromatherapist and healing holistic facialist Annee de Mamiel explains: "Your skin releases endorphins in response to the soothing warm water in the same way that endorphins are released when you feel the sun on your skin.” And the positive power of endorphins is something that can’t be ignored.

In fact, a recent study by a German university found that a 30-minute soak in a bath 40ºC or higher every afternoon or evening can dramatically improve mental well-being. "Interestingly in this study, those who bathed daily scored three points better on the depression scale than those who had been asked to do 45 minutes of aerobic exercise a week,” explains Annee.

Choosing the Right Soak

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(Image credit: @EMMAHOAREAU)

When it comes to selecting a bath soak, choosing the right one for your mood is actually a lot more impactful than you might think. Thanks to the powerful sway of aromatherapy, the bath soak that you choose is of vital importance. Annee says: "Aromatherapy oils are able to affect the way we feel because they affect the limbic system—easing stress, anxiety or invigorating. Each oil has its own chemistry which is able to impact us in a different way—fragonia for circadian rhythm, green scents for cortisol, vetiver to ground.” 

It turns out it’s not just the smell that makes a difference. The actual ingredients can also have an impact on the way that we feel. "What you put in the bath can be as therapeutic as the actual bath itself. Different salts have varying minerals which can rebalance the body as well as aiding things like inflammation, muscle soreness and softening skin,” says Annee.

Shop the Best Bath Soaks

To Nourish

To Soothe

To Sleep

To Destress:

Next up, the 10 products our editors rely on for a good night's sleep.

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Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is the beauty director at Who What Wear UK. With over ten years of experience working for some of the beauty industry’s most esteemed titles, including Marie Claire, Glamour UK, Stylist and Refinery29, Shannon’s aim is to make the conversation around beauty as open, relatable and honest as possible. As a self-confessed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for hard-working perfumes, fool-proof makeup products and does-it-all skincare.