I Was Formerly in the Anti-Bath Club—This Is the Exact Bath-Time Routine That Converted Me

I’ve always loved the idea of baths. Leisurely soaking in the warm, sudsy water with a glass of wine and a lighthearted novel sounds wonderful… in theory. But in reality, filling up the tub just sounds like a lot of work to me. Why would I go to the trouble of drawing a hot bath when I’m perfectly content vegging on my couch during my chill time?

In January, I moved into a new apartment that happens to have a beautiful bathtub that would lend itself well to that wine and novel scenario, andddd… I still didn’t take any baths.

But, knowing I could benefit from a go-to activity that would actually help me relax (because let’s be honest, is scrolling social media on the couch really all that relaxing?), I was on a mission to instate a bath-time routine I’d stick to. Many months into being the proud owner—er, renter—of a pretty bathroom setup, I finally discovered the secret to becoming a bath person—and no, it’s not an aesthetically pleasing tub (though that doesn’t hurt).

It sounds simple, but that secret is all about finding the right bath products that make the whole experience, well, an ~experience~. For me, that’s Kneipp’s lineup of bath salts and oils that transform my tub into a small escape from my daily stressors—which requires only slightly more effort than plunking myself down on the couch, with way more payoff.

“Many anti-bathers think of bath soaks as a long time commitment they cannot accommodate into a busy schedule,” says Sohana Samanta, marketing director at Kneipp. “Not true! The physical and mental benefits of a warm water soak have been shown to take effect in as little as 15 minutes.”

Those benefits include creating a designated space for you to take a mental and physical break, but it’s more than that, she says. “Soaking in warm water with added mineral salt featuring beneficial trace elements and minerals can help soften skin, loosen tight muscles, and is proven to relax the mind and body,” Samanta says.

Each of the Kneipp bath-time essentials is geared toward a specific need—from sleep-promoting to muscle-relaxing—but for productivity lovers (*guilty as charged*) who want to get the most out of self-care time, Samanta actually encourages layering multiple types together.

“We often refer to this as a ‘Kneipp Cocktail,'” she says. “You can combine salts with salts, salts with oil, and so on.” A few of her favorite combos? Pairing Joint & Muscle Arnica Mineral Bath Salt with Refreshing Eucalyptus Herbal Bath Oil, as well as creating the ultimate mental-refresh duo by combining Goodbye Stress Water Mint & Rosemary Mineral Bath Salt and Refreshing Eucalyptus Bath Salt.

With her recommendations in tow, I mixed up my own Kneipp Cocktails, and got to soaking. Keep reading for the exact bath-time routine that finally turned me into a bath person.

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