17 Bath Products to Make Your Tub Into a Delightful Oasis 2023 | SELF

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Back when I was a naive teen, I made fun of my mom for taking frequent baths, but now I deeply understand the therapeutic joys of a good soak. As a part-time fitness instructor and full-time stressed-out city dweller, I go to my bathtub multiple times a week as some go to their yoga mats: humble, sore, and in search of emotional and physical relief.

Being a Bath Person is a lifestyle, and I’m here to guide you on your bath journey. In addition to the classic bath products—candles, soaks, body care products, yada yada—I’m inviting you to consider adding a few more unexpected products to your collection, because bathing should be an experience. Ahead, find all of the bath products I can’t stop recommending, whether you want your tub time to feel like a rave, a writing (or book) club, a cinema, or a Turkish bathhouse.

Amazon

Bathtubs are simply not built for human heads, as evidenced by every single tub I’ve soaked in. My neck gets sore very quickly, and that’s just not the vibe I’m going for when I’m trying to have a relaxing soak. This inflatable bath pillow cradles your head so you can relax those muscles, and it makes reading in the tub a lot more comfortable. The suction cups on the back of this pillow hold it in place, and the terry fabric is a lovely addition. It’s so comfortable, you may even start to doze off.

Amazon

Having candles lit for your soak is one thing, but what about tossing a few of these waterproof, color-changing LED tea lights in the bath to go full party mode? For the times when you want to bathe but you have plans later and don’t want to feel sluggish, add them in, turn up the music, and rock it out. Bonus: These also work if you have a pool or hot tub.

Target

I’m a self-proclaimed big-Epsom-salt gal, and the Relax and Relief variety from Dr. Teal’s is my top choice; it’s scented with eucalyptus and spearmint, and it comes at a pretty low price point. Heads up: I pour about half as much as the package actually says to, as it’s pretty potent. For an extra spa moment, take a handful of the salts and use them as a body scrub after your soak, as they can be helpful in sloughing dead skin cells and unclogging pores, as SELF previously reported.

Amazon

Here, a storage container intended for rice and cereal, that works even better for your giant bags of Epsom salts. It has a five-pound capacity, plus a measuring cup for the perfect scoop.

Amazon

This handy waterproof notepad will make sure you never forget your genius shower thoughts. You can even submerge it without messing up your writing, so don’t stress if you drop it in the tub. Perhaps now you can stop dragging your laptop into the bathroom and risk any type of electrocution situation? Please.

Amazon

I usually prefer making my bathtime a no-phone zone, but sometimes duty (read: Twitter, the group chat, and my growing list of online articles to read) calls. In that case, consider one of these handy waterproof phone pouches, which you might already have lying around for your vacations or camping adventures. These things are endlessly useful.

Amazon

Before judging me, pause. What doesn’t sound absolutely delightful about doodling while you’re in the tub? These beeswax-based crayons might be intended for kids, but when inspiration strikes, might as well have ’em around! I’ve also found them surprisingly easy to wipe clean after my soak.

Amazon

Rachel Miller, SELF’s editor in chief, recommends using a bath thermometer to figure out your water temperature sweet spot. This one is not only adorable, but it’s engineered for water. It flashes a warning when the water is too hot or cold for babies, but you can ignore that if, say, you’re getting into cold plunging. Once you find your ideal temp, all future baths will be less of a guessing game.

Uncommon Goods

Bath trays that reach all the way across the tub make me feel claustrophobic. Because of that, I’ve invested in this innovative bamboo swivel tray, which I attached to the inside of my tub. It has a small footprint (about a foot and a half long) and easily fits my tea, book, and phone.

Amazon

If a bath tray isn’t your thing, treat your bathtub like a pool. This floating foam tray holds it all (but be careful with electronics), from your cup of tea to your bowl of snacks. As for its weight capacity, some reviewers say it holds four cans of beer no problem.

Amazon

I don’t have a window in my bathroom, so when I get too warm in the tub, I either have to run cold water over my pressure points or get out of the bath entirely. I’m ashamed to admit that it took me until a few months ago to think about adding a fan, but wow, has it changed everything. This portable one has bendy arms to attach to anything in your bathroom, plus three intensity levels and an adjustable fan head. (Just avoid attaching it to anything on or in your tub so you don’t run into any safety problems.)

Dame

Dame

Next time you’re home alone or taking a bath with your partner, may I suggest bringing a sex toy with you? It’s a nice way to add variety to your regular solo sessions, and can make you feel more relaxed and sleepy before bed. Dame is my go-to vibrator brand, and this one is at the top of my list. It’s totally waterproof, works for internal G-spot stimulation or external clitoral stimulation, and has five intense, rumbly vibration levels.

Parachute

Parachute

This crisp waffle bathrobe from Parachute reminds me of the hotel robes that I’m always tempted to stuff in my bag before leaving. While I enjoy a plush, blanket-like robe, I’m always pretty toasty after a bath, so this lightweight, knee-length one is what I often reach for. It has a breathable weave that feels simply luxurious on my skin.

JBL

Amazon

I’ve had a waterproof JBL speaker for years, and it has never let me down. I stick it in the corner of my tub to get some echo action, and it connects to my phone or iPad via Bluetooth. Whether I’m listening to the latest sad, gay record from Boygenius or leaning into the aforementioned rave vibe with my guy Tiesto, this speaker does an excellent job at setting the mood. It doesn’t get party-level loud, but c’mon, is your bathroom really that big? (If so, can I visit?)

Space NK

Diptyque

A candle (or 20) is key to setting the mood for your bath. As a fan of medicinal, herbal scents, I deeply appreciate Diptyque’s eucalyptus candle. It adds a subtle, but bright aroma to the bathroom, and it comes in a beautiful vessel (that I clean out and reuse once the candle burns down). Diptyque products are an investment for sure, but there’s a reason the entire internet raves about them.

Amazon

One of the first times I ever visited New York City with my mom (more than 12 years ago), we stumbled upon Sabon, a divine little soap shop. The store had a massive sink in the middle where you could try out any product, and when we sampled this Lavender Apple body scrub, it was love at first touch. We’ve both been using the scrub regularly since that day. The scent is zesty and powerful (you’ll smell good until your next shower), and the rich oils help to soften my freshly exfoliated skin and keep it from drying out.

Otherland

This candle from Otherland’s core collection is one of my eternal staples. Besides its beautiful design, this musky candle smells like sandalwood and walnut to create a grounding, earthy aroma. It burns clean too, so I don’t notice black ash stains on my bathroom walls.

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