Home > In Focus > A closer look at Bath Products.
Summer (such as it was) has made way for autumn, and we start to think of replacing that refreshing shower with a long soak in a hot bath.
So I've been busy testing various natural and organic bath oils, soaks and other bath time products over the last few weeks and my opinions are shown below.
If you want to see a full list of the ingredients in any of the products, just click on the link which follows each review.
If you want to find out more about any individual product, or purchase it, just click on its image.
Oh, and just one (probably very obvious) note of caution - most of the bath oils, and the melt, can make the bath quite slippery - so do take extra care when getting in and out of it.
see our cosmetics industry information page for more about chemicals in skincare products.
see previous bodycare features:
body moisturisers, cleansers, shower gels, night creams and hand care.
Mother Earth
Delivery £3.95 to UK.
Simply Relaxing Body Soak
Retail price £9.99 for a 200g jar.
The delicious scent of lavender greets you as soon as you open the jar, and it gets further enhanced when the salts hit the water. After a 10 minute soak surrounded by real lavender flowers I felt cleansed and relaxed.
What I liked best: gorgeous fragrance.
Cloud Nine Bath & Massage Oil
Retail price £11.75 for a 100ml bottle.
This has a fresh citrus fragrance from neroli and tangerine essential oils. Mother Earth recommend it to help soothe and repair sensitive skin, and I found it left my skin (even the dry bits on my elbows, knees and feet feeling soft and moisturised. I particularly liked it as a massage oil, as it isn't too greasy.
What I liked best: moisturising without being greasy.
The Natural Skincare Company
Caribbean Blue Spa Exotiques Age-defying Massage Oil.Retail price £12.95 for a 4oz bottle. Delivery £2.50 to UK.
A lovely moisturising oil with an exotic feminine fragrance from clary sage, lavender, patchouli and ylang ylang. Although its marketed mainly as a massage oil it also disperses quite well in a hot bath, leaving skin feeling soft and pampered; and it can also be used as a make-up remover.
What I liked best: versatile.
Nothing Nasty
Delivery £3.95 to UK.
Rose & Calendula Bath Salts.
Retail price £12.50 for a 650g jar.
Soothing bath salts with the luxurious addition of real dried rose and calendula petals and rose essential oil. After a 10 minute soak I felt calm and relaxed, and my skin felt surprisingly soft.
What I liked best: doesn't dry skin out.
Bliss Sensual Body Moisturiser.
Retail price £12.50 for a 100ml bottle.
Before adding this oil to the bath I mixed it with roughly the same amount of milk (which helps to disperse the oil). Although the fragrance from Jasmine and Sandalwood essential oils is not to my taste, I was very pleased with the effect it had on my skin, which felt soft and smooth, but not greasy. Can also be used as a massage oil and (as the name suggests) body moisturiser.
What I liked best: non-greasy.
NB contains sandalwood essential oil (see the article Spotlight on the trade in wild plants by Chrissie Wildwood for more information). However, Nothing Nasty have advised that their Sandalwood oil comes from plantation trees in Australia, and has been obtained ethically.
Neal's Yard Remedies
Delivery £4.00 to UK.
Soothing Bath Oil
Retail price £10.00 for a 100ml bottle.
This is a clear oil which disperses into the bath leaving the water milky. The delicious fragrance of lavender, geranium, bergamot, palmarosa and cypress oils relaxes and soothes you, and skin is left feeling soft and moisturised.
What I liked best: an oil that doesn't make the bath too slippery.
Seaweed & Arnica Foaming Bath
Retail price £10.00 for a 200ml bottle.
This golden-coloured foam bath has a fresh fragrance that would appeal equally to men and women. It produces lots of long-lasting bubbles, and leaves skin feeling soft, clean and refreshed. Neal's Yard Remedies recommend it when you're feeling tired or over-exerted.
What I liked best: Long lasting bubbles.
Spiezia Organics
Essential Bath Oil. Soil Association certified 100% organic. Retail Price £20.00 for a 100ml bottle. Delivery £5.00 to UK.
A relaxing bath oil with a fresh feminine fragrance from ylang-ylang, lavender, elderflower, lime flower, rose petals and sweet orange. Just a teaspoon added to the bath leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
What I liked best: lovely fragrance and deeply moisturising.
Balanced Living
Cottons Bath & Beauty Relax Me Bath Sprinkle .Retail Price £6.99 for a 150g tin. Delivery £2.25 to UK.
Sprinkle 2 scoops under hot running water to create a milky moisturising bath with a delicate sweet fragrance (I also tried just 1 scoop, but it was barely noticeable in the water). It comes in a silver-coloured tin with a wooden scoop and a tealight.
What I liked best: not too many rose petals, so you don't come out of the bath covered in them!
The Natural Spa Company
Retail Price £7.99 for each 250ml bottle. Delivery £2.95 to UK.
Eucalyptus & Juniper Bath / Shower Gel
A concentrated gel with a light fresh fragrance from eucalyptus and juniper essential oils. Produces loads of bubbles, but they didn't last more than 5 minutes - although I do live in a hard water area, so they may last longer if your water is softer. However it left my skin feeling cleansed and refreshed. Great if you're suffering from a cold or flu.
Patchouli & Lavender Body Wash
Another concentrated gel, this time with a more feminine fragrance. Not quite as many bubbles as the eucalyptus & juniper gel above, but they did last a little longer. Great for relaxing and de-stressing at bedtime.
What I liked best: can also be used as shower gels.
NatureSense
Lavera Organic Wildrose Bath Sea Salts.Retail price £1.95 for a 80g packet. Delivery £2.95 to UK.
These bath salts contain 'Flor de Sal' a high quality Sea Salt from the Algarve and have a lovely feminine rose fragrance. They leave skin feeling pampered and surprisingly soft.
What I liked best: don't dry skin out, as some bath salts can.
Chery Lin Skin Therapy
Sweet Mint Bath Salts.Retail price £12.35 for a 250g jar. Delivery free to UK.
These bath crystals have a lovely refreshing spearmint fragrance, so they're great for relieving congested sinuses. A great pick-me-up after a long day at work, and it won't dry your skin.
What I liked best: yummy fragrance.
Visionary Soap Company
Geranium Rose Bath Melt. Retail price £1.75 each. Delivery free to UK.
A delicately fragranced shea-butter bath melt. Very easy to use - just drop the muslin pouch under running water. Remember to remove the pouch before getting in the bath, and you'll be able to use it again. The shea butter is highly moisturising so, unless your skin is particularly dry, you shouldn't need to moisturise afterwards.
What I liked best: moisturising, but non-greasy on the skin.
© Ethical Earth Limited November 2007
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