We here at SLAB Handcrafted Soap Company take baths all year round because of the many health benefits. But for those of you who wait until it gets a tad bitty chillier before popping in that bathtub stopper, or who wait until your nose is all stuffed up, your time has come! The nights are getting longer and cold and flu season has begun, so now is the time to bathe yourself silly.

We’ll break down the health benefits of baths and our best bath bombs to combat sickness – what they’re good for, which of our essential oils they contain, and praise from our customers who use them. So sit back, relax, and soak up some soothing oils this evening. As if you needed an excuse…

Bath Benefits

Whether you are sick or just in the need of some extra TLC, a nice, hot bath will leave you feeling oh so good. The peace and quiet you get while bathing reduces stress and anxiety associated with being sick or with a hectic life. Get that calm comfort you need by taking some time for yourself – by yourself – in a bath. In addition to catering to your stress level and mental health, a warm, hour-long bath also provides physical health benefits. These include better blood sugar control, more calorie burning than a 30-minute walk, increased heart health and improved circulation, and lower blood pressure.

Additionally, when you’re sick, a soak in the tub helps you begin to breathe easier as the steam clears up a stuffy nose or sinus problems. A warm bath also loosens up anything yucky in your chest and works to kill the bacteria associated with your sickness. Baths can improve your immunity towards catching unwanted bugs later as well. So, soothe your cold and flu symptoms with a bath. You'll feel and look better because hot water opens up your pores and causes you to sweat out anything harmful within – the body’s all-natural way of cleansing itself.

Plus, you can add good for you ingredients like essential oils and nourishing oils to your bath. Added to a bath, oils seep more easily into your open pores, allowing the healing to begin. So, where can you find your best bets to add to a bath if you’re feeling blue, or under the weather? We've got you covered. 

Bath Bombs: the Added Ingredient 

A nice long soak in the tub is good for you whether or not you’re coming down with an illness, and adding in a bath bomb full of healthy essential oils will make your bath even more worth your while. However, the following bath bombs are especially good for those unfortunate times you catch the sniffles, or worse.

Get Well Soon Bath Bomb

Our tubs aren't the only thing heating up this time of year – it’s also cold and flu season. If you happen to catch a bug, our Get Well Soon Bath Bomb will get you back on your feet, well, soon! Full of feel-better essential oils like grapefruit, peppermint, and eucalyptus, this bath bomb is just what the doctor ordered to rejuvenate your body. Our Grapefruit Essential Oil uplifts your mood and purifies your body while the Peppermint Essential Oil clears up sinus issues and soothes away any aches and pains. Eucalyptus Essential Oil also aids the opening of your airways to provide relief from colds and other respiratory ailments. Our Eucalyptus Essential Oil also helps to relieve the tension sickness can cause in your body. Lay back and soak up all these essential oils to feel good as new, fast. Our customers certainly do:

“I tried this one with a bad cold and right away the scents cleared my sinuses and were calming and healing to breathe. Next I started to feel the coolness of the peppermint mixed with the warmth of the bath and it was delightful and soothing. As bad as it feels to get sick, at least I now have this bomb to look forward to next time!” 

— Halina K.

Muscle Soother Bath Bomb

Fizz-iotherapy at its best, our Muscle Soother Bath Bomb is great for body aches. Within this bath bomb is our Clove Essential Oil which relieves achy, overworked muscles. Added Peppermint Essential Oil tingles as you relax. We even sprinkled in olive leaves to each batch we handmake. Olive leaves heal the body and speed up your recovery from aches and pains. A hint of vanilla puts your mind at ease, knowing that this ache-busting ball will soothe your sore or sickly muscles quickly, just like our customers say:

“Love this bath bomb. I used it when my muscles were aching and it worked. Gave a cooling effect after I got out of the tub which was nice. Allowed me to lay down and nap. A total thumbs up! I simply love slabs bath bombs” – Natalie S.

Hibiscus Detox Bath Bomb

Detox your illness away with the combined power of matcha green tea and hibiscus in our Hibiscus Detox Bath Bomb. The hibiscus petals combat free radical damage while steeped green tea leaves your body feeling comfortable and calm. We add myrtle essential oil, which is an antimicrobial expectorant and decongestant that can also help to relieve stress. 

“...Lately, my legs have been itchy and irritated; they get that way a lot and I have to watch what I use on my legs. Well when I used this bath bomb I could feel the oils on my skin, but it felt good. I decided to shave my legs, which we all knows irritates the skin more. Usually my legs are dry and burn after I shave but they feel so soft and they don’t look as red as they did earlier. I’m really digging this bath bomb and I’m looking for more to try.” – Jade T.

Pick Me Up Bath Bomb

Pick up one of our Pick Me Up Bath Bombs on those days when you’re feeling sluggish or foggy. The uplifting and anti-inflammatory scent of Lemongrass Essential Oil combined with our rejuvenating Ginger Essential Oil – which eases nausea and indigestion – will make you feel much better, stat. Added turmeric powder also soothes away any aches and pains preventing you from enjoying your day. 

The Common Denominator

While you don’t want to be doing math when you’re feeling sick, all of our bath bombs have one thing in common: they are loaded with nourishing base ingredients like:

• Baking Soda
• Jojoba Oil
• Argan Oil
• Rosehip Oil

Baking soda gently exfoliates your skin to revive and keep you feeling fresh out of the tub. It can relieve itchiness from eczema and is great for scalp issues, so dunk away! Jojoba oil is often touted as a holy grail oil because it really helps get your skin in tip-top shape. It's great for when your skin is dull or flaky during a cold as it will calm those flakes down. Argan oil, also known as “liquid gold,” is a skin soother, skin smoother, and aids in healing your skin. It's especially good for the red and flaky nose you can get when constantly reaching for a tissue. Bath bombs with Argan oil will fully moisturize and leave your skin with a healthy glow.

Last but not least, Rosehip oil helps to calm inflammation and trap in hydration. An all-around great addition to your bath water, this oil is high in linoleic acid – an essential fatty acid – which is better for skin that's prone to acne and pore-clogging. Full of Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A, Rosehip oil helps fight free radical damage, and Vitamin A specifically increases cell turnover. It also evens out your skin tone and is great for fine lines. What's not to love?

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Be sure you're fully stocked up on these bath bombs for those times an illness catches you off guard. Speaking of guards... or gourds... Halloween is coming up, and you never know if your kiddos (or you!) will bring home more than candy. The arduous process of trick or treating can result in quite a few sniffles, and all that door-to-door knocking and walking can certainly tire out your muscles. Stop by to pick up a few bath bombs if you're in the Salem area, or else order online for discounted shipping!