The Best and Worst Things to Add to Your Bath

If you have specific health concerns, consult your primary care doctor, gynecologist, or dermatologist before adding anything to your bath.

Transform your soak into a therapeutic experience with add-ins that are known for their muscle-soothing and skin-calming effects.

Epsom Salt

Bathing with Epsom salt “naturally reduces inflammation from either an injury or sore muscles,” says Raphael Kellman, MD, an integrative and functional medicine physician in New York City.

To reap these benefits, try adding about 1 ¼ cups of Epsom salt to your bath, opting for a product that contains 100 percent magnesium sulfate when possible.

Lavender Oil

Essential oils can easily elevate bath time, but choose them wisely, as some are too harsh for a soak. Luckily, lavender oil usually gets the all clear.

“Lavender oil promotes relaxation, soothes muscles, and helps reduce anxiety,” says Dr. Kellman.

Baking Soda

“Baking soda has detoxifying and pH-balancing actions, which can help balance out the essential oils used in bath salts,” says Dr. Kobets. It can help eliminate odors as well.

Oats

Add 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal to bathwater to soothe and moisturize skin.

Just because a bath product is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your skin. The following additives may lead to irritation, allergic reactions, or clogged pores.

Bath Bombs

“Bath bombs commonly contain questionable ingredients,” says Kellman, pointing to additives like artificial fragrances, which may cause hormone disruption, and dyes and artificial colorings, which can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.

“Abrasive chemicals, strong fragrances, and dyes often found in bath bombs can irritate and dehydrate your skin,” says Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with the New York Dermatology Group in New York City. “You may also end up covered in glitter, which can be difficult to remove and further irritate the skin.”

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is one of the essential oils that’s not suitable for a bath.

“The problem with adding an essential oil such as tea tree oil is that it’s super concentrated, and it is oil based, and oil and water do not mix,” says Dr. Castilla. “After you pour it into the bath, the essential oil just sits on top of the water. When the concentrated oil comes in contact with your skin, it’s likely to cause irritation.”

Bubble Bath

Bubbles aren’t inherently bad for you, but some bubble bath products include problematic ingredients, which is why dermatologists recommend checking labels thoroughly before using them.

“Bubble baths that include a lot of chemicals and artificial additives should be avoided,” says Kellman. “These [products] can be potentially irritating to the skin, especially if you’re prone to dry skin, allergic reactions, eczema, or psoriasis.”

Luckily, it’s easy to swap traditional bubble bath for a skin-safe body wash that still creates plenty of bubbles.

• Prioritize therapeutic, natural ingredients in your bath soaks like Epsom salt, lavender oil, colloidal oats, and baking soda to soothe muscles, calm inflammation, and moisturize your skin effectively.
• Exercise caution with popular additives like bath bombs and heavily fragranced bubble baths, as their dyes, perfumes, and chemical additives can easily cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
• Always dilute essential oils (like lavender) with a carrier oil before adding them to a bath, and avoid concentrated, irritating oils like tea tree oil, as they sit on the water’s surface and can irritate skin upon contact.