Bath bombs can add a luxurious effect to your baths, while offering some skin benefits of their own. While they help create the perfect bath, what more should we know about what they do to the skin? Hear Dr. Alexandra Bowles’ insights on what steps we should be taking for the skin after a bath bomb. Read the full article in Byrdie!

How Long Should We Be in the Tub?

Staying in the bathtub for too long starts to strip away your skin’s natural oils and leaves the barrier feeling dry. To avoid this, try to limit your bath to around 10-15 minutes. This leaves just enough time to enjoy the fizz and fragrance without it overly-drying your skin. If you want to stay in longer, top the bath with cooler water to keep things gentle for your skin. This adjustment can help your skin stay soft and hydrated for longer after you towel off.

Balancing Bath Water’s pH

Our skin has a delicate pH that tap water isn’t always perfectly balanced for. This can affect how well the natural skin barrier holds up. Mixing in a tablespoon of baking soda will gently neutralize the water and help your skin retain its natural acidity! This not only maximizes the moisturizing benefits of your bath bomb’s oils and butters, but also reduces the chances of post-bath tightness or sensitivity.

A Quick Rinse

After your bath, taking a quick rinse in lukewarm water can help wash away any lingering dyes, fragrances, or shimmer that can sit on the skin and cause irritation. This is a step that Dr. Bowles always recommends, especially if you’re prone to breakouts or clogged pores on your chest, back, or arms. It is like a post-soak reset, which is refreshing and kind to your skin!