Escape and Unwind in the Comfort of Your Home

Throughout this year, we (Cold Brew Kombucha and Retro Denim Jacket) have been missing our spa time. That simple escape to a tranquil zone where you can forget about work and the world outside, and just focus on your mental and physical well-being. Seeing as this year has especially called for a bit of self care, and since we cannot go to the spa we decided we just have to unwind in the comfort of home and what better way than with a relaxing bath. Whether you still cannot get to a spa due to restrictions in your area or inclement weather, and are still looking for your escape, here are our favourite bath items and tips for you to relax and unwind in the comfort of your home.
Set the scene to unwind in the comfort of home
Capturing the essence of an at home escape starts with setting the scene. The right combination of sounds and scents is essential to creating a full sensory experience that will elevate your bath from everyday to escape. Create your own relaxing atmosphere with your favourite playlist or spa music and scented candles.
MUJI Tin Candles

All three of us in the hipster household are very sensitive to strong perfumes. As a result, Muji’s scented candles have become a household favourite. They offer a range of scents from strong classics to light aromas that do not overpower, so when it comes to spa scents they have you covered. When planning a relaxing bath, CBK loves to escape into a Japanese onsen theme, therefore tends towards their Hinoki candle, a fresh wood and moss aroma with with a hint of lemon and floral. Heritage Avocado Toast even enjoys the occasional scented candle when looking to unwind. His go to is the Green tea and Water mint, which has a light quintessential spa scent of sweet herbal tones.
Escape to your at home hot springs
Across the globe and throughout history, the health benefits and relaxing elements of hot springs and thermal baths have been recognised and utilised. The word spa even has its origins in this concept, coming from the Latin phrase Salus Per Aquam meaning “health through water”. Whether it is taking advantage of the Roman Baths around Europe, the onsens in Japan, or just the vast array of bath bombs at shops such as Lush, baths are universally acknowledged to be the best way to relax and rejuvenate. So it goes without saying that if you have a bathtub you have the perfect way to unwind in the comfort of home.
As a children we each loved baths, especially when we could use one of mom’s fancy bath oils or bubble baths. As we got older, we stopped taking the time for baths, rushing through showers. CBK found herself thinking about how she should take time for a bubble bath but rarely getting around the to it. On our last trip to Japan we stayed, quite by chance, at The Prince Park Tower Tokyo with not just a gorgeous view but also a fantastic tub and with all of the walking and dressing up we had been doing (it was Halloween), CBK was excited to take full advantage of the bath and the great bath salts available. If only we could also get the amazing jacuzzi jets in our home bath.

TABINO YADO Hot Springs Clear Bath Salts Assortment Pack From Kracie
This selection of Tabino Yado bath salts provide a selection of salts that capture the benefits of five Japanese spa districts, each with minerals to mimic the spa waters, scents and light colours to give a more complete sensory experience to your home spa. These salts include Beppu – moss and wood scent in light grass green, Shirahama – refreshing floral scent in a light teal, Hakona – herbal scent in bamboo green, Kusatsu – yuzu scent in lemon yellow, and Noboribetsu – calming floral scent in blossom yellow. As people who are often sensitive to scents, these bath salts are subtle and provide a relaxing experience that is not overpowering. The bath salt selection we have in the Hipster House is the clear selection, however they also offer a milky selection that represents a few other spa districts for more variety.
Epsom Salt

Sometimes it is the best to go back the basics. One of RDJ’s favourite additions to a spa like bath is plain epsom salt. The smell is not overpowering. This allows you to customise your experience with other scented things like candles without sacrificing the luxury of soothing water. If you like a scented bath, you are not confined to one scent and can add your own essential oils. For sensitive skin this plain one has no irritating additives, unlike many pre-packaged bath salts. As well as the benefit of being less expensive.
Relax and unwind with exfoliation
With the wide range of exfoliating and body treatments on offer to help you unwind, we would be remiss to not include them. Let’s face it, being pampered and coming away with super soft skin is one of the greatest parts of a spa treatment, so we decided to include two options. Exfoliation is a great DIY way to unwind in the comfort of home.
Konjac sponge
CBK got this sponge when looking for a replacement to the standard plastic loofahs. Konjac Sponges come in standard or infused with materials for a range of benefits including pore cleansing, refresh and revitalising, tightening and toning, radiant, calming. This red French clay version is meant to help brighten the skin and reduce uneven skin tone. Other versions are available to meet different skin needs.
Straight off this sponge has a weird texture so if you struggle with slightly slimy and squishy, this may not be the sponge for you. CBK found the texture rather fun and nice on the skin. Konjac Sponges can be used with or without soap, as they have unique skin benefits of their own. With the bath salts, we would recommend skipping a body wash, but if you do opt for it, this sponge helps make your soap go farther. This sponge has a light exfoliating effect, great for mimicking a spa style body scrub at home.
ORIGINS Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub
Speaking of body scrubs, if you want a scrub that is moisturising as well as exfoliating, the Origins Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub is it. The ginger fragrance is fresh and invigorating without being over powering. The sugars melt away easily leaving you with a moisturised but not slick feeling. This is a favourite all around the Hipster Household.
There is always time for a facial
Neither of us can go without a good facial, whether we do a simple version at home or go for a visit to our regular spa, Shoreditch Spa. They are an easy way to wind down and take time for yourself, while keeping your skin healthy. The best part is how easy it is to enjoy this mini facial while taking a relaxing soak. Although sheet masks and clay masks make up part of both CBK and RDJ’s weekly routines it does not make the experience any less luxurious. After all you should treat yourself to some you time regularly.
ORIGINS Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask

To kick off our mask session we head back to Origins and their Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask. We have always been big fans of the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, so when they introduced the Charcoal Honey Mask we were eager to give it a go. The addition of the fermented honey, which helps to nourish skin, means your face does not feel as tight after you remove the mask. It also turns an antiqued gold colour as it dries, which just feels super bouji.
TRUSELF ORGANICS Detoxifying Mask

There is nothing quite like a clay mask to invoke the feelings of being at a spa. Clay masks are really good for unclogging and keeping your pores clear. One of the best that we have found is the TruSelf Organics Detoxifying Mask. RDJ reports that it works at home miracles for her skin, from fighting blemishes to minimising the appearance of wrinkles. One of her favourite parts about it is that it comes in powder form. This allows it to keep longer, tailor the viscosity to your preference, and add whatever liquid you would like for your skin benefits. Her favourites are rose water or a little apple cider vinegar depending on that day’s skin needs. You’ll enjoy the meditative feel of mixing your own masks when looking to unwind.
Moisturising Sheet Masks

If we really want to pamper ourselves, we will follow a detoxing mask with a sheet mask. When looking at sheet masks that feel amazing for your skin, it is hard to miss the great brands from South Korea. For a luxurious, spa-like sheet mask CBK tends to choose from the moisturising category. Her absolute favourite is the Too Cool for School Coconut Oil Serum Mask. It is soothing and there is a noticeable improvement to your skin, it feels plumper and the fine lines are less noticeable.
Our other go to moisturising mask, especially after a flight, is an avocado sheet mask. RDJ usually uses the Face Shop Real Nature sheet mask but we have trouble getting a hold of these in London. If you cannot find Face Shop, Nature Republic and Holika Holika also make avocado masks that are available in the UK. It is a simple mask but helps when your skin feels dry.
HEIMISH Bulgarian Rose Hydrogel Eye Patches

Eye masks also are great for making the most of your home spa experience. The Heimish Bulgarian Rose Hydrogel Eye Patches as soothing and pretty, a clear pink with glitter, with a gorgeous rose scent. The hydrogels are very comfortable and can be left on for up to 30 minutes so you can pop them on and just zen out to some spa music. For an extra treat after a long week, late night, or hot summer day, pop the container in the fridge and enjoy a chilled version to extra depuffing.
Whatever the situation this winter, stay safe and be sure to take time to relax and unwind in the comfort of home. Let us know your favourite products and ways you take time for you. Also, if you want a tipple to enjoy while you relax, check out our libation library for some suggestions.
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