Was Cleopatra on to something?

As legend has it, and who am I to disagree with legend, one of the things Cleopatra was famous for were her milk baths.

Legend has it that the Nile was too contaminated to bathe in and after all, she was a queen and deserved the very best, as we all do. Turns out the very best at that time was donkey milk. In fact, as legend has it, she made sure she traveled with a pack of donkeys so that she never ran out of milk. And it was said that it took 700 donkeys to produce the milk for one bath! What was it about bathing in donkey milk, and sour milk to bat? Sour milk contains lactic acid which helps to exfoliate the skin, resulting in rough free smooth skin. Added to the milk was honey and essential oils. And after bathing, it's been said she may have applied moisturizing cream, consisting of more essential oils and royal jelly.

There are lots of reasons to plunk yourself into a "not too hot" hot bath at the end of the day. Of course, the obvious is that baths are relaxing. It's a place to escape stress which in turn improves our mood. Muscle and joint pain love a good soak. The heat from the bath can improve blood flow to your muscles, which can help them relax and provide greater mobility. Adding Epsom salts help treat aliments like swollen feet, sprains and bruises. Baths can help us breath better, especially if we have a stuffy nose or bad cough. How? A hot bath can expand the windpipe, which can push out mucus from our nose and allow us to take in more oxygen. Baths can help us sleep better by stimulating the production of a key sleep hormone, melatonin. And did you know that a good sweat during a bath can burn as many calories as taking a 30-minute walk? There has also been some research that regular baths contribute to good heart health by lowering blood pressure. And of course, the skin benefits. Baths help remove dead skin, open pores, cause a little sweating, which all help to cleanse the skin and help it stay hydrated. Adding some soothing sounding music further enhances the entire experience.

Fast forward to present day. Since we don't have nor do we want to walk around with 700 donkeys, there are lots of other options to give us a "Cleopatra Experience". To start, here's a recipe you can put together at home, reminiscent of the queen herself!

Cleopatra Milk Bath Recipe

2 cups of milk powered or regular

1/2 oz of lavender essential oil or a fragrance of your choosing.

1 cup of Epsom Salt

1 cup of Sea Salt

1/2 c baking soda

(you can also add a little honey)

Mix all of this together well. No lumps. Scoop 1/2 cup of the mixture into a briskly running water bath. You can add some seasonal flowers and you're to feel like a Queen!

Besides the "create yourself milk bath" here are a couple of tried-and-true bath products that will deliver the ultimate bath experience!

1. Kneipp Pure Bliss Bath Salt. These salts are amazing. They contain red poppy and hemp, known for relaxing the body and mood boosting. They are all natural, thermal spring salts that are loaded trace elements and minerals, intended to relax your body and smooth the skin. And that's exactly what they do! No donkey milk needed!

2. Kneipp Red Poppy & Hemp Herbal Bath Oil, Pure Bliss Soak Here's Kneipp's description of this oil. "Have the “Monday Blues”? In need of a mental detox? Soak for 15-20 minutes in the intoxicating aroma of Red Poppy and Hemp essential oils. Known traditionally as a mental sedative, Red Poppy, in this unique combination with relaxing Hemp, takes the edge off a stressful day letting your mind float off to a serene, dream-like place. Also perfect for a romantic night in! Transform your bath with the healing powers of water combined with plant and herbal essential oils blended to promote better overall health". Sound too good to be true. Well, I've tried both and they are both fabulous! FYI, Kneipp is a 125-year-old German naturopathic bath and body line that was started by a Priest. Naturopath delivers therapeutic results.

3. PHYTOMER Natural Seaweed Soap Bar Since were not using donkeys' milk or any other exfoliant, Phytomer's seaweed bar soap with marine algae particles, is an invigorating soap that gently scrubs the skin to eliminate dead cells, resulting in glowing, refreshed, softer skin.

4. OGX Sensitive + Pink Sea Salt & Rosewater Sulfate-Free Soothing Body Scrub This liquid body soap is a lightweight scrub that contains note of pink orange, black plum and ginseng., plus rosewater and pink sea salt. From the description it sounds good enough to eat! It gives a light exfoliation and claims to nourish the skin with calming rosewater and lightly buffing sea salt. It exfoliates, it hydrates and has fantastic reviews. Can't beat the price. Definitely one to try!

5. Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes This is described as a transformative, timeless bath blend. If you are looking to take Epsom salts up a notch, try this. Especially when you’re relieving muscle aches, easing stress or headaches, calming overactive nerves, or preparing for a better night’s sleep. The company claims the main difference between their magnesium bath flakes and Epsom salts relate to bioavailability (absorption) and concentration. It's good for the whole family and people love it! And so do I!

6. One with Nature Pure Dead Sea Salt I've had the good fortune to go to the Dead Sea and besides being able to float weightlessly, the salts are said to have non less than magical powers. According to the company, their salts are sourced directly from the dead sea, which is known for its high mineral content. Medical studies have shown that pure dead sea salts have positive effects on skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. You get a tub of salts for a reasonable price. I think you'll love them, just don't expect to float!

7. Kneipp Relaxing Lavender Aromatherapy Bubble Bath A bubble bath with essential oils that's. calming and purifying. This brand is known for quality, and their bubble bath is no different. It's not just the bubbles but a holistic bath experience that transforms you to a spa in some faraway place. If you like beautiful colorful bubbles (and these are long lasting) and you want that feeling of being taken away to a magical place, try this! Dr Teal's Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt is another choice at a lower price point. The scent isn't as strong as Kneipp but the bubbles are top notch!

8. LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs I cannot do a post on a bath without mentioning bath bombs and these bombs are the BOMB! There are 12 uniquely handcrafted bath bombs, made in California (my other hometown❤️️️) with all natural ingredients. They're therapeutic, moisturizing and adorable. What more is there to say? They're already in my cart! (Couldn't resist:))

9. TULA Skin Care Take Care + Polish - Revitalize & Cleanse Body Exfoliator Why is this good? Tula combines powerful probiotic extracts and skin superfoods to achieve healthy, balanced and glowing skin. It's an instant refresh for the body that deeply cleanses & buffs away dull skin with lemon peel & hibiscus flower acid, improving the look of skin texture & tone. It also contains those AHAs which help skin appear brighter.

10. Capri Blue Volcano Scented Candle - Blue Signature Jar Candle The color alone makes me feel relaxed, but the scent is, well this is how its described. "Capri Blue Volcano is the perfect blend of tropical fruits and sugared citrus. Like the excitement and energy of a summer night rendezvous, this fragrance is simply unforgettable" I've had other candles from this company, and they have all been divine. This one is going to come home to me today!

There you have it. No donkey milk but tons of great alternatives to get you into your tub! Don't forget to moisturize with something luxurious like this from Quai or this from TATCHA whose users describe as "the best moisturizer in the game".

Will we all wind up looking like Cleopatra? Nope. For that we need to add the eye makeup which I'm saving for another day! But we will get the benefits of the bath, and that's really what this is all about!

Liz❤️

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