Friday, April 19, 2013

My Bath Time Ritual

This past week I was busy preparing for and completing 2 separate photo shoots with two amazing photographers and friends, Chloe Aftel and Casey Curry.

One was shot in the beautiful desert, and some interesting outskirts along the way, which weren't all very warm spots.  The other was in L.A., on a sunny but very windy and not very hot day.  By the end of the second shoot, I was chilled to the bone from the temperatures*, wind, and lack of warm clothes.

So I decided to treat myself to a very long, hot bath.  One of my new favorite, restorative things to do.  Here's what's involved:

First I clean the tub with a chemical free mixture of baking soda and non-toxic dish soap.



Then I fill the tub with hot water, and bath salts from Rain Africa.  They have my all-time very favorite bath and body deli.



Two of my fave salts:  Passion and Rock Mint

Before I jump in, I set the mood.  I light a candle, dim the lights, have the latest issue of W Magazine or Vogue bath-side (with a hand towel for drying my hands when I reach for the mags), a tall glass of Alkaline water (good for hydrating the skin), and play my Bath Time Mix, which consists of:

Hui Ohana
Devendra Banhart
Debussy
Tinariwen
Iron & Wine
Juana Molina
Father John Misty
Labi Siffre
... to name a few


Once inside the bath, I drop one of Rain Africa's delicious earth eggs inside, which release essential oils, cocoa butter, and whatever herbs, petals, or seeds may be on the outside.  My all time favorite is the Marula Rooibos egg, with cocoa butter and cedarwood oil.  It is a sedative, antiseptic, astringent, hair tonic, and skin softener.  What more could you want??


Here is a set of 6 different Earth Eggs.
So cute in this little egg carton, no?

After an hour or so, I exfoliate and shower off.  I end the experience with a relaxing 10 minute face mask by Shiseido.
I always feel like I'm glowing the next day after doing this mask.  
Although I will warn you, the mask is literally horrifying when you put it on.  It looks like a creepy, white ski mask.  But totally worth it!  ;)

Afterwards, I feel completely mellowed out, detoxed, refreshed, and ready to take on the world again.

Do you have any Bath Time / Relaxation rituals?

Love,
p. a.

*  By low temps, I mean low 60's.  I know -- I'm a big baby when it comes to even a hint of cool air!

19 comments:

  1. Everytime I'm calming myself down I listen to music and mostly to your music. And no, I'm not writing this just because it's your blog, it's just true. Your song Living in a Tree is the best!

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  2. Such a lovely post, Priscilla! I also love baths. I hear ya about the low 60's. Those egg baths are adorable. I think you're a sucker for packaging, like I am. I'll try those out! Currently, I use baking soda, epsom salts, and a few drops of essential oils from this great company from Canada, called "Living Libations." I don't know them personally, nor do I get commission from sharing, but I'm just sharing because I like your post and I like the quality they provide.

    And another thing that's improved my bath time experience is this (again, I have no affiliation or commission or whatever from this) - http://www.amazon.com/Better-Bath-Deep-Water/dp/B0001YJIGW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1366585354&sr=8-4&keywords=bath+plug Most baths have some sort of "safety" thing that limits the level of water in the bath (I want my bath water to rise above my rib cage!). As long as you're responsible about not overflowing your bath, I highly suggest this thing.

    love,
    Amy

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    1. Amy!

      Love it the bath plug! The bath eggs DO have perfect packaging... but they really do help me therapeutically and they're also very moisturizing!

      I'll have to check out "Living Libations" now! ;) xo

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  3. just reading that melted away some of my tenseness! can't wait for a bath after yoga today. thanks for the inspiration, P!

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    1. Hope you were able to make your bathtime happen! Post yoga bath sounds like the best!

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  4. That's crazy! I do the same exact thing! Minus the mask ㅎㅎ

    :)

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  5. I'm all about LUSH, specially The Enchanter bath bomb. And as far as music, yours is definitely the best!

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    1. Oo! I like Lush products too! I will have to check out the Enchanter bath bomb!

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  6. awesome! I am going try this sometime soon. And I love your music. My favorite song so far has to be Dream.. Keep them beautiful music coming Priscilla <3

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  7. This sounds heavenly. Perfect solution to final's week stress. And your bath mix...love that Devendra is in there. A lot of his music is very soothing. I've met maybe three people that know of/enjoy his music. So that made me smile.

    As for my ritual. I have a shower and no bathtub. I often take a shower at night or wake up early so I can take my time. I love to just zone out and relax. It's my time to be completely alone and think/sing/pray whatever I'm feeling. Dream is one of my go to "shower singing" songs. <3

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  8. Hi! Priscilla! I am so glad you are working on your next album! I am a Japanese girl who commented a while ago about how I wanted to blog more and be creative this year. Guess what? I quit my job (which was so hard and exhausting to do) and have decided to enjoy my life and perhaps be more honest with myself and try and get help from the struggles I was having. I am working towards going to Tokyo (where I went to college) and get help from my professor and visit many art and music places. Your music and love for Japan made me want to change my life and I am so happy to have been your long time fan. I will do whatever it takes to go to your next concert in Japan when you have your next album out! By the way Shiseido and many other Japanese cosmetics are wonderful, aren't they? My bath time ritual is "just be in the bath and enjoy as long as possible"and after bath do a leg massage with some aroma oils. Anyway, I hope I get a chance to meet you:) Love, Mai

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    1. Hi Mai!

      That is so beautiful!! I'm so happy for you with your big life changes and decisions!! I wish you all the best in this new chapter in your life.

      I love loooooong baths. 3 hours sometimes! I will have to try the leg massage after. That sounds すごい!

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    2. Thank you so much! I think I have surprised myself the most. I was walking around cafes with my luggage and your CDs in my bag for a few days, trying to find a place to stay or have lunch. Yesterday i contacted my friend and she listened to me and took me to her house and showed me an art gallery which I never knew her family owned and it was a beautiful place in the woods and we listened to your CD Home. It was a dream come true experience. I really can't believe how lucky I am.

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  9. A string of YouTube clips, based on your bath time mix, made a cool playlist! I just had to share some of it. Is that you singing on 'Naked as we came' by Iron and Wine?

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    1. Interesting! And no... that's not me on the Iron & Wine song. I wish!

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  10. for the ladies... three heaped tablespoons of lemon Salvital - efferescent powder for stomach settling drink. Contains magnesium in an alkaline form.

    tablespoon of a heat cream- dencorub, tiger balm etc, cocktail shake it with a tablespoon of spirit - metho, etc to help carry it into water.

    same with some cocoa butter

    few handfuls of frangipanni's and your favourite inscense oil, black opium or dragonsblood, a good musk drives me nuts.
    Only need hints of it.

    Guys- start at the toes.

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