Crowning Glory

Nothing brings out the Inner Princess more than a crown. So the bath tub is not exactly the place for a tiara, but there's a practical side to the matter. Hair can get in the way when you're giving yourself the full beauty treatment during a nice, long, warm bath. So why not place an exotic turban or flowery shower cap over your tresses?

A classic style, black and white strip Jimeale New York Shower Cap has the sophisticated big city look. After all, your Inner Princess revels in the urban glory of her domain... even from the quiet ambiance of the bath.

Then there's the cultured ethnic approach -- Spa Sister Microfiber Turban Shower Caps keep your hair safely and softly tucked up. The fabric twist in the front gives you just the touch of sass a Princess wants at bath time.

Then there are the wild child princess moments, catered to by Betty Dain The Hipster Collection Shower Cap
The eco-friendly material is mold resistant and there's a comfy elastic band to keep the hippy chick cap in place.

European chic has no bounds when you put on  the Fashy Red Shower Cap with Wide Headband. If you have lots of hair, this cap is for you, as it has plenty of room in its PVC-free, lined glory.

Make it part of the ritual. As the bath water is running, gather your head bath gear and all your other comforting bath accessories around. This time is for you. The soothing water, the soft light and the private moments of total relaxation will change your entire outlook on life.

The Gloved Ones -- Bath Mitts

One of the most fun discoveries for bath time is bath mitts... or bath gloves... or bath mitt gloves... or whatever you want to call them. Regardless of the name, the concept is just super. Put on a glove made of fibers to rub across your skin. Lather up with a delicious soap or bath gel, then slide your gloved hand all around. The practical side is that you exfoliate with style. Seriously, some of these bath gloves are teetering close to high fashion.

Like the Body Shop Exfoliating Mitts that, despite their clinical name, come in designer colors including green and coral pink.

Then there's Swissco Bath & Shower Exfoliating Gloves. The Large Dots version comes with, well, large dots of bright colors for when you're in a festive bathing mood.   version with their fine little lines encircling each spring-colored item. Other versions include pastel colored bath gloves with white stripes or white cuffs.

For your earthy Inner Princess, go with the Natural Sisal Fiber Glove Mitt Scrubber. It's made of fibers harvested from the agave cactus (no prickles, though) and gives a glowing body polish.

Give yourself the full treatment with Earth Therapeutics Hydro Exfoliating Gloves, in fetching forest green, jade or light green. They make the lather fluffy and your skin fully refreshed.

So play the part of a party princess at bath time. Pull on a glove -- or two -- and smooth away the cares and grit and stress from your body. Your brain will thank you and your muscles will love you for all your extra attention.

Two-handed Back Scrubbers

There are times when a bath is just a bath. It's about getting all lathered up and all clean. Still, the leaning back and letting your mind drift away for a little while needs to stay a high priority. Need to serve that Inner Princess, you know. But then it's down to business.

An exfoliating back scrubber makes the job of getting your lateral side well tended to, and the additional benefit of giving yourself a mini massage at the same time. For years I've been using a towel to dry my back by grasping either of the long ends and pulling it back and forth. With a back scrubber, I can do the same thing with bath gel and water.

For some reason, using a back scrubber reminds me of the olden days. No, not my olden days -- I mean the times back when our grandparents and a generation or so before that used to have their own bath rituals. Of course theirs were out of necessity because they didn't have access to the comfortable style of bathroom and running water we do. I do have the image in my mind of a lovely old Victorian-era couple taking their weekend bath and washing their backs whenever I use this kind of product, which is probably not very princessy, but it happens anyway.

Made of linen, the Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber is a full 30 inches long with a smooth rope handle at either end, making it easy to pull back and forth. Cost efficient, this scrubber is machine washable.

Just as fashionable as a belt for a summery dress, go for the 100% Natural Hemp Backscrubber. It's sturdy handles and earth-friendly fiber help you give your back a good work-over. It's made in the USA -- always a good thing -- and can be washed up easily with soap and water.

Combine the best features of two bath accessories in the Swissco Loofah and Terry Back Scrubber. One side is made of natural loofah sponge to exfoliate skin cells. Then, flip the wide belt-like scrubber over and massage your back with the soft, terry cloth.

The Magnificent Pouf

Sometimes a bath should just be all about whimsy and play. Yes, relaxation and giving the body and soul a respite in important. But a little touch of fun, even if it's just something to make you smile for a moment, is worthwhile. That's why a bath pouf was invented in the first place, no doubt.

The cute little balls of crumpled mesh are supposed to be for washing and getting all clean. Yet it would be funny to see how many become play toys, bounced against the bath walls and tossed in the air. If it makes my Inner Princess giggle, then there's no problem if it's not exactly regal behavior.

Then there are the colors. Such joyous shades and tones!  Pouf mesh sponges in lavender, celery, taffy pink and sky blue don't even have to blend with the bathroom's decor. Simply shake them out well, hang to dry on the shower head for a few hours, then pop them away in a drawer until it's time for the next bath.

Of course, if Princess wants her luxury more than a whimsy, go the more elegant route with the AquaBella Premium Mesh Pouf Sponge. An elegant display of gathered organza in lovely white, this bath accessory is sure to please even the most regal sensibilities.

The Luxury of Loofah

For something that originally grew as a vegetable, loofah is quite the luxury for a bath. Made from the insides of a specifically-grown gourd that is then processed and dried, a full-size loofah looks very organic rather than manufactured. Typically a golden or tan color, you'll find several versions of loofah sponge. Experiment with three or four of them until you find one that makes your skin feel invigorated.

From the Canada Soap & Candle company, the large Earth Tone Loofah Bath Sponge feels like nature has come indoors. I keep it on the side of the bathtub as I soak, where it remains dry. After relaxing and letting the water lap around my body, I dip the loofah in the water for a couple minutes. That gives it just the right texture and suppleness to work away dead skin cells on my heels, elbows and legs.

Another version of this awesome vegetable-based bath accessory comes from Earth Therapeutics. Their 12-pak of Earth Elementals Loofah, Body Scrubber lasts me for a couple months. It gently loosens and pulls away the dead layer of skin cells, leaving behind a glow. The Inner Princess is definitely happy both during and after the bath ritual.

For the delicate skin on my face, the sliced loofah pads by EcoTools is ideal for exfoliation without damage to the tender portions of facial skin. The packaging for EcoTools Loofah Facial Sponges is even earth-friendly and ecologically sound.  

Soothing Eye Mask

Sometimes we forget how rough everyday life is on our eyes. Well, we forget until our eyes start to burn, and if the problem is not taken care of properly, it can lead to headaches. While a bath soothes the muscles and lets our joints relax -- let's not forget this is the ideal time to give our eyes a rest, too.

The gentle treatment of wearing an eyelid gel mask during the bath is a remarkable way to get relief. Like swimmers' goggles, but much more delicate and lightweight, the eye mask slips over the head. Close your eyes and fit the two soft gel packs directly on the lids.

Set in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before your bath, the gel sections of the mask become quite cool. As the coolness rests on the eyes, it draws away the firey burning sensation. The mask slowly reaches body temperature, allowing your eyes to naturally adjust back to the room's ambiance.

For tired eyes, hold the mask under hot water as you run the bath or heat the gel under running tap water in the sink. Although the gel will not get overheated, it's always a good idea to test it on your wrist to make sure the temperature is comfortable to place on your eyes before slipping it into place.

Once upon a time the only option for eye ease in the bath was to put a washcloth over them. Now, the soothing & relaxing eyelid gel mask does the job for you, hands-free.

Four Favorite Back Brushes

There is something holistically nurturing about using a back brush. Oh - you thought it was just a convenient way to get to a part of the body that's hard to reach?  Well, yes, there's that. It can be tough to get that all clean and shiny all on your own. But the surprising benefit is the way a back brush stimulates the lymphatic system, giving a good boost to your immune system and helping to keep you healthy. Here are my favorites:

Upper Canada Soap & Candle Wood Back Scrub Brush. A semi-firm oval brush can be detached to use separately. On the long handle is a rubber grip, helping to keep a tight hold. Has a small strap for hanging.

Earth Therapeutics Far Reaching Back Brush. Boars hair bristles and an ergonomically shaped slightly-curved handle that is 18-inches long. Reach all the way down to the small of the back without twisting.

Aquabella Long Handle Back Brush. Has medium-soft bristles. Made of pastel-colored nylon and therefore very cost effective. Works well with bath gels. Perfect for a quicky bath when time is short.

Eco Tools Bamboo Bristle Bath Brush. Made of earth-friendly, sustainable bamboo with soft synthetic bristles. Feel virtuous and clean all at the same time.

Bath Sponge Bonanza

As a little kid, terry washcloths were the only bath accessory my mom found necessary. They were functional, easily laundered and came with bath towels and hand towels in matching colors so it was easy to coordinate. As an adult, I was never all that fond of washcloths, but hey, they came in matching colors with towelly stuff I really did like, so sure enough, those bits of cloth were there in the linen cupboard and in the shower.

Then I discovered the joy of bath time. Those old-fogey clothes no longer seemed appropriate for my inner princess delight. Instead, I discovered the joy of bath sponges. Over the next months, I experimented with all the different kinds I could locate. After awhile, I found my favorites and they became the foundation of my bath time gear kit. Each session, a different sponge made its appearance, until a week or two later I returned to old favorites.

A white, classic oval bath sponge looks pure and fresh. It has little holes in it that hold the water until you run the sponge up over your shoulder and then squeeze lightly to let the warm water trick down your arm and over your back. Shaped just larger than the size of an open hand and nearly two inches thick, these come in a pack of three. A simple, straightforward approach to bathing when all you really want is to just get in that water and get warm.

For days when you've been outdoors a lot or cleaning house or some other strenuous activity, the dual texture bath sponge brings the whole getting-clean aspect into the natural relaxation routine of bathing. One of the flat sides is a regular spongey sponge. It's bonded to the other side that is a tighter, textured sponge material. That textured side helps scrub away at the feet, shins and elbows, but in a very delicate, non-abrasive way. This type of sponge comes in multi-paks and pretty colors from purple to pink to blue.

A natural sea sponge is the ultimate delight. Its organic shape and texture make you feel like a princess mermaid. Sea sponge is naturally very soft, so running it over your body feels like a caress. At the same time its slipping over your skin, its natural texture is removing dead skin cells, leaving a fresh, warm glow. When you are done with the bath, rinse it out and set it on a pretty tray by the side of the tub. Natural sea sponge adds a designer touch to the bathroom decor.

Start a Luxury Bath Ritual

I was well into adulthood before it occurred to me that the very simple act of taking a bath could be so pleasant. Before that, in the rush-rush world, the whole business of climbing into a tub full of water seemed like a hassle. But then I entered a very stressful stretch of time. As I talked with other women about it, they suggested I block out a little portion of time -- for a bath, of all things -- where I could block out the entire world and let my entire mind and body relax in a way that was so badly needed.

Eventually, I succumbed. It all seemed a little bit 'wooh-wooh' to me. I ran the tub full of hot water, stripped down to nothing, set a bath towel by the tub and climbed in. It felt awkward at first. I didn't even have any bubble bath to make it look like I was doing anything particularly wanton or frivolous. Yet within 10 minutes, I understood!  I got it!   I could see how this bath ritual could become like therapy for the body, soul and mind.

That weekend I went out and got a couple of candles and a long-handled bath brush. If I was going to do this thing, I reckoned I'd better get the bath gear to go with it. From that point onward, taking a luxurious, quiet bath on a weekend evening became a ritual that carried me through the rough times.

Bath Pillows

The kindest thing you can do for your self is simply lay back in a nice warm bath and relax. Let the cares of the day slowly and gently drain from your body as the water surrounds you in a warm embrace.

It's tough out there. Work takes a lot out of you when there are not enough people to cover all the bases. Demands from customers and bosses and coworkers can be hard on the body and soul. If you are without work, the stress is just as great... sometimes greater. But instead of carrying all that anxiety around, let it drift away as you lay back in the bathtub.

Since tubs are not exactly made for reclining, a bath pillow is the solution for full relaxation. Attached to the back of the bathtub, at the opposite end from the faucet, a pillow made especially for the purpose gives you more than a headrest. It offers support for your neck, allowing your entire spine better alignment. A bath pillow lets you submerge more of your body in the water, since you aren't forced to sit erect. And it provides a touch of softness in a space where the rest of the surfaces are hard.

There are enough varieties of pillows designed for bath use that you will find one most suited to your own comfort. The more luxurious types are molded to fit the contours of your head. More flexible types are inflatable; with this type you can fill them fully with air for a firm head rest or only partially inflate the pillow for a softer rest.

Choose one type of pillow for starters, then add others to your collection to jazz up your bath-time pleasure. Several of the more popular bath pillows are:

White Jellybean Luxury Bath and Spa Pillow
Earth Therapeutics Terry Covered Bath Pillow
AquaBella Inflatable Bath Pillow
Spa Sister Terry Bath Pillow
Axel Kraft Sun Shaped Terry Bath Pillow

The ultimate goal is to make your bath experience one of complete relaxation. You will be able to sleep better, think more clearly and have more vitality in your day to day life. Adding a pillow to your bath routine is an act of royal indulgence that is well worth the investment.