Winter Skin Soaking Ritual

Soaks have been along time practice of my self care rituals and are always changing. I like to customize them to mood of the moment adding different components to get me to my soaking goal! 

A few winters ago I moved from Brooklyn to upstate NY, I was thrown off by how much more difficult winter felt for me just a few hours up north.  Overall my body was more sluggish, I was experiencing more aches, muscle tension, inflammation and my skin was beyond dry, the addition of harder water then I was used to did not help. 

It seemed like my normal remedies were just not cutting it.

One day I was clearing out my apothecary space (this became my favorite pandemic chore) and I found a can of powered goat milk, I could not recall why I had it or think of a reason to reserve it or keep it hidden away.  

I remember long ago reading the recipe for Cleopatra’s bath and quickly became inspired.

Hours later I was in my newly obsessed over winter soak.

1 cup Epsom Salt, option to add essential oils 

1 scoop Goat Milk powder, can substitute Coconut Milk powder

Soak for 30 minutes

Epsom Salt is excellent at breaking up any stagnation, muscle ache or tension as well as drawing out any excess Lactic Acid built up in our systems.

Goat Milk is high in fatty lipids that nourishes and repairs the barrier of the skin increasing our ability to retain moisture.  A naturally occurring element of Lactic Acid gently exfoliates the skin making it softer and ready receive post bath hydration.

Post bath ritual for me always involves applying oil from toe to head, yes in that direction to align with the lymphatic flow and drinking water.