When Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker were searching for magnesium for their chunky, ice-blue Kourtney x Barker Wellness Calm Bath Flakes, they weren’t skimping. In fact, the only suitable source of magnesium was one that came directly from the ancient Zechstein Reef, buried beneath the North Sea floor between the UK and Norway. After mixing in other natural ingredients like eucalyptus leaves, blue tansy flowers, and pine needles, the wellness-obsessed duo (and recent parents to Rocky XIII) landed on a calming formula that met their exacting standards.
Similarly next level, the stunning 100 Senses range touts “luxury bath and body care for better health” and offers what it calls an “antidote” to modern life 24/7. Form Mind Body Soaks like the Tranquilizer, Intoxicated and Spirit Guide come housed in glass cylinders and can even be hung from a marble “soak stand” if you’re really feeling like splurging.
Welcome to the world of super soaks, exquisitely crafted and often pricey bath salts that aim not only to give you instant rest, but also to aid post-workout recovery and stabilize hormones disrupted by everything from stress to pregnancy to menopause.
“Scientific studies have shown that taking a bath two to three times a week has a variety of benefits, including relieving muscle pain, repairing skin, improving cardiovascular health, reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure. But the best part about taking a bath is that it instantly lowers stress levels. With so many health benefits, including a refreshing mood and balancing hormones, there are no downsides,” says Serena Yang, founder and creative director of 100 Senses.
Surya Spa founder Martha Sofer has adapted an ancient Ayurvedic recipe for her Hormone Calming Bath Soak using wild yam and shatavari root extracts. Shatavari is a plant in the asparagus family known for its positive effects on inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as its ability to regulate hormones. “So many women were coming in with hormone imbalances, and we wanted to find a way to help them at home,” Sofer says of the wildly popular bath soak. “Shatavari and wild yam are two of Surya’s favorite herbs that help balance hormones.”
To develop the ultimate post-workout bath salt, Ten Over Ten, a clean, non-toxic nail salon in the Financial District, teamed up with prima ballerina Isabella Boylston to create an Epsom-salt-rich formula called The Recovery. A principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Boylston knows all about tired muscles, which is why this blend is packed with soothing magnesium, pain-relieving arnica, and skin-softening colloidal oatmeal.
With so many benefits, there’s no reason not to jump into your nearest bathtub and experience these inspiring multi-sensory baths.
“I have a deep passion for the transformative power of water and the neuroscience health benefits it has for our bodies and minds,” Yang says. “I truly believe that water is good for your health.”
