Bubble (No) Bath Time

Even though I am a water-baby through and through, I really don’t like taking baths (I recall taking one on my birthday, March 2011…could that be it?  Crikes).  The only bonus I can think of is that you can have a glass of wine amongst the bubbles.  However, I’ve tried to do what so many girls love to do, lay back and chill-out with a Merlot surrounded by candles but I can’t damn well relax at all and totally defeating the object; I always have a shower afterwards so I can get rid of the bubbles, dirt and sweat that I’ve wallowed in for an hour so I’ve said ‘cheerio’ to the bath – it's just not me.  I can’t bear the water going cold either so I am shower-gal all the way. What would be cool is to have a little tiled seat in the shower so I wouldn’t have to stand up all the time – now that would be relaxing.  I remember many times as a kid, Dad banging on the ceiling (the bathroom being above) with a golf club - an indication of me to get out of the shower before I used up all the hot water.  My husband and I did a Kirsty Allsop once and ripped out one bathroom in a property we had in Nottingham and replaced it with a shower, loo and sink.  Actually mum and Dad moved house last year and ripped out their bath and they have a lovely great big shower now – must be something in the water.  My sister, however, remains a bathing beauty so no fear of her ever doing an Allsop there. 

When it comes to my body, I can be a bit picky as I’ve found that many make my skin itch and so I tend to look out for products that contain natural ingredients.  I have found two brands that work for me and I’ve been using them for years; Faith in Nature (www.faithinnature.co.uk) and L’Occitane. 

Faith in Nature do an extensive range of Shower Gel and Bath Foam (yes, one product for the shower and the bath) and I buy mine from Nourish (on Wicklow Street: €8.50 for 400ml).  The Company is 40 years old, manufactured in the UK and is vegan, organic, and cruelty-free.  The product range is extensive; hair, body, skin, baby, home and pet care.  My gel faves are the Citrus & Seaweed, Lemon & Tea Tree, Aloe Vera & Ylang Ylang and surprisingly for me (as I hate the smell of it), their Chocolate Shower Gel and Bath Foam (the smell is very, very subtle and is not a sickly chocolate smell if you know what I mean.  If it was, I wouldn’t have bought it).  They also do these same fragrances in their hand washes, shampoo/conditioners and body lotions too.  What I love about Faith is that the shower gels are hydrating (my skin scratch-free) and smell natural (ie, subtle fragrances, no synthetics) and they foam up really well.

Seeing as I like to alternate between my favourites, if I’m not in Nourish, then you’ll find me literally next door in L’Occitane (Wicklow Street) where I’ll be stocking up on my Ambre & Santal Shower Gel (€14 for 200ml).  I just can’t get enough of this fragrance; it’s woody and oriental and I can layer it with the body lotion and the perfume in the same aroma.  I also love their Almond range and have bought many a bottle of the Almond Shower Oil (€21 for 250ml) although I do tend to get through this quite quickly – I forget that a little goes a long way.  You can also get it in an Eco Refill (€31 for 500ml).

So there you have it, happy squeaky clean Sally.  As I’ve said before, the only downside to showering is that one can’t have a glass of wine.  Oh, hang on, where’s my gym water bottle….?