Soak it up: bathing for fun and relaxation. (bodycare).

For thousands of years, people have turned to bathing rituals and mineral spas for their healing benefits. In our hurried world, showers have become the norm, but a long soak offers a body-mind experience that just can't be had with a scrub-and-rinse shower routine.

"Baths are the best way to relieve stress, and they don't have to take much longer than a shower--even five minutes in a bath can help you relax," says Christine Mack of Weleda International. "And baths are important for men as well, especially guys who are active or in high-stress jobs."

Bathing also allows the body to take advantage of ingredients such as the essential oils and healing botanicals in bath salts, bubbles or oils. A long soak lets the skin absorb moisturizing ingredients, and soaking can also allow the body to reap the benefits of aromatherapy from essential oils such as eucalyptus to help unblock sinuses or peppermint to invigorate and refresh.

Ready to reap the benefits of a bath? Set the stage for relaxation: Turn down the lights, turn off the phone and turn on some inspiring music. Bath water should be just a little warmer than body temperature. Choose bath products carefully: Since hot water opens skin pores and bathing allows longer contact with products, there's a greater chance for irritation. Here's a rundown of gentle bath basics so you can slip in for a soothing soak and leave the world behind.

bubble trouble

A tub full of fragrant bubbles makes an ordinary bath more inviting and luxurious. But many mainstream bubble baths contain strong chemical agents that can irritate and dry skin. If your tub is filled with big, long-lasting bubbles, you may be soaking in something akin to laundry detergent. With natural products, you can expect to get smaller, denser, creamier bubbles that dissipate as the bath wears on. Most natural products use sodium lauryl sulfate, a foaming agent derived from coconut oil. And while some say even this naturally derived product is irritating, it's thought to be safe for everyone but the most sensitive.

"There's nothing wrong with sodium lauryl sulfate in the amounts used in bath products. It's mostly just bad publicity," says Panch Prasad, president of Mill Creek Botanicals. "And most natural products use sodium laureth sulfate, which is an even gentler byproduct of sodium lauryl sulfate." If your skin is delicate, look for sodium myreth sulfate, a mild sudsing agent that even the most sensitive bathers can use.