A 2018 study comparing the health benefits of warm baths and showers found that participants who took 10-minute baths at 104 degrees Fahrenheit reported better overall health and skin conditions, along with decreased stress, pain, and fatigue. Baths also help promote blood flow, soothe sore muscles and joints, and improve mental well-being by reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, and anger. Taking warm baths has even been linked to deeper, more restful sleep. Here are the best bubble baths on the market, all featuring dermatologist-approved ingredients. Naturally derived from botanicals and essential oils like aloe, jojoba, and sweet almond oil, this gentle bubble bath leaves skin smooth and hydrated. Plus, The Honest Company’s light fragrance is irritant-free, making for a skin-safe bathtime ritual. Dr. Gill also advises against using formulas that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and witch hazel, as these agents can be dehydrating. Glittery formulas should also be avoided at all costs, as glitter is highly abrasive to the skin. Alaffia EveryDay Shea Bubble Bath is crafted using fair trade, sustainably-sourced ingredients from West Africa. Simply pour a 1-ounce cap into a warm, running tub and enjoy. While it’s marketed as gentle enough for delicate baby skin, this bubble bath is ideal for all ages, and especially for people with sensitive skin. Burt’s Bees’ hypoallergenic, tear-free bubble bath has a light, natural fragrance. For a much-needed decompression session, drop a half tablet (or a whole one for double the fizz and fragrance) into a warm tub. Wait about five minutes for it to dissolve and release its fragrance. OUAI Chill Pills are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and silicones. They’re also gluten-free and vegan. Each jar comes with six 1.5-ounce bath bombs. Each jar contains 18 bath drops filled with Fur’s signature blend of clary sage oil, jojoba oil, and grapeseed oil, which softens the skin and clears pores to prevent ingrown hairs. For a skin-renewing soak, add two to three bath drops to running water. This fragrance-free formula is ideal for people with sensitive skin. It also serves as a blank canvas for those who tire of soaking in the same scent over and over. To spice things up, drop in your favorite essential oils and customize your muscle-soothing, salty soak. Aveeno’s dermatologist-recommended skin treatment forms a protective barrier over the skin, helping to seal in moisture and calm irritation and inflammation. This gentle, fragrance-free formula consists of 100% pure colloidal oatmeal. For best results, draw a lukewarm bath and slowly sprinkle the oatmeal packet directly under the faucet. This step is critical for a clump-free, milky tub. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes and pat dry in order to keep a thin, soothing film on the skin. NEOM Real Luxury Bath Foam is an SLS-free bubble bath made from all-natural, ethically sourced ingredients, with no harsh chemicals, artificial colors, paraffin, or mineral wax. For a dreamy, sudsy soak, pour one capful of foam into a running tub and enjoy a relaxing bubble bath. Infused with a prebiotic botanical blend that helps restore the skin’s natural barrier, this bubble bath leaves you with smooth, baby-soft skin. Pediatrician- and dermatologist-tested, Dapple’s fragrance-free bubble bath is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, formaldehyde, synthetic dyes, artificial fragrances, SLS, and SLES. This formula is also tear-free for the littlest bathers in the house. Enriched with grapeseed oil, cleansing sugar molecules, and topical probiotics, this shower oil-bubble bath duo cleanses and hydrates the skin for a soft, moisturized feel. (It can also be used on wet skin as a shaving oil.) This bubble bath is free of parabens and sulfates. Deep Steep’s Classic Bubble Bath is hard water-safe and free of irritants like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, triethanolamine, sodium benzoate, benzyl alcohol, MEA, DEA, EDTA, SLS, alcohol, dyes, and formaldehyde donors. It also comes in a variety of relaxing scents. Herbivore’s Coconut Milk Bath Soak is free of SLS and SLES, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, artificial ingredients, fillers, alcohol, animal products, fragrances, dyes, and unnatural preservatives. The oils in the soak are cold-pressed or steam distilled and will vaporize when the fine powder comes in contact with water. For best results, dispense the milk bath once you are in the tub. This bubble bath is free of toxins and chemicals, including sulfates—SLS, SLES, and SCS—parabens, phosphates, eye-numbing agents, triclosan, formaldehyde, salicylates, MEA, DEA, TEA, BPA, gluten, petrochemicals, animal byproducts, perfumes, dyes, and caustics. Bubble Podz use a gentle, chemical-free, and tear-free formula that leaves the skin feeling soft and clean. This natural, non-toxic bubble bath is pediatrician- and dermatologist-tested, and it’s free of both parabens and phthalates. For a natural, sensitive skin-friendly option, try The Honest Company’s Gently Nourishing Sweet Almond Bubble Bath. Made with plant-based ingredients and hydrating essential oils, this hypoallergenic bubble bath is safe for all.
Scent
For the safest scent, look for essential oil-infused formulas. For individuals with sensitive skin, avoid bubble baths with any fragrance, dyes, or additives, as they can cause irritation and be abrasive to the skin’s barrier.
Moisturizing
Soaps and bubble bath solutions can contain harsh detergents that can strip the skin of moisture. Avoid feeling dry and irritated by choosing an oil-based or moisture-rich formula. And it’s important to apply a heavy moisturizer immediately after leaving the tub. In fact, The National Eczema Association suggests doing so within three minutes to combat dryness.
Bubble Quality
Ingredients to avoid are usually the ones responsible for extra bubbly blends. For example, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent used in many personal care products and bubble bath solutions. Chemical-free varieties may not produce the same amount of bubbles, but with an extra pump or two, you can get pretty close.
Why Trust Verywell Mind?
As a health and wellness writer, Emily Stone is all about clean, green skincare. She favors Aveeno’s Soothing Bath Treatment as a mild, calming bath without any harmful toxins or irritants. Some bubble baths include Epsom salt, which is also proven to improve mental health. Studies show that it is an effective method for alleviating depression symptoms. If you want to stay in longer, that’s fine. However, you should keep in mind that your fingers and toes may get wrinkly and the water will get cold. Neither of these is dangerous, and whether those things bother you is a matter of personal preference.
