On Sunday, we got less snow than originally forecast, only about 4 inches. But it was heavy wet snow, and then we got sleet and freezing rain on top of it so that it was encased in ice. I shoveled for about two and a half hours, and Jeff helped me, shoveling for two hours. That’s a lot of shoveling. And the snow weighed a ton.
Today, my back, legs and even forearms were so sore. I could hardly get out of bed this morning. Poor me. Plus this morning, it was 4 degree outside with a windchill that made it feel like minus 22. Brrrrr! Even inside with the heat on, it feels cold. What to do?
I decided to take a hot bath, something I don’t do that often, because the plumber that cheap general contractor used to plumb my house never bothered to connect the overflow pipe in my bathtub, so if I fill it too high, it drips down onto the ceiling in my living room. To fix it, they would have to open up the wall. Boo. But if I don’t fill the tub too high, I’m OK.
I decided I needed a tropical getaway in my bathroom to make me feel warmer and to help my muscles relax. I turned to Village Naturals Aromatherapy Natural Epsom Bath Soak.
Epsom salts, rich in magnesium sulfate, are so helpful for sore or tired muscles. (And did you know, epsom salts can be used to help remove splinters?) While Epsom salts got the name from a bitter saline spring in Epsom, England, Village Naturals Natural Epsom Bath Soak contains pink Himalayan sea salt with 84 different minerals to soften skin. It also contains wild fern extract that is rich in antioxidants beneficial to skin. The coconut and pineapple oil are both moisturizing and contains vitamins C, B1 and B6. It’s loaded with good stuff. Plus it smells divine. The scent of Village Naturals Aromatherapy Natural Epsom Bath Soak that I tried is Enchanting Airs Fiji. The fragrance is described as including “notes of green foliage, plumeria, ocean wind and sunshine.” To me, it smells fruity with the scent of a tropical fruit that I can’t quite remember the name of – a pungent but enticing tropical scent. I poured about a cup of the white Bath Soak into the tub while the water was running, and it turned the water to cloudy white. After a few minutes, the lovely light tropical scent disappeared.
Over the past week or so, I’ve been using Village Naturals Aromatherapy Hydrate & Exfoliate Handcrafted Natural Bar Soap in the same fragrance, Enchanting Airs Fiji.
The bar soap is a gorgeous shade of deep pink/rose with green accents that coordinates with the gorgeous colorful packaging for both the soap and the Epsom salts. I love the combo of pink and green, and the packaging of both products is so uplifting and modern.
The bar soap has a very light scent. In fact, it isn’t the least bit strong. In some ways, I wouldn’t mind a bit more scent. But the soap itself is wonderful. Like my favorite handcrafted bar soap from Daphne at Nature Island Botanicals, the Village Naturals Hydrate & Exfoliate soap is beautiful to look at, soaps up nicely, and is truly delightful and moisturizing for my skin. Although it’s called Hydrate & Exfoliate, it doesn’t contain any exfoliating grit like some soaps do. Instead, I think it exfoliates by using a natural fruit extract, and it is exceedingly gentle. Just the color alone makes me love using it, but it is so moisturizing without being greasy. Love it!
After a good soak, I toweled off, and applied some of my favorite body oil from Farmhouse Fresh, the yummilicious Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil.
And because it is so cold and the air is so dry plus I wanted to keep the tropical vibe going, I finished by applying Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.
For months, I have been wanting to try it, since everybody raves about it. It does have a wonderful tropical scent. In fact, I was surprised when the scent was described as pistachio almond! Whatever it is, it smells great. Formulated with Guaraná with almost 5 times more caffeine than coffee, the cream is formulated to be firming while improving circulation and tightening skin. Frankly, I haven’t really noticed the tightening and firming, but it definitely hydrates and softens my dry skin with Cupuaçu Butter and coconut oil without being greasy. In fact, it is light and gives my skin a silky feeling. It also contains mica to give skin an instant glow, though I can’t say I’ve really noticed it.
Now I know what the fuss was all about. I like the original Bum Bum Cream, and I am almost finished with the small travel size tub I bought during the Sephora sale before the holidays. The mini size that I bought at Sephora is priced at $26 for 2.5 oz., kinda pricey IMHO, so buying it on sale is kind of a must for me. BTW, the mini is $20 at Dermstore.com. Next time, I may try the new scent Coco Cabana that comes in the aqua tub. Have you tried the new Coco Cabana yet?
My back and the muscles in my arms and legs aren’t quite as tight and sore as they were before my bath, but they’re still not quite back to normal. I may need to repeat this luxury again tomorrow, lol. I finished by applying some of the Elixicure Hemp Extract Pain Relief Cream that I also put on last night before bed. It gives a longer-lasting warmth that helps my sore muscles feel better, and the one I have smells like lavender – not tropical, but still very nice. More about Elixicure soon!
Have you tried Village Naturals Aromatherapy products yet?
Sounds relaxing and luxurious Allison. I am a HUGE fan of baths,always have loved a good soak I used to take a bath and read in the tube every night. After hurting my back I’ve kind of gotten away from it but I think I can handle getting in and out of the tub now. I’ve never tried any of the products you reviewed. I’m a fan of scented bath salts and epsom salt in general. I’ve been meaning to check out the FHF Vanilla Bourbon,it sounds wonderful. I am loving the look of the soap,lovely and I like the fact that it exfoliates without the typical grit we are used to with exfoliating bath and shower products. What a nice little get away on such a miserable weather day. I think tonight’s my night! 🙂 xo
I hope you follow suit, Laura! That hot bath with fragrant epsom salts was just the thing! I love that Village Naturals Aromatherapy products are affordable, lovely and available at Target, Walgreens, and I think CVS and maybe Walmart. The packaging alone is stunning, but the products themselves really deliver. When you need to replenish your epsom salt supply, remember them 😉 It’s a balmy 21 degrees today and the sun is shining, but my driveway is an ice rink so I think I’ll stay indoors again and take another hot bath for my still sore muscles! Enjoy your bath tonight xo
That whole regimen sounds divine! I am so sore and achy and this would be perfect right now.
The bath soak sounds divine! I like a good soak when I’m feeling chilled to the core!
Mmmm the bath soak sounds divine. The tropical scent PLUS I bet it is so relaxing!
OMG, I’d freeze there to death. I can imagine the soreness you had. A nice bath time like yours is ideal!
You would, Kathryne! But today was a balmy 25 degrees, lol. My driveway looks like a skating rink.
Kathryne,
I’d like to say you get used to it but that would be a lie.
Sandy’s right 🙁
Allison, for some unknown reason I scheduled a dental appointment at 8:40 yesterday morning. I never like to leave the house that early in the morning. It was a balmy 8 degrees in my garage but by the time I got out of the car at the dental office it was -13. I have no idea what the wind chill was! I use Epsom salts and a lavender mixture when I do take a bath. However with my balance problems I don’t feel safe doing so that often. I am going to find and buy that bar soap though. Be careful on your driveway. We are supposed to get snow that may continue on OR change to an icy mix OR rain….We are right in the middle of this new band.
Oh no, Sandy! I am like you – I don’t make early morning appointments if I can possibly help it, especially in winter. I can’t believe it was minus 13 where you are and without the windchill. I can’t imagine it. I think you’re right to avoid the tub if your balance hasn’t righted itself. The Village Naturals Aromatherapy Bar Soap Fiji is an excellent deal at $6.99. I pay $10 or more for a similar size bar of handmade soap. Plus, the pink is divine. The scent is not very strong, actually I wouldn’t mind if it was a bit stronger because the tropical scent of the bath soak is wonderful, though not very long lasting. But the formula of the soap is terrific: hydrating and smooth without being at all greasy. And I’ll take their word for it that it’s exfoliating because it has no grit and it’s very gentle. Target carries it, and my local store had one bar left in the store, but I think you can order it and pick it up at the store. I was surprised to learn that Village Naturals is part of the company that owns Mr. Bubble and Luxe by Mr. Bubble. Interesting that they have products in several bath and body niches. I hope the bad weather in your area changes soon. We’re expecting temps in the 40s for the next two days, and some rain so I am hoping that it will melt the ice and snow so that my driveway won’t be so dangerous. I hate winter!!!
I love anything tropical! I would use EVERYTHING you used here!
Check out the Village Naturals Aromatherapy next trip to Target! They smell lovely but light
What a delightful selection of products for a much-needed bath! I can’t even imagine how sore you must have been after shoveling snow for that long in that freezing temperature. It seems to me that the plumber who made this huge error should fix it free of charge.
Unfortunately, I discovered the error in the tub after the warranty on the house had expired. My bad.
The bum bum cream is a total must have!
I took a looot of baths these past few weeks because it’s been too cold. We had negative 7 here the other night!!
I’ve been hearing that it’s been absolutely frigid in MI. Yikes!
I looooove Sol de Janeiro!
Ooo I really want to smell it!
Hope you’re warmer now! We got hit with the sleet and snow too (it’s rain now though) and I could have used this stuff these past few days! The power went out repeatedly over the weekend, which meant bouts of no furnace and no ability to make coffee, so by the time Monday morning rolled around (and at -8F no less!) I could have used a tropical vacation. Usually I don’t mind winter, but don’t you dare mess with my morning coffee. 😛
I’ve got a “specialised” bathtub too. It’s a lovely old clawfoot, but before you can use the taps you have to turn the water on at a specially-installed shut-off valve at the floor (and repeat in reverse when you’re through) because the cat figured out how to turn on the fancy Victorian faucet in the tub and was leaving the water running all day. Since he’s a cat “turn it off when you’re done” isn’t in his vocabulary. I love my cats but they are very bad sometimes.
As usual, I laughed out loud reading your comment. I can picture your cat heading for the tub while you’re at work and going to town 😀 😀 😀 Sorry that you’ve been in the deep freeze, and that you lost power. I get that no coffee can be the worst part of a power outage! It’s supposed to be 55 degrees and torrential rain here on Thursday, so I’m hoping the ice on my driveway will melt and somehow drain before the temps go back down.
I can’t imagine that cold of weather! I love baths and salts so this sounds heavenly!
I have been interested in that Sol de Janiero lotion but what a bummer that you didn’t notice any results. Guess it’s just a hyped up product with no results.
Actually, I don’t have cellulite so I wasn’t really looking for tightening. I can’t say that it doesn’t give results. I need to amend my review if it gave you that negative impression. It’s a very good hydrating body cream, at any rate.
That bath soak sounds amazing right about now!!!
Today, it was 55 degrees here. What a weird winter! But I’m so happy it melted much of the snow and ice. but yes, a hot bath is so great during the winter especially a tropical scented bath 🙂