The best bath-time buys for your mum on Mother's Day

Give your mum the gift of me-time with an indulgent pampering present this Mother’s Day.

Sat, 05 Mar, 2016 - 00:00

Katie Wright

This year marks the 30th anniversary of children’s classic Five Minutes’ Peace, the tale of elephant mum-of-three Mrs Large’s attempt to escape her manic household with a bubble bath.

That the book’s remained popular for three decades just goes to show: All most mummies really want is a bit of alone time in the tub, to melt away the stresses of the day.

So this Mother’s Day, give your mam the excuse to indulge, with a gift that will hopefully bring her much more than five minutes’ peace...

BATHING BUNDLE

Make a pampering pick ‘n’ mix by gathering a bundle of bath time treats in a pretty gift box.

Lush’s new Flowering Tea Bubble Bar, €6.95 , is a quirky alternative to bubble bath, and reusable too.

Run it under hot water and the ‘bag’ bursts, releasing blue cornflowers and a divine neroli and rosewood oil fragrance. ( www.lush.com ).

Soap and Glory’s Smoothie Star gift set, €29, contains six sumptuous bath bits from a scrub to a handcream — and it also comes with a fabulous retro tray to keep it all organised. ( www.boots.ie ).

L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Soft Balm, €5, is a rose-scented moisturiser specially launched to mark International Women’s Day. Profits go to projects in Burkina Faso, where the shea butter is produced. ( www.loccitane.com ).

LIGHT RELIEF

There’s something so relaxing about a bath by candlelight, especially if that flickering flame also scents the air.

Light Max Benjamin’s Persian Rose, €18.95, close your eyes and let the exotic fragrance transport you to a tranquil Turkish bath ( www.maxbenjamin.com ).

On even the coldest winter night, the Meath-based Handmade Soap Company’s Lemongrass & Cedarwood, €15.95, which uses 100% natural soy wax, will evoke warmer climes. ( www.kilkennyshop.com ).

WORTH YOUR SALT

Initially a foodie fad, the Himalayan salts trend has hit the beauty counters.

Formed millions of years ago, these salts are incredibly pure, and containing 84 different minerals plus essential oils, they’ll leave your skin soft, muscles relaxed, and mind calm.

Dip a toe in the water with Himalaya Salt Dreams Crystal Bath Salts — a steal at €8.95 for 1kg. ( www.dublinnutricentre.com )

FIZZ BUZZ

Lush’s Just for Mum Gift Set, €32.50, contains five bath bombs that fizz your tub into a technicolour froth, including the reviving green Guardians Of The Forest (with cypress oil and lime) and the pastel perfection of Twilight, which releases a soothing lavender and sweet tonka bean aroma ( www.lush.com ).

EASTERN PROMISES

Bringing ancient Ayurvedic principles to modern skincare, Rituals Ayurveda gift set contains four luxury products including a scrub and a shower oil (€14.25, down from €28.50, Debenhams).

BAG IT UP

Containing three spa-worthy treats (body wash, foot soak and body lotion), Baylis and Harding’s Luxury Dressing Gown gift set is all mum needs for top to toe at-home indulgence.

The sweet mandarin and grapefruit scented set comes with a supersoft fleece dressing gown for ultimate pampering. (Was €54, now €37.80, Debenhams).

SPRING IN HER STEP

The Dr. Hauschka Regenerating Skin Care Kit

priced at just €29.95 will definitely make your mother smile this Mother’s Day.

The kit contains five mini products from the regenerating skin range — the eye cream, serum, day cream, body cream and neck and décolleté cream, which are all designed to help slow down the skin’s aging process and help smooth wrinkles and restore skin’s natural radiance.

All the products in the regenerating range are specially formulated for mature skin and encourage the skin’s renewal processes. (Available from selected pharmacies and Avoca).