» Are shower steamers the new bath bombs?
Move over bath bombs, shower steamers are the new bathroom beauty trend adding a touch of luxury to your daily ablutions.
As luscious as a long soak in a bath full of essential oils can be, there's a myriad of reasons why a bath every day just isn't realistic.
You might live in a cramped apartment with a tiny bath-less bathroom, haven't got the time or patience to get the water temperature just right or maybe you really hate baths.
So when Etsy revealed a new beauty trend offering the indulgence and aromatherapy of our favourite bath bomb in the time it takes to take a shower, we listened.
What is a shower steamer?
Wrapped neatly into a delicious-smelling parcel, all you need to enjoy a shower steamer is to place one (or a few, if you're feeling fancy) on the floor of your shower away from the direct stream of water and turn on the water to your preferred temperature (warmer is better).
The shower steam will soon release the scented oils into the air: Breathe deeply and relax.
"They’re perfect for quick relaxation," says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's trend expert. "Just place the steamers on the floor of the shower and let the aromatherapy go to work."
What scent should I choose?
We're big fans of using aromatherapy to improve our physical and mental wellbeing, so carefully-selecting shower steamers containing particular scents could have a big impact on your mood.
If you love a morning shower to ease the pain of an early wake-up, choose a steamer with energising natural ingredients like dried orange rind and grapefruit for an invigorating addition to your pre-work routine.
If you prefer to shower before bed, look for calming scents like lavender or cedarwood, which can help you wind down and put you to sleep after a stressful day.
Suffering from a cold? Shower steamers containing menthol and eucalyptus can act as decongestants to clear your sinuses.
Shower steamers are actually pretty simple to make yourself using baking soda, essential oils, citric acid and silicone moulds, but if you'd prefer to purchase them, there are a few places you can buy into this emerging beauty trend.