A handful of pink and white salt goes under the warm tap and slowly disappears. The smell of lavender rises with the steam, and for the next twenty minutes nobody needs anything from you.
Pink turns up everywhere in October, on ribbons pinned to jackets and in shop windows in Dubai and Beirut. In body care, the color is easy to bring home. Our body care range is built on botanicals such as lavender, rosemary and moringa, and the evening ritual around it has plenty of room for a little pink.
A pink month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink ribbon has been its symbol for decades, which is why the color fills so many windows and screens at this time of year.
If you have been meaning to book a screening, October is a good month to do it. Then give the evening that follows to yourself.
Salt from the Himalayas
The pinkest thing on our shelf is a bath salt. Our Himalayan Lavender Bath Salts mix pink and white Himalayan salt with dried lavender flowers, and the ingredient list ends there. Each pack holds 500 g, and it is made in Pakistan.
Dissolve a generous handful in warm running water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Youmi’s own guidance puts the amount at two to three tablespoons per bath, and it says daily use is fine. October evenings in the Gulf can still be warm, so a bath that feels comfortable is better than one that runs very hot.
The lavender is gentle. It reaches you once the water is in the tub, and it stays in the bathroom long after the bath is over. On a weeknight, that small change in the air can be the first sign the day has ended.
Between baths, keep the pack closed and away from the steam. Youmi’s page asks for a cool, dry place out of the sun, since damp salt clumps together. The salts are gentle for most skin types, and if you have a skin condition, Youmi suggests asking a dermatologist before you use them.
Skin after the scrub
A warm soak leaves skin a little flushed, a soft rose color that fades as you cool down. That is the moment to exfoliate, while your skin is still damp. On nights when you use the bath salts and the scrub together, soak first and scrub after, once the warm water has softened your skin.
The Radiance Renewal Body Exfoliator is made with moringa, lavender, rosemary and aloe vera. Youmi chose moringa to boost radiance and aloe vera to hydrate the skin after exfoliating. Massage it in gently, in slow circles, then rinse with warm water. Youmi made the formula gentler than most scrubs, to keep skin from drying out.
Youmi recommends using it one to three times a week, so keep it for the evenings when you have time for a bath as well.
The evening ritual
Some nights deserve more than a quick shower. Our Luxury Self-Care & Bath Ritual Set puts the bath salts together with a handmade ceramic cup, a ceramic tray to keep your body care in order, and a butter massage candle. It comes in beige or brown, two soft neutrals that let the pink of the salt stand out.
Youmi suggests filling the cup with jasmine, moringa or lavender tea. Set it on the tray beside the bath, light the candle, and let the tea cool a little while you soak.
In our guide to setting beauty goals for the new season, we suggested giving yourself ten extra minutes in the evening. A pink salt bath and a cup of tea fill those ten minutes easily.
On shower nights
Most evenings there is only time for a shower, and the ritual can shrink to fit it. The Botanical Body Wash is made with lavender, rosemary, thyme and jasmine, and its gentle scent comes mostly from the lavender and jasmine. Apply it to wet skin, work up a lather from your neck down, and rinse with warm water. It is made for daily use.
After the bath
Pat your skin dry and smooth on the Herbal Hydration Body Lotion while your skin is still warm. It is made with lavender, rosemary and thyme, and its light formula absorbs quickly, so you can slip into your pajamas a minute later. Spend a little longer on your elbows, knees and the backs of your hands, where skin tends to dry first. Youmi recommends using it every day. It suits most skin types, sensitive skin included, and if your skin reacts easily, Youmi suggests a patch test first.
The last of the steam
By the time the lotion has sunk in, the water has drained away and the cup on the tray is empty. The candle can burn a little longer.