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Bath Salts Will Get You High, Just Not the Ones at Your House

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:00:53 PST

Because salvia and cough syrup are just déclassé, America's teens are now snorting bath salts to get high. The kids are calling it "Cloud Nine", and apparently it's a craze that's sweeping the nation. Don't go shoving that Ahava up your nose just yet, though. The "bath salts" being sold aren't your run-of-the-mill lavender and eucalyptus stuff. They're actually erstwhile chemicals, usually mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone, being passed off as seasoning salt, bath salts, or even fertilizer.

Both chemicals are powerful stimulants, said to be around four times more powerful than Ritalin and similar in effect to MDMA. Also, they're as addictive as meth. Great. Not surprisingly, lots of the people using this stuff are winding up in the hospital. So, to recap: the bath salts you use at home are totally fine; don't snort them. If, however, you are looking to get high, please do not buy these dumb, terrible drugs for the above reasons.

What's Your Bath Product of Choice?

BellaSugar — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:00:00 PST

While most of you said that you prefer showers over baths, there are still a good amount of you that take baths at least once a month or more. Recently, I used a bath bomb, and after the two-minute novelty of its fizziness wore off, I got to thinking about how much I'd just rather bathe in an absurd amount of bubbles. What about you? When it comes to bath products, which one enhances the experience the most?

GNC Gets Soaked

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:03 PDT

GNC, a brand long-associated with building big bulky muscles for jocks, is exploring its softer side. Recently, the vitamin megastore released Wellbeing, a new line of health, beauty, and fitness products for women, including vitamins, supplements, and three new bath soaks ($15 each).

These dual-acting muscle soaks/bath scrubs contain mineral-rich salts from the Dead Sea, perfect for detoxification, exfoliation, and pre-self-tanning. Each soak also contains a high concentration of essential oils to boost their therapeutic benefits. Baths are one of life's simple pleasures, agreed? But do these new products enhance the experience? Find out when you

read more. Dead Sea and/or epsom salts are my favorite ways to clarify both the body and mind while chilling in the tub, particularly when combined with scents that are more mellow than overwhelming, and more natural than synthetic. GNC's citrus-scented Be-Positive Uplifting Soak and juniper-scented Be-Refreshed Sore Muscle Soak provided just that. The new item is also available in a calming Be-Rested Relaxation Soak - Lavender. While the salts are a little on the expensive side, as I got only about three to four uses out of each tub, Mr. Bella and I both agreed that the muscle soak was restorative without being too medicinal. "It would be great if you were sick, too," he adds. As for the uplifting version, it did indeed have bright and cheery benefits, along with some skin-softening advantages. At roughly $4 to $5 per use, I'm on the fence about the cost and small quantity of product, but pleased with the results.

A Three-Ingredient Softening Scrub For Dishpan Hands

BellaSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:00:33 PST

If you did a lot of cooking over the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm sure you did a lot of dishes. And if you did a lot of dishes, I'm sure your hands are feeling the effects. Even if you weren't scrubbing away, the cooler months often produce dry hands that need some extra TLC. So, if you're looking for an easy do-it-yourself treatment, I learned this great combo while holiday shopping at an Aveda store last year.

In your hands, mix the following, work in for an invigorating massage, and rinse away: about a quarter-sized amount of Hand Relief ($19), a scoop of Soothing Aqua Therapy ($28.50) bath salts, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Currently, I'm really digging Patchouli Oil ($13). Psst - you can use drugstore ingredients, too. The results are still luxurious. Aaah.

Source

New Product Alert: InSpa Dead Sea Mineral Soaks

BellaSugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:20:15 PDT

InSpa is a fast-growing chain of day spas popping up around the country, and the brand has two new bath products I'm ready to sink myself into right now: the Dead Sea Salt Moisturizing ($18) and Revitalizing ($18) Mineral Soaks. Dead Sea salts contain high concentrations of bromides, which are extremely therapeutic and known for their calming effects on muscles and joints.

You can purchase InSpa products online or at any of their eight spa locations on the West Coast. To read more about the mineral soaks,

read more The Moisturizing Mineral Soak ($18) combines salts with with other important minerals to help make sore muscles and stiff joints feel better. This product also uses oatmeal to comfort dry skin, and it contains almond, lemon, cinnamon, bergamot, leaf clove, tangerine, white thyme, and safflower oils for softening effects. The Revitalizing Mineral Soak ($18) helps rejuvenate a tired body. It is made from oatmeal, almond, palmarosa, lemon, and safflower oils, plus alpha hydroxy acids to wipe away dull-looking dead skin cells.

How to Make (and Give!) Scented Bath Salts

Jaime Richards — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:10:59 PST

Sure, lipstick gift sets and prepackaged holiday soaps are lovely, but a handmade gift always feels extra-special. There isn't anyone on this planet who doesn't like to relax, so treat your loved one to some serious chill-out time with custom-blended scented bath salts. To see just how easy these bath-time presents are to make, just keep reading.

Beauty Must Reads From the BellaSugar Community

BellaSugar — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:51:39 PST

Pretty abstract nail art in anticipation of Spring - Beautopia
Easy DIY relaxing bath salts - Beauty Starlet
Taking water marbled nails to the next level - Uncolour My World
Winter skin soothers - At First Blush
Make your own essential oils - Beautiful Basics

6 Quick and Easy Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Jaime Richards — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:05:07 PST

The holidays have a funny way of sneaking up, but just because it's the 11th hour, doesn't mean you can't still find amazing gifts. So if you're a bit behind on your shopping list, no fret. See six quick and easy ways you can make it all come together now.

Neti Pot Possible Cause of Two Deaths: How to Use One Safely

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:09:31 PST

Flushing your nasal passages with warm salt water can do wonders for congestion and sinus pain caused by colds and allergies, but use a neti pot improperly, and it could result in death. Louisiana's state health department has issued a warning for neti pots in response to two deaths thought to be linked to improper neti pot use. Both victims filled their neti pots with regular tap water instead of the manufacturer-recommended distilled or sterilized water.

Louisiana state department health officials believe deadly brain-eating amoebas known as Naegleria fowleri, which can live in tap water, entered into the victims' bodies through their noses, then made their way into their brains. The amoeba then infected each victim with a neurological disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which quickly destroys brain tissue, usually killing in a matter of days.

Scary, I know, but don't throw out your neti pot just yet. Keep reading to find out how to safely irrigate your sinuses.

Week in Review: DIY Bath Salts, Gorgeous Nails, and More

BellaSugar — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:19:20 PST

Check out our latest BellaTV episode and some of our favorite stories from the week:

These homemade bath salts would make a great holiday gift.
December's hottest new nail polishes.
Five easy makeup mistake fixes.
Great stocking stuffers under $25.
Bring back these old timey beauty products.
Bleach London makes wild-haired Barbies.
The secret to fixing dried-out eyeliner.