The Best Bath Products for Surviving Cold and Flu Season

We hate to break it to you, but cold and flu season is here. And, although it hasn’t yet reached its peak — December through February is when it typically rears its ugly head — the thought of coughs, sneezes, and cold sweats probably sends shivers down your spine. Before you curse your co-worker for showing up sick to a meeting (or kid for sneezing on you), know this: You can boost immunity and decrease symptoms by simply taking a bath. Ingredients like eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender help clear congestion, keep germs at bay, and leave you feeling brand-new. Ahead, the best products to add to a hot bath to ward off dreadful colds.

Captain Blankenship Orla Bath Salts ($24): Enhanced by glacial marine clay and magnesium sulfate to help rid the body of toxins, along with cold-fighting essential oils like bergamot and blood orange, sprinkling your bath with these powerful minerals can leave you feeling restored.

Avalon Organics Revitalizing Peppermint Bath & Shower Gel ($10): Add a dollop of the minty gel to a warm washcloth for an invigorating rinse.

Aromatherapy Associates Support Lavender & Peppermint Bath & Shower Oil ($73): Need fast sinus relief? Take a bath with peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus — the stars of this supportive bath oil. Their cooling, soothing, antiviral, and antibacterial properties can work wonders when you’re sick. The aromatherapy-inspired oil is also enhanced with skin-nourishing coconut oil, so you’ll not only breathe better but also feel soft to the touch post-bath.

CBD For Life Pure CBD Face & Body Cleanser ($17): One of the downsides of feeling sick — aside from, you know, the sickness part — is it often leaves your face and body looking puffy. Using anti-inflammatory products like this CBD-infused face and body cleanser can help. In addition to CBD (which can calm and soothe the skin), the multi-use cleanser also contains arnica for aches and pains and antiseptic lemon peel extract to help ward off germs.

Herbivore Botanicals Detox Soaking Salts ($18): The natural salts feature blue clay to naturally detox and cleanse, as well as eucalyptus and lavender to help soothe and protect while you soak.

True Botanicals Immune Boost ($38): Featuring antiviral and antibacterial properties, the roll-on formula was made with recovery in mind. To experience its magic, roll it on your chest, throat, and below each ear (in the lymph area) prior to your soak. The steam from the bath combined with the aromatherapy makes for one stellar remedy.

Yon-Ka Paris Aroma-Fusion Phyto Bain ($54): This botanical-infused bath oil certainly ups the ante on rest and relaxation. Made with a unique essential oil blend of lavender, rosemary, and sage, the aromatherapy bath oil can balance, detoxify, and help revitalize during the sick season.

Farmaesthetics Deep Lavender Rub ($27): Made with lavender, ginger, eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint essential oils, the rub helps relieve congestion.

GuruNanda Thrive Essential Oil ($20): This 100 percent pure essential oil is like a wellness shot for your bath (and your senses). The blend is made up of clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils to improve immunity, boost energy, and clear the mind. To reap its benefits in the bath, create a two percent dilution with coconut oil (or 12 drops to each fluid ounce of oil) to avoid skin irritation, and pour the mixture into your bath.

Seraphine Botanicals Clementine + Nectar Nourishing Body Oil ($54): Post-bath nourishment not only helps keep dry skin at bay but can also provide the body with a defense boost. This botanical-based body oil is made with nutrient-rich oils as well as clementine and French lavender essential oil, both of which can coax you to sleep with their relaxing aromas and amp up the skin’s ability to protect the body from environmental stressors.