The recent passing of Nora Ephron meant lots of her quotes and segments from her writing were popping up everywhere. In one of them she mentioned a favourite beauty product of hers, how much she loved it, and how life was too short to skimp on using what you love. It’s quite a long and sad quote and I won’t reprint it all here. But, I do love to know what people I admire use and love when it comes to all things beauty related. Ms Ephron rhapsodizing about a bath oil she adored so much made me want to run out and get some. Quickly.

Part of her quote:

And that reminds me to say something about bath oil. I use this bath oil I happen to love. It’s called Dr Hauschka’s lemon bath. It costs about £15 a bottle, which is enough for about two weeks of baths if you follow the instructions. 

The instructions say one capful per bath. But a capful gets you nowhere. A capful is not enough. I have known this for a long time.

But if the events of the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that I’m going to feel like an idiot if I die tomorrow and I skimped on bath oil today. 

So I use quite a lot of bath oil. More than you could ever imagine. After I take a bath, my bathtub is as dangerous as an oil slick. But thanks to the bath oil, I’m as smooth as silk. 

I am going out to buy more, right now. Goodbye. *

I like everything about this. To use things that you have – why hoard it? What are we waiting for? We buy things we love, we consider them precious, then tuck them away in the back of the cupboard so as not to “waste” them. Imagine!

That said, I got some Dr Hauschka Lemon Bath the next day. And you know what? It’s as wonderful as you could imagine a lemony bath product could be. It is refreshing, and basically the yummiest lemon beauty product I’ve used. It reminded me of how much I used to love Love’s Fresh Lemon and Jean Nate After Bath Splash, especially in the summer. I would say it is not strictly an oil, as I tried to wear it as a body oil and it was sticky, like a soap. Awkward. It doesn’t lather enough to be a shower gel, so you have no choice but to draw a lovely bath, pour in more than a capful, and then slip in and enjoy. It refreshes and soothes, and makes you feel good. According to aromatherapy, most citrus scents are uplifting and positive so perhaps that is part of the effect. It smells amazing, and makes your whole bathroom smell like you’ve sliced open one of those big juicy Meyer Lemons. Ahhhhh… Dr Hauschka’s site alleges that it helps with cellulite, a claim that seems ambitious, but it certainly feels invigorating. It comes in a nice functional glass bottle with the simple Hauschka branding and label. Clean and unembellished.

We have many things we can thank Nora Ephron for, but right now I will thank her for encouraging me to open up my cupboard, and use the things I love and that make me feel good. Solid advice.

 

Dr Haushka Lemon Bath is available on their website, and where Dr Hauschka is sold for around $33 for a 5.1 oz bottle.

* Extracted from I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK, by Nora Ephron