Turn the lights down, sprinkle some scented bath salts in the tub, and bring goodies- toy boats, rubber duckies, the more the better! The warm water will lower both you and your baby’s blood pressure, making you feel relaxed and calm and ready for bed. Scents such as lavender and rose are wonderfully soothing, and the bath salts will soften and smooth the skin, so you’ll both feel soft and supple! Bathing is also a wonderful excuse to share time alone together. Sweet dreams!

By Brittney Hansen
Photos Courtesy of Lee Williamson

In this fast-paced, modern lifestyle that most of us live these days, the simple things in life are often overlooked. Schedules are filled with dozens of responsibilities, and getting ready for the day often means a quick douse in the shower and a meal on-the-go. Bathing was only for the younger years, when there was time for bubbles and toys. But if you ask Lee Williamson, founder and CEO of the San Francisco Bath Salt Company, we should all take time out of our week for a soothing bath, no matter what our age or what our to-do list says.

Lee Williamson moved from England to America nearly twenty years ago, where he eventually settled in the Silicon Valley. Because of his work, Williamson was forced to commute four hours each workday; long commutes make for sore bodies. It was during this time that he remembered relaxing childhood baths in England and on a visit to Pier 39, he spotted a woman selling scented, colored bath salts at a kiosk. The interesting thing was that there always seemed to be a crowd attracted to her bath products every time Lee went by. He put two and two together and realized that here was a great opportunity that he could not pass up. It was in the year 2002 that things really came together, and the San Francisco Bath Salt Company (SFBSC) was founded.

"We like to say that we're re-inventing the art of bathing," said Lee, a resident of Union City. "Bathing really is a lot better than taking a shower; it helps to draw impurities from the skin, and it's great for muscle aches and pains." When salt minerals and essential oils are added to the bath water, the benefits are even greater.

At SFBSC, dozens of different salt combinations can be mixed and matched, from amount and salt grain size, to colors and scents. Salts are gathered from locations all over the world, from the Himalayan Mountains to the Dead Sea; these salts are naturally packed with minerals that soothe, clean, and restore skin. When you use good-quality bath salts and minerals, it is like "you're bringing the ocean right into your bath," said Williamson. "We stay as natural as possible."

The bath salts are available in over sixty scents as varied as ginger, pear, and citrus crush, lavender, eucalyptus, and rose garden. Over a dozen colors are available as well, so there truly is a bath salt for everyone; whether it be a relaxing bath before bedtime to welcome sleep, or a soak to refresh and invigorate both mind and body.

Also available at the SF Bath Salt Company are scrubs, body washes, and lotions, plus many other bath and shower essentials. If you would like to see some displays of bath products, be sure to visit the SFBSC "outlet store" warehouse in Hayward.

The other way to view the many varieties of bath salts, body scrubs, and other fine products from SFBSC, is to visit their website at www.sfbsc.com. There you will find not only many great products and deals, but also great information such as the "Top 10 Reasons to Take a Bath," Customer Testimonials and FAQs, and "Tips for the Perfect Bath," so that the ultimate bathing experience can be achieved.

The San Francisco Bath Salt Company Warehouse
30997 Huntwood Ave., Suite 102, Hayward
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(510) 477-9600
www.sfbsc.com