Foam-Oh! Here’s How The Fluffy Stuff Heals Skin and Volumizes Hair

Baths are nice, but bubble baths are even better — and why is that? Soft, foamy clouds of bubbles are soothing and luxurious, of course; and the good news is, baths aren’t the only place you can enjoy them. Bubbly, foaming beauty treatments are trending right now… and for good reason. Whether styling hair, cleansing skin, or reversing aging arghs, remedies or products made with the airy, lightweight formula are not only gentle on skin and hair, but they also won’t strip them of much-needed moisture. Read on to learn more about the benefits of foam beauty treatments and see which ones you should try.

It volumizes fine, limp hair.

Working a dollop of peptide-infused foaming mousse through damp hair before styling helps prop hair up at the root. The foam adds thickening texture, while the peptides fortify hair follicles to prevent shedding and breakage and thicken individual strands so they look fuller.

ONE TO TRY: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Root Lift Foam (Buy from Amazon, $23.50)

It softens rough patches.

The foaming action of a castile soap–based scrub helps hydrate super-dry skin sans irritation. Want to try it? Mix 4 cups of sugar (it exfoliates) and ½ cup each of coconut oil (it hydrates) and liquid castile soap (Buy from Amazon, $9.49). Rub onto damp skin and let sit 2 minutes; rinse.

It fades age spots.

A foaming cleanser infused with licorice root extract helps diminish pesky dark spots, thanks to the plant’s unique compounds that break down excess melanin (skin’s pigment). What’s more, the extract may also slough off dead, discolored skin cells to reveal more luminous, even-toned layers of skin underneath.

ONE TO TRY: Palmer’s Dark Spot Correcting Facial Cleanser (Buy from Amazon, $8.78)

It smooths fine lines.

When applied to the face, an oxygenating sheet mask (which contains oxygen gas that bubbles up when exposed to skin) increases circulation to stimulate the production of skin-firming collagen. One that contains antioxidant-rich wine and brightening vitamin C (like the Miss Spa product below) can also help give the complexion a radiant, lit-from-within glow.

ONE TO TRY: Miss Spa Mimosa Fizz Brightening Bubble Mask (Buy from Miss Spa, $4)

It de-puffs swollen feet.

Soaking feet in a basin filled with warm water and 1 tablespoon of an Epsom salt–infused bubble bath may allow the salt’s magnesium to absorb into skin and flush excess fluids that pool in feet that cause pain and swelling. Even better? Bath salts that also contain aloe can help moisturize and soften rough heels.

ONE TO TRY: Heel to Toe Invigorating Foaming Foot Soak (Buy from Sally Beauty, $7.69)

DIY Foaming Bath Bomb

Ready to bring home the power of foam? Try this DIY hack for a luxurious, bubbly bath bomb to relax and replenish the skin on your feet.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 cup citric acid powder (Buy from Amazon, $10.99)
• 1 ½ cups cornstarch
• ¼ cup Epsom salts
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup water

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Then add wet ingredients and knead into a crumbly dough. Press into wells of a nonstick muffin pan and let set overnight, then remove. Place bomb in a warm bath and soak for 15 minutes.

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.