Hiber-Nation '12: Spa day

For seasonal shut-ins in need of some straight-up pampering, look no further than this assortment of lovely, low-impact at-home spa goodies. (And no, I didn't forget the cruelty-free bubble bath.)

Mon, Feb 27 2012 at 8:00 AM EST

Photo: jillallyn/Flickr

Hello there and welcome to the seventh and final installment of Hiber-Nation '12, a special series of posts highlighting home accessories and other odds and ends geared to make housebound-in-the-winter life a bit more bearable. Before I get to today's featured products — as you've probably already gathered, they revolve around retreating to the bathroom for a bit of eco-minded "me" time — let's quickly review the cabin fever-busting goodies I've featured over the previous weeks: Indoor gardening kits (for those itching to flex their greenthumbs), non-electronic diversions (puzzles! crafts! games! beer-making kits!), tea-related paraphernalia (for optimum warmth and nourishment), hoodies (for days when you feel the need to crank down the thermostat), radios (audio accompaniment for long stretches spent at home), and, finally, throw blankets (don't stay home without one).

While all of the above items make for ideal gifts for seasonal shut-ins and can come in most handy on days when the weather is simply too frightful to leave the house, there's nothing quite like an indulgent, bathtub-centric pampering session to lift the spirits, sooth dry winter skin, and simply unwind. Instead of splurging on spendy spa treatments, consider the below at-home bath products ranging from vegan "bubble bars" to exfoliating hemp scrub mitts that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed with minimal environmental impact.

Are there any must-haves that you grab for when spending QT relaxing in the tub? What about any homemade lotions and potions that help you unwind on a cold winter's day? Tell me about them in the comments section!