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 Four
Treatments at home:
1. Body exfoliation and bath
What You Need:
Bath soak
Candles
Bath pillow or small towel
Exfoliator
Magazine or a good book
Moisturize
Time Required: 1 hour
Fill your bath with warm water and a spa inspired bath soak.
Buy a bath soak or make your own soak using a recipe.
Dim the lights and light a few candles. Candles have a natural
calming effect and will relax your mind while the bath relaxes
your body.
Don’t forget a pillow or towel to rest your head. Nothing is
worse than not being able to really relax in a bath. If you take
regular baths (and you should) you may want to purchase a bath
pillow. Just folding a small towel to support your neck will
work as well.
Exfoliate your body using a great deep exfoliator such as Bliss’
Hot Scrub, or make your own brown sugar body scrub. Rub the
exfoliator in circular motions exfoliating your entire body
starting with your legs and working up. The dead skin will be
sloughed leaving your skin with a healthy fresh layer. Skip your
face; you’ll want a gentle facial exfoliator.
Don’t forget a magazine or a good book. Get caught up on the
latest celebrity gossip or finally open the book you’ve been
meaning to start.
When you’re finished, moisturize your skin right away. Your skin
has just soaked up water like a sponge, and now you’ll want to
seal in the moisture by adding moisturizer. Indulge in something
thick and luxurious such as 100% Pure Lemon Shea Body Butter.
Tips:
Turn off the phone and send your husband and the kids out for
ice-cream; this is your time to relax.
A relaxing bath is a great time to apply a facial or hair mask.
Going to the spa is not only great for your body, but great for
your mind. Unfortunately for most of us, due to cost, spa
treatments are saved only for special occasions.
Just because your budget doesn’t allow regular visits to the spa
doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in your own spa experience right
at home.
2. Soothing Body Wrap
What You'll Need:
Blender
1 cucumber
Bunch of mint leaves
Aloe vera gel (available at drugstores)
Lavender and chamomile essential oils (available at health-food
stores)
Plastic wrap
Do It at Home
Combine 1/4 cup shredded cucumber, 1/4 cup finely chopped mint
leaves, 1/2 cup aloe, 5 drops lavender essential oil, and 3
drops chamomile essential oil in a blender and puree.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then spread on hot spots like your
feet, neck, and legs. Cover skin with plastic wrap to help the
hydrating mask soak in, relax for 15 minutes, then rinse.
3. Energizing Hair Treatment
What You'll Need:
Peppermint essential oil (available at health-food stores)
Daily rinse-out conditioner
Your own Spa at Home
After rinsing out your shampoo, add 1 or 2 drops of peppermint
oil to a dollop of conditioner. Coat your hair. Massage your
scalp with your fingertips, making small circular motions start
at the hairline, move toward the crown, cover both the right and
left sides of your head, and finish at the neckline. Rinse with
lukewarm water (the peppermint oil makes the temperature feel
colder).
4. Invigorating Pedicure
What You'll Need:
Large basin
Salt body scrub
Spearmint essential oil (available at health-food stores)
5 small, smooth-edged garden stones
Body or foot lotion
Nail-polish remover and cotton balls
Tools (file, cuticle pusher, toenail clipper)
Polish
Do It at Home
Soak feet for 10 minutes in a basin filled with lukewarm water.
Use a handful of salt scrub and 2 drops of spearmint oil to
exfoliate feet and lower legs; rinse. Place stones in a bowl of
ice for a few minutes, then gently massage your feet and lower
legs with them. Add 1 or 2 drops of spearmint oil to lotion and
rub over feet and legs. Wipe oil from toenails with a cotton
ball soaked with nail-polish remover, file, gently push back
cuticles, and paint nails.
5. Refreshing Facial
What You'll Need:
Cream face cleanser
1 green-tea bag
Aloe vera gel (available at drugstores)
Plain yogurt
Honey
1 cucumber
Do It at Home
Cleanse skin with face wash and cool water. Soak a cotton pad in
chilled green tea, then gently pat onto skin. Gently apply
pressure to facial acupressure points with fingertips --
eyebrows, inner corners of your eyes, below the lower lip, and
under each cheekbone. Mix 1 cup aloe, 1/4 cup yogurt, and a few
drops of honey in a bowl, then apply the mask with your fingers.
Place two slices of chilled cucumber over your eyes; relax for
10 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
6. All-Natural Chocolate Facial Mask
This decadent facial mask, ideal for normal skin, will leave
your face smooth, soft, and silky. The cream and honey add
moisture, and the oatmeal sloughs dead skills, perfect for
smelling romantic and deliciously edible. Enjoy!
1/3 cup cocoa
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons cottage cheese
1/4 cup honey
3 teaspoons oatmeal powder
Mix all ingredients together and smooth onto face. Relax for 10
minutes; then rinse with warm water.
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