Today’s hectic lifestyles often prevents even a quick trip to a day spa. Hence the increasing popularity of the home spa, where you can bubble, steam, and soak yourself — privately and bonus its at your own convenience.
The following tips will help you set the stage for a top-notch spa treatment in the comforts of home:
Use a miniature cooler to store hot towels. Simply immerse the towels in steaming hot water, wring them out, and then store them in the cooler where they’ll remain hot for 10 to 15 minutes. You can also microwave wrung-out towels for a minute or less and then place them in the cooler.
A quart-sized plastic or glass bowl on hand to hold water, body baths, salts, algae and other spa ingredients.
Use a sheet to help the process of purifying herbs, creams or oils as well as to protect furniture and other surfaces in your home. The best choices are natural muslin or pure, unbleached cotton sheets.
To stay warm while cocooned in rich seaweed or while absorbing pure essential oils, use warming wraps. The best choice for blankets is, of course, wool, but other fabrics will insulate sufficiently as well.
Exfoliation is a key word in the home spa experience. To exfoliate the skin, a dry skin brush or a loofah is a must.
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Avocado Moisture Scrub Avocado, high in fat and oil, is very therapeutic for dry skin. You’ll need: To make: To use: |
Towels, towels and more towels. Spa treatments can be towel intensive and it may be best to invest in a set just for home spa use. Many of the treatments may require two or three towels and it is important to keep one towel on reserve as your designated “spa towel” to wipe up any mess and clean away excess oil during massage.
A robe and slippers are suggested dress-attire at most professional day spas. It’s also a good idea to have a robe hanging on a nearby hook when you are pampering yourself at home. This is one area to splurge on as nothing feels quite the same as a high-quality bathrobe.
For application and removal of just about any product, especially around the face, large circular pads are the best.
You can make your own natural masks and lotions! There is something for everyone. If you have oily skin, problem skin, or even normal skin, these treatments will deepen your glow. To make the rosewater or orange water that are listed in some of the ingredients for these spa treatments, simply simmer rose petals or orange petals in steaming water for approximately ten minutes. Use a 2-quart saucepan of water and add a handful of petals. To preserve the orange or rose water, add alcohol. Use 3 pints of rose or orange water to 1 pint of alcohol. * Place in a bottle and store for up to a month. For longer storage, freeze mixture.
Any number of fruits, grains, herbs, minerals, and vegetables can be used alone or in combinations to make scrubs. Most substances that are safe to eat are also safe to use on the skin, provided you do not have an allergy.
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Lemon mask for oily skin 1/4- 1/2 cup of Potter’s Clay, 1 Lemon (equivalent lemon juice concentrate) For this mask you need a ball of potter’s clay or any other type of clay. Make a ball with the clay in the palm of your hand, filling your palm. Squeeze lemon juice into the ball, and roll it around in your hand. This is great for battling oiling skin. Place the mask on face, and allow it to set for 15-20 minutes. Rinse it off with warm. |
Bath Salts are an easily prepared alternative to bath herbs, and are to be preferred to the mixtures now on the market; most of these chemical-ridden formulas are almost guaranteed to irritate your skin.
Bath salts are used for many different purposes. The basic ingredients are table salt, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) & Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Some herbalists also use borax.
To make mix:
3 parts Epsom salts
2 parts baking soda
1 part table salt (or borax)
Essential (scented, herbal/floral) Oils
Tip: try it with vanilla extract
Mix thoroughly using your hands to stir the ingredients.
Its wise to add colors to bath salts. Use plain food coloring for this purpose, letting it fall drop by drop onto the salt base. Also, add the essential oils drop by drop, one ingredient at a time, until the scent seems right. using your hands and fingertips, mix it until all salt particles are moistened. To use, add from 2 tablespoons to one-half cup of the bath salts to a full tub. Mix with your hands into the water. Relax, enjoy!!
NOTE: For bath salts place in a deep wide rimmed container, don’t use a small bottle neck as the salts may
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Rosemary Lotion (oily skin): 1 oz. Rose petal or rose water ,1 Tbsp. Egg white ,1 oz Rosemary tea Mix all ingredients until smooth, and apply the solution to your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse with cool water. This oil-free lotion is especially good for moisturizing oily skin. *This lotion can not be stored. It must be made fresh for each use. |
For a complete relaxation experience, re-create a spa hydrotherapy bath at home. First, you’ll need to create your escape. Surround the tub with candles and the essentials, including towels and a bath pillow. Add the peaceful sound of soft music. Fill the tub with hot water; 104 degrees is the maximum. Next, add ten drops of special essential oils such as lavender or juniper for a calming effect. Step in and soak for twenty minutes, remembering to breathe deeply and enjoy the moment. When finished, pat yourself dry with a towel, leaving some of the bath’s moisture to soak into skin. Now is a perfect time to slip into a comfortable robe and do nothing for 20 minutes.