Here are 10 personal little home spa tips that will make you
look and feel like a million bucks! Squeeze in a few extra
minutes to your every day self care time and you’ll see how
easily these step by step pampering recommendations will turn
even the toughest days around. Or if you can negotiate a few
minutes here and there from your day to get even more time…by
all means… do it! Your family, friends and co-workers will meet
a much happier, more chipper, fantastically refreshed you! In
Preparation: First things, first. No shopping, buying or leaving
the house. Scour the house for a few fun spa essentials and make
a decadent ‘Home Spa Day’ just with what you have tucked away!
Why put off what you could be doing right now?! I suppose if you
are out and about and feel so inclined to pick up special bath
salts, moisturizers or essential oils… so be it. I admire your
level of commitment! Grab your robe and slippers
Find a soothing CD that you absolutely love
Scented candle A washcloth, loofah, bath brush
or a new scrubbie back there in the drawers you forgot about
Fluffy cotton towel Bath salts or essential
aromatic oils (if you have them) Your cleansers, toners
and moisturizers Coarse sea salt Plenty of
chilled spring water (with a splash of lime or lemon) in the
fanciest glass you can find Steep a cup of green tea Let
go of your day… your obligations… responsibilities… stress… and
strain. Toss out the barrage of thoughts streaming through your
mind (even if it’s just for a moment). Trust me… they’ll still
be around later for you to poke at, ponder or peruse. Try to
relax. Take yourself on a far away vacation in your head, tell
yourself a “Once Upon A Time” story, remind yourself what a
princess you are and remember how essential these precious
moments are to your happiness and sanity! Welcome To Your At
Home Spa Vacation! 1.Take it easy and slow down your breath,
your thoughts and your movements. Put on your favorite CD and
start prepping a very simple shower or bath in a wonderfully
slow, deliberate and unhurried way. Take time to watch the
candle burn, smell the fragrance, feel the soft robe or towels,
look at the sparkling drops of water and run your hands through
it… take in the joyful process of an every day activity that we
just fly through without a second thought!
2.Use essential oils. Not only do they smell great, but they are
extremely good for your skin. The rule to applying essential
oils is to never apply them directly on your face or skin. Just
add about five drops to a bowl of warm water. Soak a washcloth
in the water and then apply to your face and neck as a compress
for five minutes. Repeat three times. Gently towel dry and
finish yourself off with an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory
facial splash. If you have a choice of essential oils to choose
from, select one that suits your mood and purpose. If you are
desparking the stress level this holiday, choose soothing oils
(like lavender, chamomile, jasmine, sandalwood and ylang-ylang).
Good revitalizing and energizing oils when you need them are
peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, basil and juniper. The aroma
can also provide psychological and physical benefits too!
Essential oils can help with physical conditions, rejuvenate the
skin, eliminate waste, alleviate stress, enhance your mood,
restore vitality and facilitate the regeneration of new, healthy
cells. 3.Basic Body Scrub and Cleansing If you decided you only
have time for an indulgent, relaxing shower… start with a basic
body scrub and cleansing. I found this fabulous new product
called Spongeables (www.spongeables.com). It’s a soap and a
sponge all in one. It lasts for a full month of frothy fragrant
showering. My favorite fragrance is fresh lavender… and they
have them fragrance free too if that’s more your style. Whatever
sponge, cloth or brush you decide on… scrub mindfully and only
gently brush your skin. Gentle circular motions will increase
your circulation and eliminate toxins and excess water. Another
in home spa trick is to mix an ounce of ground sea salt with 10
or so drops of your favorite essential oil. Add water and make a
paste so it spreads easily. Apply it to your entire body and
slough off the dead skin with big circular strokes. This salt
scrub will exfoliate dead skin cells, cleanse the pores and help
your body get rid of any toxins. 4.Draw a bath. Add 5 to 10
drops of an essential oil to bath salts. Grab an extra pillow,
put a kitchen trash bag over it to keep it dry and then put a
pillow case over that. You just bought yourself 10 extra comfy
minutes in the bath tub. You might as well take a book too!
Follow it with a warm shower and a dry yourself off with a
fluffy cotton towel. If someone in the house really loves you…
get them to toss it in the dryer for 5 minutes and greet you
with fluffy warmth. If you have a body toning lotion handy,
apply to your body (not your face) for additional firming and
toning so you’ll look even better in that little black dress.
5.Be nice to yourself. These are your precious rejuvenating
moments. Take your time. Pamper yourself and try not to get
caught up in the have-to’s and the should-do’s. Don’t be in a
rush. Not only will you lose some of the benefits of this
quality time to refresh and relax, you may start sloughing off
and using rough, damaging strokes. 6.Hurrying has its risks.
Without slow, mindful, attentive movements, you could cause
inflammation and jeopardize that fresh, healthy, glowing
complexion that will make you a bright shining super star. You
can actually accelerate the aging process by being too rough!
Now there’s a good enough reason in and of itself to slow down.
7.Care for your hair. It is taking a beating in these winter
elements. Add ¼ ounce of lavender to sixteen ounces of shampoo.
Or for oily hair, add ¼ ounce of lemongrass or rosemary to 16
ounces of shampoo. Essential oils can make invigorating scalp
massages. Rosemary is awesome! If you decide not to use the
oils, make sure you at least give yourself a long, sudsy scalp
massage. Close your eyes, lay your head back and drift for a
moment. 8.Replenish lost moisture to your skin and hair this
winter by taking two tablespoons of organic flaxseed oil twice a
day. You’ll get rid of the itchies and combat wrinkles and
sagging skin. 9.Treat your fabulous face. All the treatments
above were just for your bod. Your face is special and delicate.
The skin on your face is thinner and more fragile than your
body. Treat your face with extreme care and gentleness. Even
though it’s cold avoid extremely hot water, harsh soaps or any
drying cleansers. Grab a new wash cloth or small sea sponge, add
a few drops of your favorite cleanser (preferably an
anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory liquid cleanser) and then rinse
thoroughly with warm water. Apply face firming treatment then
put an ice cube inside of a small plastic bag and gently rub
over the face and eye area for several minutes to tone and plump
up the skin. 10.Rejuvenate from the inside Drink 8 to10
glasses of water every day. Eat lots of whole foods,
green vegetables, fresh fruits, grains, nuts and lean protein to
reduce inflammation, replenish moisture and bring back a
youthful glow. Take 3 full, deep breaths from your
abdomen (keep your shoulders still) to complete your simple
happy essential home spa experience. The benefits and joy you
experience during your at home spa day will be more colored by
your desire and your intentions than any fancy, expensive
products you can buy. Be mindful, set your intentions and
gradually transition in to or out of your work day… always
cherishing these simple, sacred rejuvenating moments.