Whether you’ve had a busy workweek, in need of some serious ‘me’ time or enjoy the occasional pamper, heading to a spa or beautician is a wonderful way to rejuvenate your skin and mind set, but unfortunately it can be quite costly and place unnecessary strain on your pocket.
Save your money and treat yourself by recreating the spa experience at home.
You’ll be surprised by the results you can recreate at home; much-‐needed rejuvenation for the mind and body, without the need to spend large amounts of your income. In fact, you can fashion a near-‐professional spa experience in your own home, all you need is a tiny bit of know how.
1. Soak:
The first step to creating your own at home spa experience is to run yourself a hot bath in a peaceful and quiet environment; turn off all distractions including your mobile phone. Light the space around you with scented candles; lavender and chamomile aromas are great to relax your mind and body, and soak all of your thoughts, concerns, aches and pains away while listening to soft instrumentals.
It is important that you let your mind be calm and still; shut down from work to do lists, money stresses and the family. Focus your thoughts on the feeling of the warm water on your skin.
2. Scrub:
Once you’re relaxed and your skin is soft from soaking in the tub, the next step is to scrub! Scrubbing your body will buff and polish your skin; a salt scrub or a body brush will scrub your body and lightly exfoliate it, resulting in soft and smooth skin.
Exfoliating is essential to rejuvenate and revitalize your skin, ensuring you have an even skin tone and also assists with reducing blemishes. It is important not to scrub too vigorously or hard as this can result in irritations and leave your skin red and sensitive.
3. Moisturise:
Many people underestimate the importance of a good moisturiser or often feel too rushed to apply it on a regular basis. A good quality moisturiser is essential to every beauty regime as it hydrates your skin and provides a barrier from impurities that may enter your pores.
When recreating the spa experience at home, treat your skin to a heavier, thicker moisturiser such as a body butter. Body butters are designed to really penetrate and moisturise the skin; leaving you feeling revitalised with soft, smooth, beautiful skin.
4. The face:
Now that you’ve given your body some TLC, it’s time to turn your attention to your face. First step is to cleanse, using a good quality cleanser, such as one with Vitamin E cooling ingredients, and then exfoliate, using a scrub that combines essential oils such as bergamont, geranium and ylang ylang with an exfoliating ingredient such as Blue Corn Powder. The combination of these ingredients is specifically designed to uplift the skin whilst removing dead skin cells, excess oils and dirt; the perfect exfoliating combination!
Lastly, choose a treatment mask that’s suited to your skin type; Kaolin Clay is great for oily skin as it controls shine, seaweed is known for its conditioning and hydrating benefits, and Zeolite provides a warming sensation that helps draw out impurities. All ingredients in face masks are suited to different skin types, if you’re unsure what type is best for you, ask a beauty professional. While you’re waiting for your mask to set, sit back and relax, treat yourself to a magazine, a glass of sparkling wine and enjoy your ‘me’ time.
Always be sure to set aside an hour or two each week for yourself, regardless of how busy you are. Your mind needs time each week to switch off and relax, and what better way to do this than to pamper yourself?
Photo: © Anton Maltsev – Fotolia.com
Karen Westwood is an independent business owner with The Body Shop At Home specialising in offering VIP spa experiences at home. The Body Shop At Home provides tailored indulgent treatments and demonstrations designed to leave your skin rejuvenated and feeling beautiful. For more information on The Body Shop At Home, please visit http://www.thebodyshop.com.au/TheBodyShopAtHome.aspx