Spa Rituals at Home: Relaxation & Self-Care Tips

Get comfortable and set the scene

To get started, slip into your fluffiest bathrobe to get comfortable and signal the beginning of your spa ritual.

All good spas create a sense of calm as soon as you enter through the décor, scents, sounds and lighting. Redecorating your bathroom may be a bit farfetched but some simple changes will help replicate the spa atmosphere. 

Firstly, dim the lights or use candlelight for a cosy atmosphere. Play your favourite relaxing music or choose a curated spa playlist on a music streaming site like Spotify. Create a relaxing scent by burning scented candles, an incense stick or using a diffuser with essential oils. You could even make your own relaxing essential oil blend with a couple of drops each of lavender, chamomile and ylang ylang.

The at-home facial

Cleanse

Naturally cleanse your face without dehydrating by gently massaging coconut oil followed by a warm towel over your face for 30 seconds to open the pores and lift the dirt. Then, remove the oil by patting with a facecloth. Coconut oil is antibacterial and leaves your skin feeling so soft. If you can, use organic and cold-pressed coconut oil as it doesn't include any toxins that could impact your skin.

Exfoliate

This gentle scrub recipe removes dead skin cells and calms the skin:

• 1 tbsp oatmeal (anti-inflammatory, grind or blend oats in a food processor to powder)
• 1 tsp honey (antibacterial)
• ½ teaspoon water

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, apply a smooth layer over clean skin. Leave for 10 minutes and wash with warm water.

Apply mask

For a skin brightening treat try this face mask:

• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp raw honey
• Juice of ½ lemon

Combine ingredients together and apply to face for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off.

A mask for dry skin

• Half an avocado, mashed (full of fatty, moisturising acids)
• 1 tbsp honey

Facial massage

End your facial by massaging with a nourishing oil to moisturise. We have 42 muscles on the face, so spend some time on this to reap the benefits. Concentrate on the lymph nodes under the ears and the neck, as when these are blocked they can cause puffiness in the face and a build-up of toxins. Also, spend time around the jaw to release the tension that many of us build up clenching throughout the day and in our sleep. Top tips: 

• For ageing skin use argan or olive oil
• For acne prone skin use jojoba or grape seed oil
• For dry skin use sunflower oil or wheat germ oil

The at-home hair mask

It’s not just your face that'll benefit from a mask but your tresses also. We put our hair under a lot of pressure, with excessive heat and drying hair products such as hair sprays. A hair mask helps to replenish moisture and nutrients.

For oily hair

• 1 egg white and juice from half a lemon

Apply the mixture over your hair from roots to ends, leave for 30 minutes and rinse with warm water (lukewarm, not hot).

For damaged hair

• 1 egg, 1 tsp honey, half an avocado, 1 tsp olive oil

Mix all the ingredients and apply to wet hair from the bottom-up. Wrap your hair in a bun and cover with a shower cap. Leave for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash out.

For dry hair

• 1 tsp honey, 1 egg, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Combine all the ingredients and apply to your hair. Leave for 30 minutes and rinse well. Double-up the ingredients for long hair.

Hand care

Try this remedy to soothe your dry hands:

• Cleanse your hands in warm water
• Mix honey, aloe vera gel and hand or body lotion in a 1-1-1 ratio
• Apply the mixture on your hands
• Put your hands into plastic gloves and tie with a rubber band at the wrist to prevent slipping
• Leave for 20 minutes or until condensation forms
• Take off the gloves and wash your hands in warm water
  
  

Dry skin bushing

While your face and hair masks are working their magic use this time to dry skin brush using a body brush in an upward motion. Not only will this gently exfoliate your skin revealing smoother, brighter skin, but it'll also help reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve lymphatic drainage for a stronger immune system.

Bath time

Run a warm bath and add two cups of Epsom salts and a couple of sprigs of rosemary. Soak and relax for 20 minutes. The Epsom salts are magnesium-rich to help ease tight muscles, promote sleep and reduce stress.

Self massage

End your home spa ritual with a self-massage to boost circulation, moisturise your skin and promote self-love. To make your own massage oil use 30ml of carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil, and add 10 drops of essential oils, selecting oils which will complement your goals:

• Relaxation: lavender, chamomile and ylang ylang 
• Immune boosting: eucalyptus, peppermint and oregano
• Mood boosting: geranium, clary sage and sweet orange
• Detox: lemon, juniper and grapefruit

After your home spa ritual make yourself a warm, relaxing herbal tea such as chamomile or lemon balm and slip into bed to enjoy a deep and rejuvenating sleep.

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