Hands up if you would refuse the chance to get away for a day of pampering at a luxurious spa. Anyone? Nah, I didn’t think so.
There’s nothing I love more than pulling on my favourite Yours Clothing plus size swimwear and heading out around the pool to chill out before being taken to a treatment room for a scrub and massage. Even booking in at my local beauty salon is a fabulous treat that I love to indulge in.
However sometimes life gets in the way and we haven’t always got time to spare in our busy and stressful lives or the money, as lets face it, while pampering is important, water, gas and electric bills are mores so. Even if you do have the cash to book in at a spa, time and schedules can often conflict. There’s so many times I’ve got stuck in traffic when I’ve been late getting out of a work meeting which, in turn, makes me too
late to make my beauty appointment.
Decadent skin treatments available at
most spas can run anywhere from £20 to £150 and beyond. Shelling out that much
money several times a month can be more stressful than the other things in life
you may want — at least temporarily — to get away from.
So, if you ever feel the urge to splurge on spa
treatments but want to be sensible at the same time, the best way to get your
fix is to bring the spa experience to your home.
At-home pamper nights are far cheaper than going to a spa and they don’t require as much planning which means that you can enjoy them more regularly. If you’re really on a budget, you can even make your own spa products using items you will probably already have around your home.
Below, I’ve shared some of my favourite homemade spa treatments that make some pretty decent
DIY spa substitutes at a small fraction of the cost. Check them out; I’m sure the ingredients you’ll need are most likely
sitting in your kitchen already. And the best thing about them is: they are
all-natural and effective!
At-home Spa
Treatments for the Hair
Massage and Hot Oil Treatment
Ingredient: The best oil to use is either virgin olive oil or
virgin coconut oil.
Instructions: Gently massage oil onto your scalp and hair for 15 minutes. Then
wrap your head in a warm cloth or towel for at least 15 minutes. Wash your hair
with your favourite shampoo and be amazed at how beautiful your hair has become.
Benefits: This is no doubt the easiest and most effective spa treatment that
you can do in the comfort of your own home. The warmth will help the scalp and
hair absorb the goodness of the vitamin-rich oil to keep it healthy, soft and
shiny.
VCO, Honey and ACV Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons melted virgin coconut oil, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1
tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions:Combine all ingredients and
using your hands or a pastry brush, apply to dry hair starting at the roots
working your way to the tips. Massage onto hair.Put hair in a bun and cover for 20
minutes.Rinse and shampoo.
Benefits: This hair spa treatment is a very easy way to add volume and shine
to your hair and improve the health of your scalp. It moisturizes hair by
pulling humidity from the air. It also acts a natural de-tangler and supports
hair growth.
At-home Spa
Treatments for the Face
Honey and Turmeric Neck and Face Mask
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1
teaspoon honey
Instructions: Combine all ingredients together and apply evenly to face and neck
area (avoiding eye areas and clothing). Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse
off face and neck in shower. Pat dry.
Benefits: This soothing face mask deep cleanses and nourishes the skin,
improves skin tone, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and
reduces the occurrence of pimples and blemishes.
Anti-stress Banana Face Mask
Ingredients: 1 banana, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, 1.5 tablespoons flour and 1
tablespoon water
Instructions: Mash banana then add heavy cream and flour.Add water a little at a time until you get a
nice consistency.Apply the mixture to
your face and neck and leave on for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse off and pat dry.
Benefits: Stress can make your skin look red and blotchy. Combat ruddiness
with mashed banana, which contains vitamins A and E, and is great for toning
down redness and treating flakiness. The elastin found in heavy cream leaves
your skin feeling soft and supple.
At-home Spa
Treatments for the Body
Coffee and Cinnamon Body Scrub
Ingredients: 1 cup ground coffee, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/3 cup sweet almond oil
or sunflower oil, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 8 drops orange essential oil and
4 drops peppermint
Instructions: Mix coffee, salt, and essential oils in a glass or ceramic bowl.
Slowly add almond oil, stirring continuously, until mixture reaches the
consistency of moist sand. Sit on the edge of your bath, and wet the area of
your body that you want to scrub. Put a bit of scrub on your palm, and gently
rub onto your skin. Rinse well. Beware that your bath or shower floor may be
slippery afterwards because of the oil! Enjoy your silky smooth skin!
Benefits: Coffee acts as an exfoliant and being a vasoconstrictor, it also
temporarily reduces varicose veins and rosacea. Cinnamon has antibacterial and
anti-fungal properties which help fight acne and pimples. The salt relaxes your
muscles and the sweet almond oil moisturizes your skin.
Rejuvenating Foot Spa Treatment
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, ½
teaspoon peppermint oil
Instructions: Combine all ingredients together and massage a small amount onto
feet. Cover with socks, put your feet up and relax for at least fifteen
minutes!
Benefits: This oil-based foot rub soothes and rejuvenates tired feet,
moisturizes skin and provides antibacterial properties.
To make it an even more luxurious foot spa treatment, you could use a foot massager, there are lots on the market simply click for more details.
Sugar and Vanilla Hand Salve
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cold cream, 2 drops tea tree oil, 5 drops lavender
oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 banana
Instructions: Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Slather
liberally all over hands and cuticles. Then slip hands into a pair of yellow
rubber gloves—yes, the kind you use to scrub the tub with. Sit down and relax
with your lotion covered, gloved hands underneath a heating pad so that the heat
will help the homemade salve penetrate your skin more.
Benefits: You’ll have the softest and smoothest hands ever!
Quick and Easy Nail Treatment
Ingredients: 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon honey and ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions: Mix all ingredients together then massage to nail beds, cuticles
and fingertips and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
-->
Benefits: This brightens stained nail beds, protects cuticles and helps
strengthen nails prone to peeling, breaking and chipping. It also provides
anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Pampering needn't cost a fortune so whether you're on a budget or able to splurge, I hope you're able to enjoy a relaxing day soon!
What are your favourite at-home treatments or products to use?
