How to enjoy a home spa day

 Written by contributor Krissa Jeldy of More Than Mundane.

We could all use a little pampering now and then. A day at the spa sure sounds wonderful, but may not always be possible, either financially or time-wise–at least for me! But it is important to take time for self-care.

With a few easy steps, you can make some simple and natural spa remedies of your own and treat yourself to a relaxing home spa time. To make yourself a home spa day (or hour), planning ahead is essential. You’ll want to consider the following:

1. Put it on the Calender

Scheduling a time where you’re going to be committed to some self-care is key to a successful spa time. Especially if you have kids, it’s essential to plan your spa time for a time when they won’t be needing your attention. Easier said than done though! Try one of the following if you have kids:

• Have your spouse take them on a fun outing so you can have a few hours to yourself.
• Swap with a friend. You take her kids for a few hours one day and then she takes yours.
• Plan your spa time for the evening hours after the kids are in bed.

2. Prepare Your “Spa” in Advance

You don’t want to end up spending your whole spa time mixing up your spa treatments, clearing the kid’s toys out of the tub, or running to the store for supplies. Take some time the day before to prepare.

• Clean the bathroom or wherever you plan to spend your spa time so that it’s ready to go and you have a nice, relaxing environment.
• Wash some towels so you have fresh, clean, fluffy towels at the ready!
• Gather any supplies you will need and prepare any treatments you can, ahead of time.

3. Plan Your Spa Treatments

The following is just an idea of what you might want to include in your spa time:

Herbal Steam

An herbal steam is a great way to leave your skin feeling fresh and clean. Steams are a great way to open your pores, clear out the toxins, and let your skin breathe in some of the benefits from herbs or essential oils.

Before beginning a steam, make sure to cleanse your face thoroughly. Try adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your cleanser for some extra exfoliating power.

Follow these easy steps for a facial steam:

• Heat 1 quart of water (preferably distilled) to boiling on the stove.
• Lower the heat and add in your herbs (3-4 TBSP) and/or essential oils (3-6 drops) and let steep for 3-5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and drape a towel over your head, leaning over the pot. Keep your eyes closed and hold your face about 6-10 inches over the pot. If the steam becomes uncomfortable, remove the towel and get some air. Steam for 7-10 minutes or until the heat is gone.

Some herbs/essential oils to try: rosemary, lavender, chamomile, peppermint, rose petals, calendula, sage, or lemon.

Face Mask

A face mask is a great way to give your skin a little extra pampering. If you’re doing your spa treatment in the morning, I love this Mocha-Frappuccino Mask (pictured above with Peppermint Foot Scrub). Or try this Turmeric Mask using turmeric, honey, and yogurt.

Foot Care

Give your feet some attention with this Peppermint Foot Scrub that Stacy shared earlier this month. Peppermint is energizing and cooling and will leave your feet feeling refreshed!

Another option is an herbal foot soak. Steep 1 cup of dried herbs in boiling water for 20 minutes. Strain the herbs out and pour the herbal infusion into a basin, adding warm water until the temperature is comfortable. Then sit back, relax and soak your feet.

Bath or Shower

If you have time for a bath, treat yourself to an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt relieves aches and pains and also draws impurities from the skin. Just add 2 cups Epsom salt to your running bath water. You can also add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to the Epsom salt before adding it to your bath water.

If you prefer a shower, use a body scrub to exfoliate and leave your skin moisturized and smooth. I love fellow contributor Stacy’s ebook, Simple Scrubs to Make and Give. It’s full of great scrub recipes that are quick and easy to make at home.

Resources:

You can find dried herbs at your local health food store or at various places online. I get mine at Mountain Rose Herbs.

For more homemade bath and beauty products, see my Health and Beauty board on Pinterest.

How do you pamper yourself?

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