Spring Ideas: Treat Yourself to an At-Home Spa Day
Self-care at home is always a good idea, but especially now! What better place to take a break from everything than the comfort of your own home? Make some time for yourself with these ideas to relax and rejuvenate your body with an at-home spa day.
Prep Your Pampering Supplies
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to forget to have all your spa-day necessities prepped and ready to go before you settle into relaxation mode. Pull out any supplies you'll need, including a mani-pedi set, nail polish, bath soaps and salts, and any other skin or hair treatments.
Create the Perfect Setting
If you feel like the last few weeks have been stressful, you're not alone. Take a break from the chaos by setting up a relaxing space for your at-home spa day. Pro tip: leave your phone in another room to take a break from news notifications and social media for a bit.
Set up an essential oil diffuser, and diffuse some calming, spa scents such as lavender, eucalyptus, chamomile, or rose. If your diffuser doubles as a noisemaker machine put on some soothing noises like rainfall or subtle bird chirps.
Pour yourself a glass of something refreshing like iced tea, simple fruit-infused water, or something with bubbles (prosecco is allowed).
If you're planning on taking a long bath, set aside some reading material or you can always find a way to listen to your favorite podcast or a spa playlist. Here are some uplifting, light-hearted podcasts to consider:
DIY Mani-Pedi
Here's an oldie but a goodie. An at-home mani-pedi is cheap and easy and yet still so luxurious. Make it as simple or as complex as you want. We suggest going all out, with the scrubs, masks, balms, and whatever other treatments suit your fancy.
No matter what you do choose, though, make sure to give your hands a little extra love. All that sanitizer and handwashing has probably left them feeling a little dry and cracked.
Here are some ideas for giving yourself a nice at-home manicure:
Natural Nail Polish from Mineral Fusion (available at the Co-op)
DIY Organic Cuticle Balm from NOW
DIY Hand Spa Treatment from Seventh Generation
Give a Little Extra Love For Your Feet
If you're a health care worker, first responder, agricultural worker, farmer, grocery store clerk, or any other person spending a lot of time on your feet, it's time to give them a little extra TLC!
Here are a few treatments for your feet that are sure to have them feeling much, much better.
DIY Honey-Vanilla Peppermint Foot Scrub from GloryBee
DIY Natural Heel Balm from Mother Earth News
Fizzy Foot Soak with Manuka and Sweet Peppermint Essential Oils from Aura Cacia
DIY Coconut Sugar Scrub from Dr. Bronner's
Face Mask and a Long Bath
What's a spa day without a face mask? And while you're waiting patiently for the face mask to work its magic, you might as well take a nice relaxing soak.
Here are a few DIY ideas for both face masks and bath soaks.
Face Mask Ideas
Cleansing Skin Mask from NOW
Hydrating Cucumber Face Mask from Tom's of Maine
2-Ingredient Charcoal Face Mask from Apartment Therapy
Oatmeal Face Mask Recipes from Byrdie
Bath Ideas
Essential Oils For the Bath from Tom's of Maine
DIY Lavender Geranium Bath and Body Oil from Aura Cacia
Homemade Bath Salts from Martha Stewart Living
Homemade Bath Bombs from A Beautiful Mess
Try a Hair Treatment
Taking a bath and using a face mask is accomplishing two tasks at once. But taking a bath with a face mask and a hair treatment is some serious spa day multitasking!
Here are a few of our favorite hair treatments to consider for your at-home spa day:
Easy-Peasy Coconut Oil Hair Mask
One of the simplest hair masks calls for just one ingredient... coconut oil! Melt anywhere from a few tablespoons to 1/4 cup of oil (depending on your hair thickness and length) in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or until it's melted. Stir it with a spoon to break up any lumps and apply it to your hair.
The application process is definitely a little messy, but once it's on you're good to go. A good way to do it is to scoop a bit of oil out into your palm and apply it like a conditioner. Start at the scalp and move down, and usually, it takes a few applications for the whole head to be covered.
Once it is all applied, put your hair up with a clip or old scrunchie. Let it sit for 30 minutes, or longer, depending on how long your bath lasts. Removing the mask takes a few washes. Alternating Dr.Bronner's soap and shampoo does a good job of getting all the oil out. For more information about utilizing coconut oil in hair care, check out this article from Dr. Bronner's All-One Blog.
Other At-Home Spa Hair Treatments
If a coconut oil treatment isn't the thing for you, here are a few other hair treatments, based on your needs.
ACV & Rosemary Hair Rinse from Apple State Vinegar -- for shiny hair
DIY Scalp Scrubs from Hello Glow -- for various hair types
Hydrating Banana Avocado Hair Mask from Hello Nature -- for hydrated hair
Enjoy a Sweet Treat
And finally, what's a better way to put the cherry on top of a wonderful self-care day than to add a little bit of sweetness into the mix? Maybe an actual cherry or consider making one of these sweet treats:
Mixed Berry Crumble from Welcome to The Table
Strawberry Shortcakes from Bon Appetit
5-Ingredient Lemon Bars from Gimme Some Oven
Brown Butter Rhubarb Bars from Bon Appetit