It’s a shame that we don’t treat ourselves to a luxurious spa night more often, but it tends to be so very expensive. You pay for the service, though, which is usually impeccable – while the soothing aromas combined with the perfect pressure of a massage leave us dazed, relaxed, and basically softer than jelly by the end of the session.
Luckily, avid spa-goers have scrambled together a list of how you can enjoy the same luxury in the comfort of your own home, making your wallet feel a bit calmer, and helping you to find moments of peace in the middle of the week.
You only need a couple of products, a quiet home, and an essential oil or two for this pampering session you can enjoy whenever you feel like it – no gift certificate required.
Manicures and Pedicures
There are two ways to arrange your spa session; invite a couple of your friends over for a rejuvenating evening, or pour yourself a cup of herbal tea, enjoy the silence, and pamper yourself on your own. The only downside to going solo is that you’ll miss out on the relaxing massage and may struggle with the manicure – but on the plus side, you won’t have to hand out any massages either.
For a decent manicure, you will need some nail files, a lot of cotton pads, a nail polish remover, a rich hand cream, nail polish, as well as a cuticle remover.
Start by treating your friend to a nice hand massage with the lotion. Focus on the cuticles and pay special attention to the muscle by the thumb, working with both hands in circular motions. When their hands are soft and smooth, use the cuticle remover to push them back slightly and remove any excess of it.
Cut the nails with a clipper if they’re long or just file them smooth and rounded before using the nail polish remover to wipe off any cream from the nails, add a layer of base coat if you have it, and finish off with a dazzling nail color. It’s the perfect recipe to boost your mood and well-being in no time at all.
For a pedicure, you need the same kind of supplies, swapping the hand lotion for an even richer foot lotion – or just using a regular one.
Facials: Bring your own or DIY
If you have a selection of face masks, you can always offer your friends to help themselves – but it’s an expensive treat, and you’d be better off asking them to either bring their own or just make it yourself. It’s so easy to make exceptional masks from what you already have in your fridge, such as yogurt, honey, berries, and avos – and it costs a whole lot less.
Have a look at this article for some great recipes for homemade face masks for every skin type. Besides the regular masks, you’ll also need a couple of towels, a makeup remover for those who show up without a naked face, and a nourishing cream to feed your skin afterward.
The kind of cream you choose is entirely up to you, of course, and your skin may react very differently than your friends, for example, even if you use the same cream. That’s why it’s a good idea to find an excellent antioxidant cream and stick to it, allowing your skin to get used to the cream and reap all the benefits.
When it’s this easy to enjoy a relaxing spa night at home and recharge your batteries, it should be a monthly occurrence rather than something we do every second year. The atmosphere of a spa is easy to achieve with some soothing nature music and a few drops of lavender oil to soothe your senses – and you can enjoy the feeling for as long as you’d like.