How to do your own spa treatment at home
It feels like a strange time of year, the Christmas spirit is a distant memory, we’ve made it through January and spring is peeking through the black rain clouds.
You’d be forgiven for feeling a little down and in need of an afternoon spa treatment, but there’s a problem…it’s Valentine’s Day…yep, so it’s unlikely you’ll find a free spot at your favorite spa. .. On top of that, you can create a wonderful spa atmosphere in your own home. Here are some tips and tricks to make your bedroom or bathroom feel more zen.
Choose a Room
Whether it’s in the bathroom, bedroom or living room. Choose a room where you feel most comfortable and can really relax. Yes, admittedly, bathrooms are easier to clean, but lying in bed is super relaxing. Ultimately, it really is up to you!
Create the Right Atmosphere
When you walk into a spa, it always smells incredible. This is mainly due to the scent of the room and the candles they use to create the right atmosphere. Lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus – these scents are great choices for the best home spa treatments because they really set the mood. You’ll also find that wearing a cozy robe and slippers will add to the home-from-home spa feel.
Before you start your DIY spa treatment, it’s also a good idea to sit back and relax with some herbal tea, put your phone in another room, and focus on completely calming your mind and body to prepare for the treatment.
When life gives you lemons…
Use them to make spa recipes at home! Applying lemon and honey to dark circles under your eyes is a great natural way to brighten your eye area. You can also rub lemon on your knees and elbows. The acid in lemons can also help treat dry areas on the body. Of course, we can’t forget the great benefits of drinking warm lemon water, which speeds up your metabolism, energizes your body, and is sugar-free.
Facial Steam Bath
Put on a kettle and let it cool for 5 minutes. Then pour the water into a bowl and add two drops of essential oil. Lavender is a great choice. Then pour in the contents of the herbal tea bag. The scent of herbs and flowers adds a touch of luxury. Bend over and pour the mixture from the bowl over your head, then place a towel over your head. Steam opens up the pores and dehydrates the skin, preparing it for other treatments you may want to perform afterwards. You can easily give yourself a facial at home and get remarkable results. Don’t forget to blend the essential oils and herbal teas you use.
Grab your blender
By all means make a delicious green smoothie, but what I really mean is that you should use a blender to make your own facial spa at home. Add some cold cream, yogurt, honey, avocado, and aloe vera gel, blend it into a smooth mask, and apply it on your skin. Wait for it to dry and rinse with warm water. For a deep cleansing facial at home, always apply the mask after your facial steam bath to allow the ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin.
You can also make some egg and avocado hair masks at home with the mixture, which can deeply moisturize your hair without making it greasy. However, if you don’t want to create your own recipe, we highly recommend trying our moisturizing masks.
Take a bath
I know it may seem a little obvious, but a bathtub full of epsom salts, bubbles, and many other lotions and potions can make for a body spa at home. Similar to a facial steam, a warm bath opens up your pores so anything you apply to your body afterwards will work faster. Let’s not forget how wonderful a relaxing bath is.
Start scrubbing
It may be an old wives’ tale, but I think it works. Take some coffee granules (the same ones you put in your morning coffee) and mix them with some softened brown sugar. You now have a body exfoliation that won’t stress your skin, fights cellulite, strengthens your body, and boosts blood circulation. It also removes dead skin cells or debris, leaving you with flawless, radiant skin.
Warm Everything
When you place your body lotion on a warmer before taking a bath, it takes on a whole new texture that’s perfect for applying all over your body. The warmth enhances the spa feel at home.
Here are a few ways to get the best spa treatments at home that won’t break your budget and give you a relaxing spa feel in your living room! It’s the perfect pick-me-up for the seasonal chaos we’re all experiencing right now. If you give these a try, you’ll be perfectly prepared for the start of spring.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
