I wanted to call this blog "Stay In & Care For Your Skin" - I thought that was a catchy phrase. But as I started writing, I realized that, for me, going to the spa is so much more than just caring for my skin. The spa is a place where I can completely surrender to do absolutely nothing for a couple of hours, clear my head, get a mental reset, and come out with extremely smooth skin ;) The long term benefits are feeling so much more relaxed, recharged, and ready to take on anything coming my way. In my opinion, spa-days should be mandatory for everyone!
During these stay-at-home days, stress-relief is more important than ever. If you are a family with kids, have roommates, or, just plain and simple - are not used to being together 24/7, being under the same roof this much can be tough. It's important to find some time for self-care and being by yourself.
So, make sure everyone is on the same page about alone-time, lock the bathroom door, put a "do not disturb" sign up, and follow these suggestions on how to bring the spa home.
Soothe Your senses
Upon entering a spa, you notice the calming scents, ambient lighting, and overall relaxing feel. How can you accomplish this in your own bathroom? Candles! Lots of them! I love to use candles and have specific ones for different occasions. My favorite scent is Feu de Bois from Lafco New York - beautiful candles in handblown glass jars that can be reused. If you are looking for a totally clean candle, I highly recommend Bee Lucia's gemstone infused candles. I especially like the Grounded Wellness candle. Place candles around your bathtub, turn down the lights, find your perfect 'spa music' on Spotify, and start filling your tub with warm water. I like using bath salts or bath oil in my water. This helps to calm muscles and soften skin.
Prepare for relaxing
I get easily distracted, so in order for me to be able to relax at home, I need to prepare a little. A good read is always a must in my home-spa. I prefer magazines over books when in my tub.
Since you're going to spend a bit of time here, it's good to have a ritual to follow. Find all the skin and hair care products you want to use, and place them in hands-reach so you do not have to get out of the tub. A bathtub caddy can come in handy.
The ritual
When at the real spa, you get pampered by a massage therapist and/or a facialist. This is not going to be the same at home, but you can still get similar results.
Before getting into the hot bathtub, I dry scrub my entire body and take a quick cold shower to rinse off.
The first thing I do when I get in my bathtub is to thoroughly double-cleanse and scrub my face. Then I apply my favorite face mask that I leave on for my whole spa session. You can read more about how to use the HGO scrub and mask in more detail in this blog.
I also put a good amount of the hair treat serum on damp hair, as a prewash treatment. It really helps with dry, frizzy hair, and feels like a treat to my scalp.
To achieve smooth skin all over, you have to get rid of dry, flakey skin. The initial dry scrub helps with this. In addition I also use a loofah in the tub. This way, my skin can soak up the bath salts or oils in the water.
I normally enjoy about 30 minutes in my tub. This gives me time to read a magazine, get my ritual done and just relax before the bathwater gets too cold.
Once I'm out of the tub, I spend 10 minutes on my nails. The cuticles should be soft now, so they are easy to remove or push back. Rub your feet with the invigorating Foot Balm and pay attention to the cuticles. Do the same on your hands with the Cuticle & Nail Crème.
Ensure long-lasting results by applying the ultrarich Body Crème all over your body. For hard-to-reach places, like your back, you can use this handy tool.
Spritz your face with the calming Rose Toner and top off with the Rose C Serum. Your 'stay-home-spa' glowing complexion is complete!
And - If you don't have a bathtub
Creating a spa without a bathtub can be a bit difficult. However, it is possible to create a 'mini-spa-like' ritual with a manicure & pedicure at home. It's all about finding that time for yourself, to relax, reset and recharge.
