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Some ideas on creating your own experience.   Buzzle

 

 

Creating Your Own “Spa Experience” At Home!    

 by: Chrys Solomon

 

 

The fact of the matter is that we can all check out to a place of luxury anytime we wish, with the use of some basic everyday ingredients and items found around the house!

 

Items you will need:

1.    A small bowl or other microwave safe dish for mixing ingredients in.

2.    A large bowl of hot water or access to a sink.

3.    A hair clip and/or head band to pull hair back and out of the way.

4.    Three or four clean washcloths, dark colored, to avoid staining.

5.    A robe or a large towel to wear. 

6.    Slippers or comfy socks, if you wish.

7.    A small ‘Fan Brush’ for applying facial ingredients.

 

Suggestions for facials:

1. First determine what your skin needs.  This will tell you what type of facial you are secretly craving. 

    If you are dry, tiered and stressed, go for something rich and replenishing.  IF you feel that your skin is

    bogged down, oily or constipated, try refreshing, clarifying and cleansing ingredients. Following are

    some examples of ingredients you may use.

   

 

 

 

To Replenish & Enrich

To Refresh & Renew

 

 

Avocado

Cucumbers

 

 

Rose Oil

Lemons

 

 

Grape Seed Oil

Lime Juice

 

 

Olive Oil

Grapefruit

 

 

Plum

Peppermint

 

 

Pumpkin

Rosemary Oil

 

 

Apricot

Lavendar

 

                                     

Note: When adding any of these ingredients to your facial, it is best to start by tablespoons.  Add one tablespoon each of your chosen ingredients, then increase as needed until you achieve an even consistency. (See next pg. for Base Ingredients)  

 

2. Next chose a “Base” for your facial. This will be the main ingredient in your mixture and will carry the

    other ingredients to your skin.  You will need about ¼ Cup to start with. There are lots of options for

    base ingredients, depending on what result you want. Some options include:

1. Honey                   ( Clarifying, For All Skin Types ) 

2. Molasses               ( Nutrient Carrying )

3. Green Kelp            ( Nutrient Carrying )

4. Ripe Bananas        (Cleansing For Oily Skin) 

5. Avocado Puree      ( Cleansing For Dry Skin )     

6. Oatmeal                 ( Cleansing For Sensitive Skin )

 

3. Once you’ve chosen a base ingredient you can mix in one or two other ingredients to create your

    own facial.  The possibilities are endless and can result in a luxurious experience for you.  

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 Applying Your Spa Facial at Home

The word SPA comes from the Latin phrase “Senare Per Aqua” or To heal with water. So in the spirit of SPA, you might want to try using steam or water with your facial. You may want to apply your facial mixture while filling up the bath tub, then soak and let you facial do its magic!

 

The Steps Of Applying Your Facial Are As Follows …

 

1.   Make sure you are dressed down, in a bath robe or towel and have all your ingredients ready. This includes any other bath items, etc.

 

2.   Mix and warm your facial. 30 Seconds in the microwave is usually enough. If you have chosen to add any essential oils, you will have to pay close attention as the facial will heat up very quickly.

 

3.   Gently cleanse you face. You may use honey, or your regular cleanser, make up remover etc. Gently pat dry.

 

4.   If you have dry or sensitive skin you may want to apply a tiny amount of moisturizer to the area under and around your eyes.

 

5.   Apply facial, starting at your forehead, using upward strokes. A Fan brush helps the mixture go on smoothly and feels wonderful as well!

 

6.   Avoid getting too close to the under eye areas. Cover eyes with cucumber slices, if desired.

 

7.   Allow your facial to be on your skin for approximately 10 minutes.

 

8.   Depending on which ingredients you have chosen to use, you may wish to leave your facial on a little longer or rinse it off sooner. The main idea is to relax for a few minutes, try putting on some music, lighting candles, soaking in the tub, or just “check out” for a spell.

 

9.   Once your facial has done its thing, the best way to remove it is with warm water and a washcloth. Most ingredients will stain white or light colored towels, so when rinsing try to use darker colored cloths.

 

10. Apply a moisturizer ASAP after rinsing. Try to get it on before your skin is completely dry, so as not to lose any of the awesome moisture that has just gone into your skin!

 

11. Look in the mirror, at the glorious new you!

 

Suggested Facial Combos….. ( Add on’s )

Since you’re going through the trouble of giving yourself a facial, you might as well add on some other body pampering treatments while you’re at it! Here are some ideas!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 ·    Squeeze the juice of ½ large grapefruit. Mix with 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup salt and ¾ cup 

      grapeseed oil.  This makes a detoxifying body treatment and cellulite pack. Scrub on and leave

      for 1o to 15 minutes. Shower off using body wash or soap, dry and apply lotion to trap in moisture.   

Note: You may change this recipe by adding any essential oil. But leave in grapefruit for detox. Be sure to rinse your tub after, or you may slip during your next shower!

 

·     For feet, mix ½ cup salt with ½ cup warm olive oil.  Add Essential oils for Aromatherapy (peppermint oil is great). Soak feet in bath or tub.  Use mixture to scrub off any dead or dry skin. Rinse and dry, apply lotion.

 

·     For a hand pampering treatment, mix  ½ cup white sugar with  ½ cup warm olive oil.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to scent.  Apply to hands and massage in for a few minutes. Use a steamy towel to remove mixture. Rinse off excess and dry with paper towels. Your hands should feel soft.  Quickly apply some hand lotion to trap in the moisture. This is good for your nails too! 

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Here are 10 personal little home spa tips that will make you look and feel like a million bucks!

Squeeze in a few extra minutes to your every day self care time and you'll see how easily these step by step pampering recommendations will turn even the toughest days around. Or if you can negotiate a few minutes here and there from your day to get even more time, by all means, do it! Your family, friends and co-workers will meet a much happier, more chipper, fantastically refreshed you!

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In Preparation:

First things, first. No shopping, buying or leaving the house. Scour the house for a few fun spa essentials and make a decadent 'Home Spa Day' just with what you have tucked away! Why put off what you could be doing right now?! I suppose if you are out and about and feel so inclined to pick up special bath salts, moisturizers or essential oils? so be it. I admire your level of commitment!

 

- Grab your robe and slippers

- Find a soothing CD that you absolutely love

- Scented candle

- A washcloth, loofah, bath brush or a new scrubbie back there in the drawers you forgot about

- Fluffy cotton towel

- Bath salts or essential aromatic oils (if you have them)

- Your cleansers, toners and moisturizers

- Coarse sea salt

- Plenty of chilled spring water (with a splash of lime or lemon) in the fanciest glass you can find

- Steep a cup of green tea

 

Let go of your day? your obligations? responsibilities? stress? and strain. Toss out the barrage of thoughts streaming through your mind (even if it's just for a moment). Trust me... they'll still be around later for you to poke at, ponder or peruse.

 

Try to relax. Take yourself on a far away vacation in your head, tell yourself a ?Once Upon A Time? story, remind yourself what a princess you are and remember how essential these precious moments are to your happiness and sanity!

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Welcome To Your At Home Spa Vacation!

1. Take it easy and slow down your breath, your thoughts and your movements. Put on your favorite CD and start prepping a very simple shower or bath in a wonderfully slow, deliberate and unhurried way. Take time to watch the candle burn, smell the fragrance, feel the soft robe or towels, look at the sparkling drops of water and run your hands through it? take in the joyful process of an every day activity that we just fly through without a second thought!

 

2. Use essential oils. Not only do they smell great, but they are extremely good for your skin. The rule to applying essential oils is to never apply them directly on your face or skin. Just add about five drops to a bowl of warm water. Soak a washcloth in the water and then apply to your face and neck as a compress for five minutes. Repeat three times. Gently towel dry and finish yourself off with an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory facial splash.

If you have a choice of essential oils to choose from, select one that suits your mood and purpose. If you are desparking the stress level this holiday, choose soothing oils (like lavender, chamomile, jasmine, sandalwood and ylang-ylang). Good revitalizing and energizing oils when you need them are peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, basil and juniper. The aroma can also provide psychological and physical benefits too! Essential oils can help with physical conditions, rejuvenate the skin, eliminate waste, alleviate stress, enhance your mood, restore vitality and facilitate the regeneration of new, healthy cells.

 

3. Basic Body Scrub and Cleansing.

 If you decided you only have time for an indulgent, relaxing shower? start with a basic body scrub and cleansing.

Whatever sponge, cloth or brush you decide on? scrub midfully and only gentlybrush your skin. Gentle circular motions will increase your circulation and eliminate toxins and excess water.

 

Another in home spa trick is to mix an ounce of ground sea salt with 10 or so drops of your favorite essential oil. Add water and make a paste so it spreads easily. Apply it to your entire body and slough off the dead skin with big circular strokes. This salt scrub will exfoliate dead skin cells, cleanse the pores and help your body get rid of any toxins.

 

4. Draw a bath. Add 5 to 10 drops of an essential oil to bath salts. Grab an extra pillow, put a kitchen trash bag over it to keep it dry and then put a pillow case over that. You just bought yourself 10 extra comfy minutes in the bath tub. You might as well take a book too! Follow it with a warm shower and a dry yourself off with a fluffy cotton towel. If someone in the house really loves you? get them to toss it in the dryer for 5 minutes and greet you with fluffy warmth. If you have a body toning lotion handy, apply to your body (not your face) for additional firming and toning so you'll look even better in that little black dress.

 

5. Be nice to yourself. These are your precious rejuvenating moments. Take your time. Pamper yourself and try not to get caught up in the have-to's and the should-do's. Don't be in a rush. Not only will you lose some of the benefits of this quality time to refresh and relax, you may start sloughing off and using rough, damaging strokes.

 

6. Hurrying has its risks. Without slow, mindful, attentive movements, you could cause inflammation and jeopardize that fresh, healthy, glowing complexion that will make you a bright shining super star. You can actually accelerate the aging process by being too rough! Now there's a good enough reason in and of itself to slow down.

 

7. Care for your hair. It is taking a beating in these winter elements. Add ? ounce of lavender to sixteen ounces of shampoo. Or for oily hair, add ? ounce of lemongrass or rosemary to 16 ounces of shampoo. Essential oils can make invigorating scalp massages. Rosemary is awesome! If you decide not to use the oils, make sure you at least give yourself a long, sudsy scalp massage. Close your eyes, lay your head back and drift for a moment.

 

8. Replenish lost moisture to your skin and hair this winter by taking two tablespoons of organic flaxseed oil twice a day. You'll get rid of the itchies and combat wrinkles and sagging skin.

 

9. Treat your fabulous face. All the treatments above were just for your bod. Your face is special and delicate. The skin on your face is thinner and more fragile than your body. Treat your face with extreme care and gentleness. Even though it's cold avoid extremely hot water, harsh soaps or any drying cleansers.

Grab a new wash cloth or small sea sponge, add a few drops of your favorite cleanser (preferably an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory liquid cleanser) and then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Apply face firming treatment then put an ice cube inside of a small plastic bag and gently rub over the face and eye area for several minutes to tone and plump up the skin.

 

10. Rejuvenate from the inside . Drink 8 to10 glasses of water every day. Eat lots of whole foods, green vegetables, fresh fruits, grains, nuts and lean protein to reduce inflammation, replenish moisture and bring back a youthful glow.

 

Take 3 full, deep breaths from your abdomen (keep your shoulders still) to complete your simple happy essential home spa experience.

 

The benefits and joy you experience during your at home spa day will be more colored by your desire and your intentions than any fancy, expensive products you can buy. Be mindful, set your intentions and gradually transition in to or out of your work day? always cherishing these simple, sacred rejuvenating moments

By Julie Hunt

 

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