With everything going on in the world, it’s no wonder a shocking, 74% of people in the UK feel stressed to the point of being unable to cope. This is why taking care of yourself and making time to relax is so important. If weekly spa visits aren’t in your budget, we’ve rounded up plenty of ways to enjoy a spa retreat at home.
From regular spa nights to the art of practicing mindfulness, these tips will help transform your home into a day spa. We’ll help you relax, de-stress, and make more time for self-care. Let the relaxation begin.
Make Bath Night a Spa Night with Masks
If you enjoy a nice soak in the bath after a long day, make bath night a mask night. Give it something a little extra special with a face mask during your usual bath. Choose a new one each bath night to give yourself a new and unique experience.
Light some aromatherapeutic candles, sit back, relax, and let the mask do its magic. Not only are you getting a calming bath in, but you’re also getting the added benefits of a facial. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a spa retreat without having to leave the bathroom.
Masks come with a variety of benefits from facial cleaning, acne repair, hydration, and detox. Your face will feel smoother and fresher in just a few minutes.
Treat Yourself and a Partner to a Full-Body Massage
If you and your spouse, partner, or a friend want to treat yourselves to a full-body massage, you can do so at home. Enjoy a full body rub down with lotions, essential oils, candles, and more. You’ll have a spa experience for a fraction of the cost.
While you and your friend likely aren’t licensed massage therapists, the at-home massage is still worth a try. The time spent relaxing, taking in soothing scents, and feeling knots rubbed out of those hard-to-reach places make it all worth it.
Take turns rubbing in lotion, working on muscle relaxation, and giving soothing touches. Add in a hand, shoulder, or foot massage for an extra treat.
Add Aromatherapeutic Candles to Your Bathroom or Bedroom
Aromatherapeutic candles will turn any room of your house into a spa. They smell great, brighten your senses, and help calm you after a long day. These inexpensive treats give you a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home.
The best part about a candle is that it takes seconds to light in and transform your space. Add them to your bedroom to enjoy while you dress for bed and curl up with a good book. Put one on in the morning as you get ready to start your day as well.
In the bathroom, these are great to put on during a shower or bath. Light the candle, dim the lights, and let yourself relax. Take an extra-long shower or bath that day and enjoy a little more time alone.
Make Your Own Spa Water
One of the best things about going to the spa is the spa water. You can create your own version using lemons and limes right from the fridge. Use this special water for a post-workout treat or when you’re doing a face mask.
Try a morning yoga session, some homemade spa water, and a shower with a candle and a face mask, for example. This hour-long ritual on a weekday morning will help give you a recharge from the week. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the weekend or continue with some rest and relaxation.
To make spa water at home, get a pitcher filled with water and add your choice of lemon, limes, and cucumbers. You can also add a sprig of mint or rosemary for extra flavor. You can keep it in the fridge to pull out after a long day, a workout, or to enjoy during a bath.
Give Yourself a Scrub Down
A face and body scrub are easy and affordable purchases to help you bring the spa home. Use a scrub to remove dead skin, boost collagen production, awaken skin cells, and more. When you’re doing a face scrub, be sure to do your neck as well.
After a scrub, rinse in the shower or with your usual face cleanser. This is a great way to remove toxins and dead skin. Your face will feel clean, clear, and smooth.
At-Home Manicure and Pedicure Nights
Spa treatments don’t always have to happen in a spa. You can give yourself a relaxing manicure or pedicure from the comfort of your own home. With or without nail polish, your hands and feet will feel great after a quick and easy at-home treatment.
Start by using a body scrub on your hands and feet. This will remove dead skin and give your hands and feet a great deep clean. From there, add lotion to soothe and re-hydrate.
If you choose to polish your nails, you can trim them, use a nail filer, or a cuticle cutter before you polish. Soak your hands and feet in a tub or bowl of hot water. Add your polish and top coat for a touch of glamour.
After your polish has dried, finish off your manicure and pedicure with another dollop of lotion. Your hands and feet will look and feel better from the inside out.
Lather on the Conditioner
The shower or a bath is a great opportunity to deep condition your hair. Between the environment, the sun, and styling, it’s easy for hair to dry out and lose moisture. Give your hair a boost of much-needed hydration.
Before you step into the shower or bath, add a leave-in conditioner. Turn on the water and let the conditioner sit in your hair for several minutes. Your hair will soak up the moisture while you get to relax in the hot water.
When you’re done, you can wash your hair as normal or rinse the conditioner. Follow the directions on the conditioner you’ve chosen to see the next steps and the recommended time between uses.
Soak it Up with Bath Salts
Bath salts are a great way to treat yourself at bath time. Pour them into the hot water and let yourself relax. Grab a good book, some herbal tea, or a glass of wine, and let the bath salts work their magic.
Your skin will feel polished, smoother, and refreshed after a bath with bath salts. This is a great way to remove dead skin, rehydrate, and wake up your skin cells.
Use a Skin Peel for Fresher Skin
A skin peel is an easy way to give yourself an at-home facial. Use a skin peel product at home to refresh and rejuvenate your skincare routine. Skin peels help to encourage collagen production, remove dead skin, and hydrate.
With a small investment at home, you can use a skin peel product every week as a part of your at-home skin routine. This is a great way to refresh your skin without the need for a facial in a spa.
Soak Your Feet After a Long Day
There’s something incredibly relaxing and refreshing after a long day. Treat yourself to a foot soak before bed. A foot soak is also one of the easiest spa treatments to do at home.
To start, fill a basin or the bath with hot water. Fill enough water to soak your feet as well as your ankles. Add some bath salts to the water as it fills.
Light a candle, turn on some music, and set the mood. Pop your feet in the water and soak them for as long as you’d like. This little treat will go a long way to help soothe your muscles and help you relax for sleep.
Use an Indulgent Hand Lotion
A great lotion is a simple way to give yourself a little spa treatment every day. Since it isn’t always feasible to get a body massage, a facial, or a pedicure regularly, a good lotion is a great substitute.
You’ll be surprised how a good lotion can transform your day. An indulgent lotion or cream is great for hydration. Run it on your hands, feet, legs, arm, and neck in the morning and before bed. Your skin will feel smooth and hydrated without stepping foot in a spa.
Spring for a Sleep Mask and Go to Bed Early
A good night of sleep is sometimes all your body needs to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. The stress of everyday life often keeps people from sleeping well. Between technology, work, kids, and everything the day throws at us, it’s become the norm to operate without sleep.
To help your body relax and recharge, make sleep a priority. Start your bedtime routine an hour earlier. It’s also helpful to remove technology earlier in the evening to help your body shut down and relax.
Use a sleep mask to let your body know it’s time to shut down and shut off. The sooner you shut off screens and create a darker environment, the sooner your body will release melatonin. Melatonin is the natural hormone that helps kick your body into sleep mode.
Going to bed early will give your mind and body plenty of time to shut down. The sooner you start, the more time you have to get ready for sleep and to soothe a restless mind.
Invest in Sunscreen
Sunscreen is like your face’s best friend. It not only helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays, but it also helps slow down signs of aging. Invest in good sunscreen to keep your skin looking younger and protected from sun damage.
Check the labels of make-up and other skincare items to see what SPF it provides. In the summer months, it’s important to apply sunscreen in addition to your makeup as well. Don’t forget to sunscreen your hands and neck as well.
Trick Out Your Shower
For an easy and affordable at-home spa experience, look no further than your shower. Your shower is a great opportunity to create a spa-like experience right at home. To transform your shower, you only need a few simple items.
To start, indulge in a great-smelling and relaxing candle. Next, amp up your shower supplies such as your soap, shampoo, and conditioner. For an extra treat, add eucalyptus leaves to hang around your shower.
As the shower steams up, the eucalyptus will absorb the water and give off the most relaxing smell. Your shower will instantly transform into a spa-like bathhouse.
Try a Dry Full Body Scrub Down
While you likely use a loofah or body scrubber in the shower, try a dry scrub before you step into the water. A dry scrub is a great way to hydrate and awaken your skin from the inside out. You can refresh and peel off layers of dead skin, sun damage, and everyday grime.
Before you hop in the shower, use a body scrubber on your entire body. Rub the brush everywhere from your feet to your head. After you’ve scrubbed, hop into the water and let everything fall off your skin.
Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a relaxing and soothing practice to get into. There are no supplies or products needed to give yourself a few moments of peace and reflection. All you need is a quiet place and yourself.
Mindful meditation is the practice of being present. Whether you’re present in your room alone with your own thoughts, listening to your co-worker explain their idea, or your toddler tell you about their day. It’s simply being there and truly listening.
Making mindfulness meditation a practice you do regularly will help you be present at other points throughout the day. Spending a few minutes being mindful each morning, for example, could help you be more present in everyday life.
Bring the Spa Retreat Home with You Today
When you can’t make it to the spa, there are plenty of ways to turn your home into a relaxing spa retreat. From body scrubs to candles and face masks, these little treatments will help transform your daily routine into a spa-like experience.
To start shopping for your at-home spa treatments, start shopping here. You’ll find all the beauty, skincare, and aromatherapy products you need to bring the spa right to your own home. Happy relaxing.