Many of us feel the desire and need to take a 'time out' in order to relax and rejuvenate, but very rarely find the time. Most of us get stuck in our daily routines and going for that special spa treatment is often relegated to the back burner. Rest and relaxation, however, can be achieved in the comfort of your own home and you don’t even need an entire day to achieve this.
Creating a home spa experience can be a relaxing and rewarding task. There is not a great deal of work that must go into this and the after effects are fantastic. There are numerous things one can do to create the perfect home spa, starting off with the simple aspects such as lighting. Soft and gentle lighting is known to have a relaxing effect on the body and mind, so if you have a dimmer on your lights, turn them down. If you do not have a dimmer then turn off the lights, light some scented candles and let the soft flickering envelop you. Using sandalwood scented candles is known to have a relaxing effect on body and mind.
Getting the house to yourself or at least enforcing a few hours of quiet time would probably be beneficial to your home spa experience. If relaxation is definitely what you are after, then peace and quiet can help you on your way. You will need access to a bath tub and a few extra items including massage oils (try and get some lavender, chamomile or sandalwood oils), sandalwood scented candles, cucumber slices, Radox essential bath oils and some soft relaxing music. Make sure you have your nice bathrobe close at hand and at least two bath sheets and a hand towel.
The next step to creating your own spa experience would be to set up the spa area. Run yourself a bath and gently swirl in some of the Radox essential bath oils and scatter some rose petals into the bath. Perhaps you would enjoy a glass of champagne or wine to help you relax. If your husband or partner is taking part in the whole experience, then a massage would be a great way to start the relaxation process. Gentle sweeping motions over your brow, neck, back and arms can send you off into a dream world of rest. If you do not have a partner to assist you with a relaxing massage, then a self massage is just as good. Gently rub sandalwood massage oils in circular motions over your temples and sweeping down to your neck. This will help relieve tension and allow you to start letting go of the stresses of your busy week.
Submerge yourself into your essential oils Radox bath and lie back, supporting your neck with a rolled up face cloth or hand towel. Simply relax and listen to the water around you and the soft music playing in the background. Placing the slices of cucumbers on your eyes can also help to de-stress you and they are known to reduce puffiness and stress lines. For those who would like to pay more attention to their skin, you can consider making yourself a homemade face mask - this can work wonders!
Homemade face masks are quite easy to create and you can use everyday ingredients usually found in your kitchen or garden. Depending on your skin type, you will need to choose a face mask base that best suites you. Dry skins will benefit more from hydrating face masks that are usually based on honey, glycerine or oils while oily or problematic skins will benefit more from yoghurt, mud or clay based face masks. It is important not to leave your face mask on for too long - ten to fifteen minutes is more than enough time.
Some great homemade facial masks can be made as follows:
- Dry Skin
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon of honey (if in season, you can even add a little pulped up ripe avocado to this face mask)
Method:
Warm the honey very slightly (warming it up too much will cause it to cook the egg yolk). Mix all the ingredients together and apply as a thin film to the face and neck. Leave the face mask on for ten to fifteen minutes and then gently rinse off with warm water. Pat your skin dry with a soft fluffy towel.
- Oily Skin
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of plain unflavoured yoghurt and 3 – 4 strawberries
Method:
Mash the strawberries and add to the teaspoon of plain yoghurt. Apply this as a thin film to the face and neck. Leave the mask on for ten to fifteen minutes and then gently rinse it off with warm water.
Those who have combination skin should try oatmeal face masks which can be made with warm oatmeal and egg yolk.
Put a brief list together on what you would personally need to set up your own home spa experience and be sure to find the time to have a little peace and quiet in your own home. With all the stresses and strains you experience in daily life, half an hour of “down time” can do you the world of good. Enter your home spa room with an open mind and be prepared to take the steps to being a better and more relaxed you! Emerge from your spa experience feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world!
Relaxation in the form of an essential oils bath soak, scented candles, gentle massage with scented massage oils, a rejuvenating face mask and soft music is one of the best treats that you can experience in the comfort of your very own home. Being able to take the time out for yourself to rest and recuperate does not need to cost you a fortune. Set some time aside for yourself, settle down, lean back and simply soak in the scents around. Allow your senses to roam and let the relaxing begin.
