While many people cannot afford day spas or spa retreats, there are ways to get many of the same results at home. While it is not exactly the same experience as luxuriating all weekend at a spa, home spa treatments can be a nice way to add a relaxing touch to your day. There are many home spa treatments that you can make easily, often from ingredients already in your home. Some of these include facial masks and treatments, body scrubs and oils, and soaks and washes for the hands and feet.
Many people find that the face needs special attention, especially after being exposed to sun and pollution. There are a variety of facial masks that can be made at home. One refreshing recipe involves combining half of a peeled cucumber, one egg white, a dash of lemon and lime juice, a quarter of an apple, and three mint leaves in a food processor. After blending, the mixture can be refrigerated for 10 to 15 minutes for added refreshment, then spread on the face. It can be rinsed off after 20 minutes.
Other facial treatments target specific types of skin. For example, basil steeped in boiling water can be an effective way to treat acne. Avocado and egg yolks should help dry skin, while mixing the fruit with egg whites can reduce the oil for those who tend to break out. Exfoliation can be achieved by grinding almonds or walnuts in a food processor and mixing them with mayonnaise. A mango-aloe vera gel combination may reduce facial redness.
It is also possible to make home spa treatments for the body. One way to exfoliate the body is to combine four parts roughly ground coffee to one part raw sugar or sea salt. Add enough massage oil to make a paste, and rub the paste into your skin in the shower. Many different types of essential oils can be mixed with salt or sugar to make a body scrub, with grapefruit essential oil being a popular one. These oils can also be added to a bath to turn an ordinary bath into a spa-like experience.
The hands and feet can get tired and inflamed. One of many home spa treatments for the hands and feet involves dried lavender, simmered with fresh sage and a few drops of lavender oil. Strain the resulting mixture through cheesecloth and use the liquid to soak or wash hands and feet. This can be used as either a warm or cool soak, depending on the time of year.
Of course, as with all products, the results of home spa treatments will vary from person to person. It is always wise to use fresh ingredients and to test a small patch of skin before treating a larger area. You might also want to try a home spa party, in which everyone brings a recipe to share.
