Find out what you need to know to get the most out of your at-home spa experience and rejuvenate both your skin and your mind.
The powerful nor’easter bearing down on the east coast, coupled with the cool weather we’ve been having in Southern California has me nostalgic for happy snowed in days and evenings back in Brooklyn where either alone or with friends elaborate spa parties would unfold. Try these 5 tips to have your own spa party while snowed in and go back into the world on Monday looking refreshed and radiant. Whatever grooming and treatments you want to do can be enhanced by these 5 tips for getting into the spa state of mind, because when you are relax and rested you will look that way too.
1: Select a few good masks: I always recommend doing a bentonite clay mask once a week, and in additiion, I would recommend doing a fruit enzyme mask, followed by a clay mask, and then a very gentle moisturizing mask if you have one. If you don’t have a moisturizing mask, use a generous portion of a skin rejuvenating moisturizing oil like my Repose oil.
2: Add Steam: Steam enhances the results of a facial and even just steaming your face will help your skin release impurities and give your skin a healthy dewy glow. Since you’re snowbound most likely you won’t have access to a steam bath. To the lucky people with a steam-shower or a steam-bath in their home; take 2 or 3 5 minute cycles of steam, depending on the temperature. If the temperature is lower you can remain in the steam for longer.
For most of us, you can use a plug-in facial steamer, or steam over a pot of boiling water. Before putting your face over the pot, turn the flame down and vigorously stir the hot water to release the steam without burning your face. Carefully place a towel over your head to keep the steam on your face. Steam your face before and after applying your mask. After your masks, apply moisturizing oil to your face to lubricate your pores and steam your face again to help the pores purge any remaining debris or impurities.
3: Drink herbal tea: Even if you have a glass of wine or a cocktail during your spa time, make a big pot of non-caffeinated herbal tea. Choose your tea based on the desired results of your spa experience. This way you can re-hydrate your body and get the benefits of these herbal elixirs.
Relaxation: Lavender, chamomile.
Rejuvenation: Rosehips, rose petals and buds
Detoxification: Hibiscus tea, mint tea, lemon tea
Digestion/ Metabolism: Green tea (not before bed), ginger tea
4: Play spa music: Enter a meditative and serene state of mind by looking for meditation music, or soothing noise like Tibetan singing bowls, rain sticks, gongs, and the sound of falling water. This will enhance your feeling of relaxation and take you into a different state of mind disconnected from your usual stimulus like music, television, and social media.
5: Lower the lights: help yourself relax by keeping the lights low and diffused. Add a few colored light bulbs, orange, amber, or red will quickly add a spa meditation room feeling to your space at the cost of only a few dollars. If you have a fireplace, there is no better time to light a fire and be soothed by the dancing flames. Led flicker flame candles will also add a soothing warm glow to your space without polluting the air you’re breathing and creating a fire hazard. After all your goal in this process is to be relaxed.
