Spas are the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation, but they can be stressful to the pocketbook. The spa experience, including the setting and the treatments can be expensive. Luckily, many of the ingredients and items used to create a spa experience are inexpensive, and easily acquired from the supermarket. You can use every day items and at-home spa remedies to turn your home into a sanctuary and create a relaxing experience for yourself without breaking the bank.
Steam Room
The spa experience often begins with a steam room or a facial steaming, to help gently soften the skin in preparation for the spa treatments to work more effectively together, notes “Whole Living” magazine. You can create your own facial steam by putting on a pot of water to simmer on the stove. Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil into the water. When the water comes to a simmer, remove from the heat and drape a towel over your heat and the pot. Allow the steam to circulate for at least five minutes.
Sugar Scrub
Exfoliate your skin with natural ingredients, just as a high-priced spa would. Exfoliation helps to slough away dead skin, dirt and oil that clog pores and make the skin rough. You can easily make a mixture of a cup of oatmeal, a cup of brown sugar and a cup of olive oil, suggests “Glamour” magazine. Mix them together until they form a paste, and then apply to the skin in a circular motion. Rinse away with warm water for smoother skin, and apply a moisturizer following the treatment.
Strawberry Mask
A lemon strawberry mask can help tighten pores and achieve a smoother overall appearance of the skin, says Sara Wells of OurBestBites.com. You can mix it with items from your fridge and pantry by chopping a 1/ cup of strawberries, and mixing with a 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice and 3 tbsp. of cornstarch. Puree the three ingredients in a food processor, and apply to your face, waiting until it hardens before washing it away.
Tea Soak
A tea soak is ideal for tired muscles, and mimics the various baths and soaks available on spa menus, and is easy to recreate for yourself at home. Fill your bath with warm water and toss in five herbal teabags as the tub fills. “Canadian Living” magazine suggests different flavors for different ailments, like peppermint to energize, or chamomile to soothe aching muscles. Slip into the bath as a way to finish off your at-home spa treatments.
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Jae Ireland specializes in keyword research and Internet marketing. Getting her start with a small Internet marketing firm in 2005, she has since designed and written for well over 20 commercial and informational websites. Her areas of interest and expertise include fashion, parenting, home improvement and health and fitness.
