I don’t get to go to the spa too often. I mean, who does? It’s expensive and time-consuming, and is more of a (very) occasional indulgence than a regular occurrence. But some concentrated pampering time sounds good at the moment, and so: at-home spa day it is.
Obviously Spa Water is a must, both because hydration is the ultimate beauty cure and because cucumber water is delicious and makes getting all that hydration much more appealing.
How to make it: Steep cucumber slices (no need to peel) in a pitcher of water for a few hours, and then scoop out and add a squeeze of fresh lemon before serving.
Clockwise from top left: Turkish Bath Towels / Robe / Massage Candle / Tweezer / Flip-Flops / Lip Scrub / Glow Booster / Moisturizer / Face Mask / Facial Scrub / Nail Polish
1. A cozy, straight-out-of-the-dryer towel and amazing robes are total musts (I’m obsessed with using these lavender scent boosters to wash towels and other things that you may potentially bury your face in).
2. Try a candle that pulls double duty, both giving your bathroom a spa-like scent (cucumber again!) and melting into massage oil that you (or your partner, should he or she be invited to your spa day) can rub into your skin.
3. This apple-green Tweezerman is just too cute not to include. And I always forget to do anything at all with my brows, so a spa afternoon is a good time to check that particular task off the list.
4. For your mani and pedi, try a sandy, neutral shade – it’s perfect for the summer, and won’t show chips as quickly as a darker or brighter color. (For make-your-manicure-last tips, check out this video.)
5. Before applying your face mask, don’t forget to exfoliate with a gentle product that also removes all traces of makeup.
6. Choose a mask tailored to your skin type – I’m alligator-dry and my skin tends to get dull from time to time, so I love this skin-brightening turmeric mask that detoxifies while retaining moisture.
7. Even if you don’t typically have sensitive skin, your face may be a little prone to sensitivity after exfoliating and applying a mask, so moisturize with a super-gentle product like Simple Skincare Nourishing 24Hr Day/Night Cream (a personal all-time favorite of mine; I go through this stuff like water).
8. If you’re feeling a little pale, self tanner is a great addition to a spa day (click here for some application tips)…and I especially love the idea of this Clarins Glow Booster, which you can add to your regular moisturizer to transform it into a subtle self-tanner. How cool is that?!
