How To Have A Relaxing Spa Day At Home

A spa day is the epitome of bliss, a tranquil sanctuary that melts all your worries and strife away, enveloping you in a blanket of calm. Your ragged breath becomes slow, measured and steady, your frowns get turned upside down, your salty tears rebirth happiness. Slathered and lathered in potions you find joy, a momentous state of stillness in a world plagued by chaotic forces. All is calm here, all is bright, you find the light, it makes you smile. Knots burrowed underneath skin so forcefully are coaxed out and placated, your joints yearning for expert fingertips, you can feel the anxiety seep out of your pores. It’s a snapshot in time, a joyful memory, a picturebook romance. For this spa day at home is the calm before the storm, a meditative experience that refreshes you mind, body and soul. You feel reawakened, reborn, re-introduced to the world unlike the one you knew.

Spa days are transformative; they heal your wounded mind, they purify your yearning soul and they drive away the toxins that burrow underneath your pores. They remind you to take stock and live life in the moment and they encourage you to focus on self-care and let go of negative influences. Above all spa days help you de-stress, relax and unwind as you watch all your worries, strifes and fears melt away. Although the world around us might be turning to dust, and our normal turned upside down, focusing on our wellbeing and mental health is vital for happiness at home. You might quite rightly ask how you can have a spa day at the moment, when all non-essential stores remain closed in the UK and worldwide. But fear not, because with a little creativity, you can make your self-care a priority with a spa day at home. Whether you host a spa day for couples, indulge in self-care or host a ‘virtual spa day’, no idea is too big or small when it comes to creating your very own at home spa. From ‘recreating your own sauna’ to creating a spa date night for couples, here are some tips that you can incorporate for a stay at home spa day or night.

First Of All Why Are Spa Days So Important?

Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to focus on our self-care, whether that be through a mini- spa experience such as an express facial, a full fledged wellness retreat complete with bubbly and strawberries or even a digital spa fest for couples in lockdown who have been separated by this deadly virus.When the world around us is changing day by day, and normalcy is thrown out of the window we sometimes have to use these ‘strange still phases’ in our lives to nourish ourselves mind, body and soul.Which is why recreating your own spa day, is so restorative because it gives you something to do, it becomes part of your new and improved self-care routine and above all is a holistic healing ritual that allows us to appreciate life as it is in the moment, while looking after our physical and mental wellbeing. Although a spa day at home might not capture the ‘exact’ same essence as you would get from an ‘actual spa’, it’s benefits regardless of the location are vast. If you are recreating the spa experience in the comfort of your own home, you can not only get a better night’s sleep– as massages completely relax your muscles and lower your blood pressure- but it can also lower your blood pressure and help you maintain a healthy heart rate. Spa days also helps with anti-aging (as facials stimulate skin cells) and even alleviates general aches and pains, making it a fantastic self-care all-rounder.

If that wasn’t enticing enough, spa days also do wonders for mental health and stress levels, acting as the ultimate stress reliever. This is because it gives you enough time and space to disconnect from reality and focus on being in the moment. After all living in a world that is conditioned by the augmentation of technology can be overwhelming, so it’s important to take time out, focus on your breathing and be transported to a state of calm. As someone who is a ‘certified stresshead’ this is easier said than done, but I can promise that taking time out of your day to focus on your self-care routine will do you the world of good.

Create Different Spa Zones In Your Home And Garden

Whether you rent a whole room or have your own house, creating a spa day at home is something that you should do at least once a week, to give yourself the break that you so desperately need. But knowing how to create a fully fledged spa experience can prove tricky if you have never done it before, which is why I have outlined the key features that you would need to make your spa day a success. To start with creating different spa zones in your home and garden, is a great way of allowing you to be really creative when it comes to choosing ‘treatment rooms’ to make your spa day a true success. For example let’s say you have your own home, giving you free reign of the house, and the ability to go as big or small as you like. You live with your partner/friend/family and are all in need of desperate time out, to recharge your batteries, fuel your mental health toolkit and even to create a bonding exercise to bring you and your household members closer together. To start with, think about the rooms that you want to use. You can use the bathroom as a ‘sauna’, use the bedroom as the ‘massage and facial room’ and turn your kitchen into the ‘spa lounge and relaxation room.

The Spa Lounge And Waiting Room

You can start your spa day with a visit to the ‘Spa Lounge and Waiting Room’ by transforming your kitchen and lounge into a tranquil relaxation space, while the receptionist gives you a form to fill out, confirming the treatments that you would like to receive. You can really ham up this part of the experience by ‘ordering light snacks and drinks’ from your receptionist, depending on what type of spa day you are looking to recreate. You might choose a ‘luxury theme’ and order bubbly, a fresh fruit bowl and fresh fruit smoothies to create a buzz before you go into the treatment rooms. Or, if you are a colour lover like me, embrace bright and bold colours such as purples and yellows, with a colourful fruit selection. To truly emulate the spa vibe, play calming music in the background,  while presenting your spa guest/s with a dressing gown robe, a towel and fluffy slippers to use during the spa day. Once your ‘guest’ has ordered their treatments and has drunk enough bubbly to make them giggle for days, you can move onto the ‘treatment part of the experience’, starting with a visit to the bedroom (aka the ‘treatment palace’) for a 30 minute massage and facial combo, courtesy of your royal highness Frida Khalo. Light some candles, dim the lights (if it is dark) and put on some kickass whale music that will make you feel like you’ve been plunged into the deep blue sea.

The Treatment Palace 

Let’s say your guest has ordered a ‘deep tissue massage’ and a ‘re-invigorating facial’ and has highlighted that they are allergic to tea tree oil. Plan what products you will need to use in advance, and stock up on body oils, massage creams, scrubs and cleansing lotions. I recommend using this fool proof spa treatment list: To massage your guests body you can use a combination of massage oils, creams and scrubs. For massage oils I recommend using Shea Moisture‘s SACHA INCHI OIL OMEGA-3-6-9 RESCUE MASSAGE OIL, a richly comforting body oil with certified organic shea butter. It moisturizes the skin as it is laden with vitamins and essential fatty acids such as Omegas 3, 6, and 9, which help replenish and lock in moisture on the skin. For ‘body lotions’ the Lush ‘Dream Cream’ body lotion is kind and gentle to your skin, so sweep all over your body to bedew your skin with fields of soothing lavender and Turkish rose to lull your skin back to tranquility. After all who doesn’t want to feel serene and petal-soft from top to toe? For a body scrub you can use The Body Shop’s ‘Spa Of The World African Ximenia Scrub’ with ximenia oil from Namibia, Africa , which gently exfoliates the skin until it is silky soft, leaving you relaxed, nourished and moisturized.

For your facial (also in the ‘Treatment Palace’) you would need to cleanse, tone, exfoliate and prep your face. To cleanse your skin use an oil based cleanser such as the Murad Essential- C Cleanse which targets skin that is stressed from environmental damage and is infused with Vitamin A, C and E. To exfoliate your skin use a combination of the Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner and the Pixi Mini Peel and Polish to leave your skin looking fresh, bright and glowing, with professional salon results without having to leave home.

The Steam Room

Once your face is primed and prepped, adjourn to the ‘sauna or steam room’ aka the bathroom, to steam your skin. You could either draw a hot bath, adorned with essential oils bath salts and bubble bath, and relax in it for 15 minutes, sit in the bathroom and lean over a bowl with hot water in to open up the pores, or step into the shower and feel the invigorating effects of an at home steam room experience. The next step is to find masks that are suitable for your skin to give your skin some nourishment after its steaming session. If you have oily, normal or combo skin, I recommend using the 7th Heaven Dead Sea and Clay Peel Off Mask which has the cleansing perks of a clay mask and the refining perks of a peel, infused with nutrient rich Dead Sea Minerals and soothing Seaweed. If sheet masks are more your jam try E.l.f and their coconut water infused moisturizing sheet mask which is like pina colada for your skin! To moisturize your skin use Child’s Farm Unfragranced Moisturizer, which is suitable for sensitive skin and can be used on your face, hands, body and feet.

The Hot Tub  

Last but not least is the ‘leisure aspect’ of the spa day at home, where you can swim, relax in a ‘hot tub’ or just put your feet up in your garden and relax. For those who have their own home with a garden, if you have a pool, you can use this time to relax in the pool and swim some laps. If you have a refillable kiddie style pool, you can fill this up with warm water, to create the DIY ‘hot tub experience at home, or even use this time to soak your feet in warm water, whilst treating those tootsies to much needed me-time.If you rent a room like me, you can transform your bathroom into a hot tub, with hot water and bubbles, whilst soaking your feet in a magical potion like Aveda Foot Relief which intensely moisturizes, softens and smooths dry feet. If you are feeling extra fancy you could invest in a footspa, which you can use to remove the dead skin of your feet, so that you have picture perfect tootsies. If you would rather not use another room in the house (especially if you are renting), you can simply fill a basin with hot water, essential oils like lavender and bath salts, to have a mini ‘hot tub’ for your feet. You can also use this time to have a nap, catch up with some reading or even have a DIY pedicure, complete with painting your nails.

Virtual Spa Day 

If you live on your own and are self-isolating, you could create a ‘virtual spa day’, by calling up your buddies, having a bottle of plonk and enjoying treatments picked out for you by your loved ones. For example, you can send each other care packages containing goodies for your massage and facial, such as creams, toners, lotions, scrubs, and treats for a lovely hot tub experience at the end like bath bombs, bath soaks and fun bath toys, if you are having a spa day for couples at home. Even if you can’t be together, a virtual spa day can be a great way to spice up your relationship during lockdown. If you live on your own you can still have the spa day that you very well deserve, by following a similar routine to above. Granted it’s harder to give yourself a massage, but you can still have a fabulous pedicure, indulge in a mask and facial and treat yourself to a well earned glass of bubbly… or two.

Think Outside The Box And Design Your Own At Home Treatments

When it comes to designing the best spa day at home, nothing says do it yourself than designing your own at home treatments. Whether you go down the novelty route by creating themes inspired by your favorite TV shows, create traditional treatments using your own naturally sourced ingredients or take inspiration from your favourite spas, a home spa is a great way to treat yourself at a fraction of the price. For example one of the most innovative spas that I went to was in Chianti, Tuscany, and used wine and chocolate to fortify their treatments. It ranged from a wine bath in a jacuzzi using Sangiovese grapes, plumped with a glass of Chianti red wine, to a sensual wine scrub and massage therapy to boot. In the wellness center they had essence steam baths and delicious chocolate dips and massages to create an enriching relaxing experience. If you were to use this to influence your own spa treatments, you could fill up your bath with red wine, while munching on chocolate and drinking a glass of wine. For more inspiration read below for creative themed treatments that are out of the box…

Rest and Ricklaxation: AKA The Rick and Morty Day Spa

Rick and Morty is one of my favourite TV shows, period, so what could be a better source for a themed spa experience complete with innovative treatments? You can call your spa ‘The Rick and Morty Day Spa’ by creating fancy placards featuring the two loveable rogues and stick them on each treatment room door, so that your guests know which rooms are allocated for the spa day at home. Each room, like the ‘spa zones’ I mentioned earlier can have different names and offer different treatments to create novelty value, leaving your guests wanting more. After all who doesn’t like it when they Get Shwifty? For example let’s say you are using the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen/lounge and garden for your spa experience; the bedroom can be called ‘Rest and Ricklaxtion’ offering treatments like the ‘Rick Rolled Massage’and the ‘Face ‘N’ Time’ facial, while you play episodes of Rick and Morty classic episodes. You can use Rick and Morty inspired ingredients, such as ‘Pickle Rick Pickles’ as a snack, a Morty Rita as a cocktail and use naturally sourced ingredients such as coconut oil, avocado and shea butter, renaming them as Rick and Morty puns such as Rick Oil, Avo-Rick and Morty Butter. The bathroom can be called Wubba Lubba Tub Tub offering treatments such as ‘MR PoopyButthole’s Sauna’, ‘Morty’s Mindblowers’ (a face mask that will blow your mind) and ‘Ant’s In My Eye’s Johnson’ a combined eye facial and massage.

The kitchen/ lounge area can be called ‘The Rick Potion 9 Express’ offering light refreshments and drinks such as ‘Concentrated Dark Matter’, ‘Existence is Pain’ and ‘Total Rickall’. During this time you can be catching up with Interdimensional cable, playing hide and seek with Mr Meseeks and ordering your next round of Rick and Morty treatments. The garden can be called ‘Look Who’s Purging Now’ offering detoxifying treatments such as ‘The Whirly Dirly Hot Tub’, ‘The Rickshank Redemption Pedicure’ and ‘Time To Get Rickity Rickity Wrecked’ (an after hours bar serving all your favourite drinks).

Rum on The Rocks: AKA The Holiday Massage

While we might not be going on holiday anytime soon, don’t let this stop you from getting into the tropical spirit, with a holiday themed massage courtesy of yours truly. Rain or shine, your personal spa delivery from Captain Ana’s Rum is guaranteed to leave you feeling like the cat who’s got the cream. With delights such as ‘Mojito on The Rocks’, an exfoliating treatment using brown sugar, premium aged rum and rice bran oil with butterscotch and a Mojito Rum Pedi on the Rocks, bring the taste of summer directly to your home with these holiday approved treats. Like above, use the spa allocated rooms to truly elevate your tropical spa experience at home. For example the bedroom can be called ‘Havana Nights’ and offer treatments such as ‘Mojito on the Rocks’ (an exfoliating massage) and ‘Rum as you Like It’ combining the sweet delights of a rum ‘n’ Lilt booze fest, with a rum scented full body wrap in the ‘Rum Where It All Happens’. Ah, you see what I did there? For your bathroom ‘The Rum Bay’ has a nice touch, offering boozy treatments such as ‘The Boozy Rum-Bowl’ – a bubble bath filled with rum bath soak and served with a mojito and ‘Kraken’s Sea Monster’ a spiced rum facial leaving you feeling invigorated and re-energized. You could also have the ‘Rumvolution steam room’ and the ‘Rum, Rum, Rum Sauna’ to clear out your toxins, recharge your batteries and have a delicious cocktail or two.

For the kitchen and lounge why not bring the party spirit up a notch, with the name ‘Party ‘n’ Rum’ for all those club lovers out there. Play fantastic dance music that will get you up and dancing, while serving a tropical themed food and drinks menu. For example you can serve food such as ‘Rum Glazed Vegan Chicken Bites with Pineapple Salsa’, Tropical BBQ Seitan Skewers and Hawaiian Sliders to whet you and your spa guests appetites. For drinks why not serve classics like the ‘Rum ‘n’ Stormy’, a ‘Rumtini’ and the ‘Rum of Glory’ , so you end your night ‘drinking rum and red bull’ in search of Captain Ana’s Rum Chest which is full of wondrous prizes. And finally head to the garden aka ‘Rum on The Beach’ transforming it into a tropical garden paradise, with inflatable palm trees, a paddling pool and a random dog you found next door. Treat yourself to an afterhours special like the ‘Tipsy Mermaid Punch’ and ‘The Rum Tango’, while getting a ‘Rum Pedi on the Rocks’. Enjoy your leisure time by taking a dip in the ‘Garden of Rum’ and chill out on the ‘Rum Swing’ a hammock made for sleeping (and drinking) in. After all time flies when you are having rum.

The Hairy Biker: AKA The Hair Salon 

Why not step up your spa day at home with a visit to the ‘at-home hair salon and barbers’ aka ‘The Hairy Biker’ for all those rugged thespians out there who can’t catch a break. If you can’t cut your hair during lockdown, have a beard down to your ankles or have a wild bushy beast of a mane like me, then fear not, for Binney the Barber is here. Enter the ultimate Ginger Stallion, a six foot bearded man whose tagline is Ginger’s have no souls, AKA my boyfriend. From Binney’s Beard Bonanza to the ‘Wet ‘n’ Wild Hairscape’, transform your spa day into a multi-purpose experience that’ll transform your locks, as well as your mind, body and soul. To begin with ensure that you have all your ‘hairy accessories’ to hand such as hair cutting scissors, combs, brushes and styling accessories such as hair sprays, gels and mousses. Once you have all your hairdressing supplies to hand, turn your Hairy Biker Salon into a visual masterpiece, by getting it into the hairdressing spirit with ‘salon approved touches’ such as sleek chairs, mirrors, magazines and self-made treatment menu’s so that your spa guests can choose the right hair do for them. For example let’s say that your home hair salon is offering treatments for all, regardless of gender. Binney the Barber can offer hair treatments such as ‘Binney’s Beard Bonanza’ an enriching beard wash, trim and styling session and the ‘Wet ‘n’ Wild Hairscape’ a haircut, combined with a head massage, hair wash and styling do.

At the Salon, Mama Jasmine will take care of all your ‘hairdressing needs’ offering treatments like the ‘Cut ‘N’ Go’ a simple hair trim to get rid of all those split ends, ‘Mama Jasmine’s Blow Dry’ to eliminate frizz and leave your hair feeling bouncy and beautiful and ‘Jas ‘n’ Highlights’ to give you the fabulous head of hair that you have always dreamed of.

Embrace A Calming Environment With ‘Spa Approved Music’ and Stimuli

While we’ve had our fun aboard the Rick and Morty Spa Express and drunk ourselves silly at Rum On The Beach’, sometimes it is good to go back to the basics and think about what is at the heart of a good at home spa experience. One of the most important components of creating a spa at home is embracing a calm and tranquil environment that can transport you and your guests into serenity, as you close your eyes and sigh with bliss. To create a calming spa space you need to think about how you can use ‘stimuli’ to replicate the same de-stressing effects that you would have at a normal spa. This can include your use of music, scents, lighting, privacy, location and time of day. For example let’s start with the use of music; the state of calm that we have in spas are not just down to the masseuses magic touch, oh no. From the volume they use to play the music, to the music they choose to use, each choice is deliberately done to induce feelings of relaxation. For music you can find plenty of ‘spa approved soundtracks’ by searching for music on Youtube, Spotify or any other music streaming sites. You can even use clips that are used for guided meditation, and feel their relaxing words wash over you, as you have a massage. Use keywords such as ‘spa music’, ‘guided meditation’, ‘relaxing music’ and ‘calm music’ to find spa approved music.

For stimuli, you can use lighting to set the mood, by dimming the lights and closing the curtains, or if you are doing a spa day for couples, you can use candles to have a spa day in candlelight, to create a romantic vibe. Privacy is another important component, so you should think carefully about the location that you use to carry out your spa treatment. Let’s say you choose your bedroom: the most important part of your spa experience is to ensure that you have some uninterrupted me-time so ensure that you are disconnected from technology, if you live in a shared house, make sure that you make arrangements for some uninterrupted solitude and prepare to indulge in your own private oasis. The time of day is another important factor that you should take into consideration. If you are looking to have a spa day for couples then why not have your spa treatments at night, to create a romantic evening for two? If you work full time, you might choose to have your spa day at the weekend, perhaps a Sunday to cement it as the day of rest. If you have children, you might slot in your me- time during the day and if you are needing a pick-me up during lunch and it’s the only time you have free, you might schedule this spa day at home during the afternoon.

Trigger Memories Of Relaxation With Signature Scents

Speaking of stimuli, your use of scents can also help to induce relaxation, with signature smells that conjure up positive emotions such as ‘happiness’, ‘peace’ and ‘contentment. Creating a unique scent that evokes feelings of tranquility and serenity, as well as being consistent with the decor and the atmosphere of your ‘home’ can set the ambiance of your at home spa, enabling a comforting and calm environment. For example let’s say like me you rent a room in London, and don’t have your own home. Instead of using the decor to inspire your scent collection, you can think about the memories, feelings and emotions that are trying to convey. In my case if I want to be energized, I would pick tropical scents inspired by fruits such as pineapples, bananas and guava’s, whereas if I am looking to feel calm essential oils such as lavender and tea tree oil blends and aromatherapy can provide an extra relaxing experience for you and your spa guests at your spa day at home. If you do own your own home, you might choose scents that are homely, seasonal or personal to you. You might live on the Beach and want to replicate the scents you would find there by using products infused with sea salt, seaweed and coconuts, or want to create a holiday spa experience inspired by Christmas using scents such as cinnamon, myrrh and frankincense.

To create signature scents you can use reed diffusers, incense perfume, candles or even spray the rooms with your favourite perfumes, depending on what your preference is. The key is to relax, de-stress and take a detox away from all the stresses in your daily life, leaving the spa feeling refreshed and reinvigorated.

Invest In Fun Spa Gadgets For An Authentic Spa Experience

Last but not least are the fun spa gadgets that are bound to tickle your fancy. For the most dedicated spa enthusiasts among us, it isn’t just enough to create do it yourself treatments or design your signature scents, oh no. For these boujiee spa enthusiasts love nothing more than creating an authentic spa day at home, complete with all the trimmings such as underwater bath lights, a mini footspa and mani-pedi machine to make their hearts sing with glee. Whether you choose one spa gadget to add to your spa day experience or come home with enough gadgets to make your bank account bleed, read on to find the ultimate spa gadgets itinerary below.

Spa Gadgets For Your Face 

The Foreo Luna 3

Now that we are spending more time at home, our skin can feel quite congested, albeit less so than if we were spending our time driving or travelling on public transport. Which is where the The Foreo Luna 3 comes in, a device that helps your cleanser remove more dirt and refine your pores, to be used as part of a good daily cleansing routine. What’s more, for those of us like myself who have sensitive skin, the Foreo has 16 different intensities making it a fun spa gadget to revitalize your skin at your home spa experience. If that’s not enough to get you on the Foreo hype, then you will be pleased to know that it has 30% longer touchpoints to reach deeper into your pores and cleanse your skin better than ever before, 25% softer touchpoints for the gentlest facial cleansing in the universe and 650 uses from a single charge, just in case you decide to live underwater.

 

The Bodyshop Oils of Life Revitalizing Facial Roller 

Just as we might exercise our body, it’s also important to pay attention to face too, which is often left neglected. If you are anything like me, you might get facial tension, headaches and migraines, and facial rollers are a great way of exercising the muscles in your face, leaving you feeling relaxed, massaged and pampered. In particular Body Shop’s offering leave skin feeling energised and looking radiant and even comes with its own facial dance workout, designed by Vanda Serrador, the Facialist and Body Care Expert for The Body Shop. Not only is it simple and easy to use, but it is also ideal to use alongside a serum or face cream, which makes your skin feel smoother in the process because the product seeps into your skin more effectively.

Spa Gadget For Your Feet

Beurer FB35 Aromotherapy Foot Spa 

Our feet don’t get enough lovin’ and if you are anything like me then you are always on the go, meaning your footsies need some tender sweet love. Well fear not, for the Beurer FB35 Aromotherapy Foot Spa is the ultimate luxurious foot spa with heat, bubbles, aromatherapy and vibrations. An at home spa treatment that has spa style results, the Aromatherapy foot massager has 2 massage functions: vibration & bubble massage, to relax and nourish your feet, while the 3 interchangeable pedicure attachments; hard-skin remover, brush and massager, exfoliates and softens rough feet, so that your tootsies will feel as smooth as silk. What’s more this foot spa stimulates circulation, promotes cell regeneration and invigorates tense muscles and the magnetic field and infrared light help to boost circulation and stimulate reflexology points.

Spa Gadget For Your Back

HoMedics ShiatsuMax 2.0 Back and Shoulder Massager with Heat Massage Chair 

As someone who has a bad back (lucky me), there is nothing that I love more than a deep tissue massage that gets rid of all my knots, leaves me feeling relaxed and above all improves my posture and eradicates my back pain. And while we can’t go to spas just yet, don’t let that stop you from getting a fantastic deep massage in the heart of your very own home. Which is where the HoMedics ShiatsuMax 2.0 Back and Shoulder Massager with Heat Massage Chair comes in handy, complete with two double massages nodes for a deeper Shiatsu massage across the back and shoulders. With 14 massage programs including Shiatsu and Rolling massage for a full back massage, adjustable height and width to customize your massage and a soothing heat option for muscle relief this invigorating vibration massage will give you the works while you sit in an ultimate state of comfort.

What Are Your Tips For Recreating A Spa Day At Home?