These days, everyone is feeling the pinch of a struggling economy. Constant reports about housing markets and interest rates are enough to leave even the most financially responsible of us feeling completely stressed. Unfortunately, tried-and-true methods of relaxation like a tropical vacation aren't really an option for many of us who are more likely to spend our Saturday mornings clipping coupons than browsing travel sites. Luckily, you don't have to give up all of your indulgences; you just have to find a smarter way to treat yourself. One of the best ways to do this is with an at-home spa day. With products you already have in the kitchen, you can create a relaxing evening of luxury without leaving your house.
First, you'll want to set the mood. Pick an evening (or afternoon or morning) when you'll have the house to yourself, and when you won't have any pressing deadlines coming up. Mix up a pitcher of lemon or cucumber ice water or, if it's chilly out, a pot of herbal tea. Dim the lights, light some candles, and put on a soothing CD. An important part of the spa experience is the atmosphere of luxury. Remember, you are taking time to pamper yourself; this isn't just about a glowing complexion or smoother skin.
The most popular spa treatment (besides a massage, which is difficult to do yourself!) is a facial. You don't need expensive products in fancy containers to give yourself an effective, all-natural facial; all you need is what's already in your kitchen. I've given you several options throughout the process; the general order of a facial is cleanse, exfoliate, steam, mask, and moisturize. Obviously, you can skip steps without detracting from the whole experience; remember, this is about YOU.
First, cleanse your face with your usual gentle cleanser, or just splash some water on to remove any surface oils or residue.
A great at-home facial exfoliator can be found in most pantries: oatmeal. It doesn't matter whether it's traditional or quick-cook, but avoid flavored or sweetened varieties; all you want is the oats. In the palm of your hand, mix some water with a small pile of oats to form a paste, then gently massage into your skin to exfoliate. If you don't have the ingredients to make a mask later on, or won't have the time, you can make your oatmeal exfoliator do double duty; use whole milk instead of water if your skin is dry, or, for oily skin, mix a generous dollop of honey in with the oats and water, and leave the mixture on your face until it begins to stiffen and dry. Use a warm wet washcloth to remove it, being careful not to get the mask in your eyes.
Now that you've removed the dulling, pore-clogging dead skin cells, you'll want to open up your pores to let them breathe. The most effective way to do this is by steaming. There are a few ways to go about this, depending on your kitchen set-up. You can boil water in a pot, put a bowl or water in the microwave, or simply run the hot water in your bathroom sink until it's steaming, then plug the drain. Then drape a towel over your head to trap the steam, and hold your face over the water. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax; for an even more authentic spa experience, add a few drops of essential oils to the water. You can also toss in an herbal tea bag for a scented experience; chamomile calms and has anti-inflammatory properties, peppermint and citrus invigorate, while ginger and cinnamon stimulate blood circulation on a chilly day.
Once you've gently patted your skin dry, it's time for a mask. Your kitchen is full of facial-ready ingredients; you can have fun mixing and to find a mask recipe that's perfect for you. In general, dry skin can benefit from the natural oils in a mashed-up avocado, or from the soothing and moisturizing properties of yogurt (full-fat is best, although low-fat is ok too; just make sure it's plain). A beaten egg is also a great mask; the yolk nourishes and moisturizes, while the white firms. For oilier skin, try the egg mask with just the white. To help prevent breakouts, you can also slather honey on your face for its moisturizing yet antiseptic properties. Leave each mask on for a few minutes; each combination of ingredients will take a different amount of time to dry.
Of course, no facial would be complete without an eye treatment. Take two chilled cucumber slices and lay them across your eyes as you relax in your mask, or two used and chilled teabags. Pick a tea with some caffeine to stimulate blood flow and reduce puffiness.
After rinsing your mask, follow up with your usual moisturizer.
If you're really looking to create a total spa experience, you'll want to move on to the body treatments. Run yourself a hot bath; throw in some whole milk to moisturize your skin or some baking soda to soften. While the bath is running, take the rest of the avocado from your mask (if you used one) and mash it up with some olive oil. Apply this mixture to the ends of your hair. If you don't have an avocado, olive oil by itself works great on your ends as a natural conditioner, while mayonnaise can be applied to your whole head, including your scalp. Once you've applied your conditioner, wrap your hair in a towel and climb in the tub!
Spend a few minutes sitting in the bath with your eyes closed, breathing deeply and relaxing. Once your skin has had a chance to soak up some of the water and soften up, it's time to exfoliate.
For a great at-home exfoliator, take one cup of sugar or sea salt and mix it with half a cup of olive oil or body oil. You can squeeze in some lemon juice or mint leaves to enhance the invigorating experience. Use this mixture to gently scrub your entire body; it's more effective to spend a few minutes gently exfoliating each area than to move quickly but scrub harder. If you need an even more energizing scrub, coffee grinds make a terrific, all-natural exfoliator.
Once you're finished, let the tub drain, and use the shower to rinse off and to shampoo your hair. As with any in-tub treatments, make sure you rinse out the tub before any of the products have a chance to dry, and let the water run for a minute or two to avoid drain clogs.
You will emerge from your bathroom relaxed, rejuvenated, and content in the knowledge that you just pampered and treated yourself without spending a single penny!