The Great Recession has affected everyone. The cost of gas, groceries and cotton clothing has everyone tightening their financial belts. So, if you want to take your mind off daily pressures, open your pantry and create these homemade spa treatments at home.
These treatments are a less expensive option and just as luxurious. They are easy to create and cost a fraction of the spa price. Also, there are zero chemicals in these recipes. They can help you relax and rejuvenate. Also, as a bonus, I've included some one-ingredient spa treatments.
So ladies, take the phone off the hook and turn off the BlackBerry. After your home spa treatment is complete, enjoy your favorite herbal tea. After you treat yourself, you will return to your day relaxed and ready for the day’s next challenge.
This first spa treatment combines several relatively inexpensive procedures:
Start with a sugar defoliant or coffee scrub. The coffee scrub is great if you are short on time.
Mix 1 cup sugar, ½ cup olive oil and a few drops of essential oil. Try lavender, rose, rosemary or tea tree oils. Lavender is known for relaxation, rose for reducing nervous tension and rosemary for mental invigoration. Tea tree is great for skin problems, including acne, fungal and bacterial problems.
First, brush your body in small slow circles with a damp wash cloth and the sugar defoliant. Begin at your feet and making your way up. Use a firm pressure. Brush your skin for approximately 5 minutes. It will be slightly pink from the increased blood circulation.
This coffee scrub is a great pick me-up. After you make your morning cup of coffee, mix 3 tablespoons of the used coffee grounds and 1 tablespoon salt in a bowl. Immediately use the scrub in the same way you would the sugar scrub above because the grounds start to oxidize after 20 minutes. If you are short on time, just use the scrub in the shower and skip the next steps.
Prepare a detoxification bath.
You can simply use 2 cups of Epsom salts or mix ¾ cup Epsom salts, ¼ cup baking soda and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil. (Grapefruit oil is a great pick-me up.) Add to your bath water and get ready to relax.
Next, apply an avocado mask.
Simply mash ½ an avocado and one tablespoon of coconut milk. Mix to form a paste and apply.
If you are game, you can make the same mixture and apply it as a hair treatment. Add more coconut milk so mixture is the same consistency as hair conditioner.
Finally, prepare a chamomile eye compress
Steep two tea bags in a small amount of hot water. Leave to cool slightly and squeeze out extra liquid.
Now you are ready to move to the bathroom and enjoy your private time. After your sugar scrub, hop into your bath and apply your face mask, hair treatment and eye compress. Soak for 15-20 minutes.
After your bath, hop into the shower and thoroughly rinse off the mask and shampoo your hair. After you dry off apply your favorite moisturizer. Now, it is time to enjoy your favorite herbal tea.
If you are short on time, here are some one-ingredient spa treatments.
• Try almond oil to is moisturize your nails
• Olive oil is a low-cost eye make-up remover as well as a wonderful moisturizer
• Coconut oil is perfect to moisturize dry skin
• Rub ice cubes on your face to tightens pores and increases blood circulation
• Dab honey on a blemish and leave overnight. Honey diminishes the infection that causes pimples
• Witch hazel and baking soda are natural deodorants. They can work just as well as store bought deodorants and don’t contain harmful chemicals
• Put a slice of chilled cucumber over your eyes for 10 minutes. Or use tea bags. After making some ice tea, squeeze out the remaining liquid and apply
• Apply thin slices of potato under your eyes for 10 minutes to fade dark circles
• Shea or cocoa butter beautiful as a lip gloss. If it is too thick; rub it between your fingers before applying
• Olive oil is a great lip gloss. An option is to add a bit of beet juice for color
Sources:
http://www.spa-living-for-health.com/
http://www.naturalnews.com/028596_home_spa_health.html#ixzz1A70t5vG2