[4getmeNot]

i was wondering if you guys ever have your own at-home spa day. i try to do this once a week. it really helps me feel feel relaxed & get ready for the upcoming week. what special treatments do you do? i do facials & all that stuff. what i really wanna try is a plastic wrap. it's basically putting on a moisturizing lotion & wrapping up in plastic wrap or towels really tight for like 30 minutes, then rinse it off. i dunno - i can just see myself wrapped up in saran wrap on my bed tryin to peel it off! hahaah i dunno about that one yet. but here's a guide for those of you who want to try a spa day.

A Mini-Spa Experience at Home

I try to go to a health spa/fitness resort twice a year. I try to go to my favorite day spa once a month. And I try to create my own mini-spa experience at home once a week.
The following is my routine. It may not appeal or work for you. But if you get even one new idea, then investing your time to read this article is worthwhile.
1. Set aside one and a half to two hours when there is a high confidence of being uninterrupted

2. Prepare the bathroom:

• Light a candle. My favorite lately has been Mississippi River Traders /Exporters Aromatherapy Candles (Knowledge, Harmony, Tranquillity ) I also have used the Stress Relief Candle from the Bath & Body Works

• Start filling the bathtub with tolerably hot water

• Put about a tablespoon each of the following into the tub under the running water:

1. Crabtree & Evelyn's Citrus Body Shampoo

1. Crabtree & Evelyn''s Aloe Shower & Bath Gel

1. Bath & Body Work's Stress Relief Mineral Bath Salts

(I don't remember how I came up with this combination, but I like it better than any of the more expensive spa products I've tried)
or

Aromafloria's Sensual Harmony

• Make sure the following is easily accessible from the tub:

1. A washcloth

1. A razor with a new blade (I prefer shaving to waxing)

1. A nylon net scrubbing puff

1. Oil of Olay Moisturizing Body Wash

• Attach an inflatable terry cloth pillow to the wall behind the tub

3. Take care of maintenance - pluck, bleach, remove fingernail polish, etc.
4. Apply a facial mask
5. Dry brush entire body to exfoliate
6. Rub Jurlique's OPC Tea Tree Body Exfoliating Gel all over body
7. Get into the tub
8. Lay back and rest head on pillow

9. Practice relaxation techniques for 10-15 minutes

• Take a few deep, cleansing breaths

• Clear the mind of all outside thoughts and concerns

• Mindfully tell the muscles to relax. Start with the face, move on to the neck, shoulders, and finish with the toes.

10. Remove the facial mask with the washcloth.
11. Put Oil of Olay Body Wash on the net puff and scrub all over. Use the foam from this to shave legs and underarms.
12. Rinse off, get out of the tub,and pat dry.
13. Gently apply a moisturizing body lotion. I like High Desert available from Enchantment Resort. I also like St. Ives Swiss Formula Aloe Vera Therapy Lotion.
14. Apply a moisturizing face cream. I like St. Ives Swiss Formula Alpha Hydroxy Facial Renewal Lotion. I also use a few drops of Jurlique's eye gel around my eyes to combat puffiness and dark circles.
15. I then put something comfortable on, lie down on my bed, and listen to a hypnotic relaxation cassette tape.
16. Shape and polish nails.
This routine leaves my skin feeling soft and the rest of me feeling very refreshed. Even if you don't follow my routine, I think it's important to establish one of your own. Everyone needs and deserves to pamper themselves now and then.

More Spa At Home Ideas can be found in the following articles:

• Spa Day - Guest article by Jyl Steinback. How to create a full spa day within the privacy of your own home with exercise, body treatments, and delicious food for under $25.

• Partnered Meditation and MassageGuest article by Margaret Doner, LMT co-author of The Wellness Center's Spa at Home.

This is from about.com. sorry i dunno how to post direct links like some of yall!!!!!

[PerfectMistake]

I have had a couple with my MK stuff...I have been spoiling my mom and myself. It's been so awesome LOL! I need to stop so I don't waste everything, though HAHA!

[SimplyElegant]

I love pampering myself. I try to get one or two days a week to do that.

I love LUSH's bath bombs and bath melts so I might use one of those. I also love their buttercreams and love heavenly bodies especially. I exfoliate with plain brown sugar and it's amazing just on its own. I love doing hair masks or hot oil treatments and just letting it soak in for an extra long time. When I get out, I use body shop's body butter in brazil nut, strawberry, mango or satsuma, whatever smells best with what I used in the bath. Sometimes I like using honey to make my face feel super soft and smooth or a green clay mask if it's the summer to cut down on oiliness. I also like using LUSH's massage bars on my hands and feet too. Nutts and soft coeur are favourites.

I'll do my nails if I feel like it afterwards.

[magosienne]

i love pampering myself too, in fact i asked for some bath salts for christmas, and i offered my mom a nice bath foaming gel (after using it once she asked me where i found it lol !). too bad i don't do it often
even when i'm scrubbing my calluses i like to soak them in water with one or two bath beads (those from Yves Rocher as they're cheap).

[Fatimah]

that sounds interesting, i'd love to try out my own at-home body wrap! currently i do not really have my own spa day...but on one or two days of the week (usually weekends), I take 30min hot showers and do a total body scrub down, rinse off and towel off, put on a hair mask, then slather on baby oil (J&J's lavender, because it smells so relaxing) all over my body, get back in the shower and rinse everything off, get out of the shower, slather on body butter on my feet, knees and elbows and finish off with my favorite dry oil mist...for the face I make my own milk mask (organic milk powder + green tea/water) and place the wet green tea bags on my eyes, then lie down, wait 15mins, rinse off, take more green tea and it dab on my whole face as toner, apply my face moisturizer and finally the eye cream...and tada! bed time! phew....

[beezleB]

If you don't want to cover yourself with saran wrap, you can use an inexpensive, plain plastic shower curtain. It's much less hassle than "mummifying" yourself in plastic wrap, simply because it's all in once piece! When you're done, just rinse it off in the shower (or put it in the washing machine) and let it drip dry. Thanks for this post--I think maybe I'll do a spa night tonight!

[Darla_G]

that sounds nice

[lauren84]

I use a sauna suit instead of saran wrap and it has AMAZING results...they are like 7 bucks at Wally! I put on ultra moisturizing lotion then the sauna suit and it is great!

[4getmeNot]

Originally Posted by lauren84

I use a sauna suit instead of saran wrap and it has AMAZING results...they are like 7 bucks at Wally! I put on ultra moisturizing lotion then the sauna suit and it is great!

wow! i'll definately have to check this out! never even heard of it.

[_becca_]

that sounds so nice

[monniej]

sounds great!