The better you look, the better you feel. I have sworn by this statement for years. If I’ve spent a couple of days in the house, in my PJs, with my hair in a big messy bun, eventually I start to feel like that on the inside. These are the days when I suggest forcing yourself to shower, to actually style your hair, throw on some makeup if that's your thing, and put on some real clothes for the day. Sometimes you need a little more pampering though, so it's time to plan a spa day!
We don’t all have the luxury of being able to go to a fancy spa, so here are my must-haves for a spa day at home:
Candles. Candles. Candles!
This just sets the mood! Whatever you decide to do, be it a bath, a facial, or a steam, light some candles. I love soaking in a hot tub with the lights off, then lighting three or four candles for a bit of brightness, and the flicker is always so calming.
The lighting alone is worth it, but they bring so much more to the table. The number of scents you can find in the candle store is astounding. There is something for everyone, from floral scents like lavender—great for relaxation—to fruity scents like pineapple or berries, to sweet ones like apple pie or cinnamon vanilla (yum!).
If you don’t love the idea of fire in your bathroom, you can always go this route with a wax warmer too. The warmers with bulbs usually provide a nice glow, giving a similar low-light effect to the candles, and they smell just as good. You can even mix wax cubes to create your own scent
Paint and Polish!
This one might not be for everyone, but I’m a tad on the feminine side. I do this with my son and daughter, but sometimes I need to do it just for myself too. When I’m feeling particularly stressed or self-conscious, I love to play with colour. Whether that is makeup or nail polish varies from occasion to occasion, sometimes it's both!
Maybe you can try out that new cat eye eyeliner look you saw on TikTok, or paint your nails a fierce red to make you feel like a bad b*tch. I personally love a fun colour on my toes like blue or hot pink, and something more subdued on my fingers like a light shimmer or grey. As for makeup, go wild! Bring out your inner emo with lots of blacks and silvers, test out different shades of lipstick. Be who you want to be in that moment. It's really freeing.
Scrubs and Exfoliants!
Baby smooth skin on clean sheets. That alone will make you feel like you’ve spent a day at the spa. I’m saying take it a step further though. Whether you choose to shave or not is entirely up to you. A body scrub is going to feel great either way! Scrape off not only dead skin, but all the weight of the week, leaving you feeling silky smooth.
You have a few options here. You can buy one from any department store. You can head off to a bath and beauty store and buy something a bit more luxurious. OR you can make your own at home. I’m not amazing at the DIY stuff, and I love the scent combinations the bath and beauty stores come up with, so that is usually my go to. But if DIY is your route, there are so many cool options, like coffee, brown sugar or sea salt scrubs. Some essential oils, scrub of choice, oil, maybe even some honey, and you’re off to the races!
A spa day at home can really be whatever you want it to be, take a bath and have a nap!
Are you relaxed? Then it was a successful spa day.
Whether you choose to paint your nails, light some candles or scrape off the weight of yesterday, these tricks are sure to make great additions to your spa day at home!
Comment below and tell us: Which one will you try?
Photo by Dana Nestorova on Unsplash
