Sometimes the best way to self-soothe is by pampering your body, but if going to a spa isn’t in the cards why not make your own spa day at home? With just a little preparation and research it’s possible to turn your personal space into the personalised spa of your dreams. These tips below should help give you some ideas on how to take the first step.

One of the first things you need to get a spa experience at home is to dress up your bathroom and bedroom (or wherever you’ll be doing your treatments) as a relaxing spa getaway. First, you’ll want a clean and stress free environment without any distractions. To achieve this, make sure that you have cleaned up and removed all clutter from the area. Next, dress up the area with decorations that evoke calmness, such as candles or crystals. Don’t forget the importance of lighting: simply dimming the overhead lights or using salt lamps and fairy lights can change the entire mood for the better. Lastly, put on a calming music playlist and make sure you have all of your spa ingredients and treatments laid out for easy access. 

DIY Face Mask

DIY Exfoliants

Exfoliating is an important step in any skin care routine, but it can often be overlooked. The dead cells on your skin’s surface can clog your pores and cause other skin issues, but exfoliating them away can reveal the fresh new cells waiting underneath. During your at home spa day make head to toe exfoliating a priority, focusing on your knees, elbows, and any other dry areas. This easy DIY lemongrass body scrub from TheKindestWay can be used all over the body, including on your lips, to gently remove dead skin. The result is skin that is hydrated, nourished, and soft - and not to mention smells fresh and delicious. If you don’t have many ingredients at home, don’t overthink it. A simple coconut oil and sugar combination will do the trick.

A core component of a spa day is to reduce stress and anxiety. Acupressure is a method, similar to acupuncture, where pressure is applied to various points on the body's meridians. There are several acupressure techniques that you can try out at home, but to specifically target anxiety and worry try starting with the Grandfather Grandson pressure point. This point is located on the inner foot, where the big toe meets the foot. Apply continuous gentle pressure to slowly clear your head and balance the “circulation of your energy.” Here are four more acupressure techniques from the American Institute of Alternative Medicine that also help target stress and anxiety.