Every once in a while, in between the daily grind, one needs a bit of time to relax and unwind.
Whether it's meditation, mindfulness, massages or a nice long bath, these acts of self-care have a positive effect on your mental health.
Spas exist for this very purpose.
But visiting the spa is not always feasible.
Spas can be quite inaccessible, either because they’re expensive or booked out for months in advance. Maybe you don’t have one locally in your neighbourhood.
But who’s to say you can’t bring the energy of a spa into your home?
If you're looking for a way to pamper yourself without breaking the bank, a spa day at home is just what you need.
Whether you're looking to plan a spa day at home with friends, your kids, or your loved one, we've got you covered.
In this article, you’ll learn some tips for transforming your home, equipping you with the knowledge you need to host a successful event for any DIY spa day occasion.
Self-Care Spa Ideas
Self care is an act of self love.
And every once a week or month, you need to reserve some time just for treating yourself to a luxurious spa experience from the comfort of your home.
So save yourself the hassle of booking and getting dressed for a spa appointment.
Turn your own home into a sanctuary with these tips on how to plan your next self-care spa day:
1: Set the Atmosphere with Scented Candles
Before going into an elaborate self care routine, it's important to create the right ambience.
And what better way than scented candles to establish the mood for some relaxing me-time?
Be it in your living room or washroom, light a few candles that fill up the space with your favourite scent.
Their refreshing aroma has a calming effect on your senses. It gently ushers you into a relaxed state of mind.
Explore this collection of scented candles from The Common Collective with unique relaxing scents. Their candles are made with 100% renewable coconut-soy wax which is plant based, vegan-friendly and comes in recyclable jars. They ensure the wax is sourced from sustainable farmers and is produced in an earth-friendly way. Plus, their warehouse and design studio are both 100% solar powered.
2: Apply a Nourishing Hair Mask
The hustle and bustle of everyday life leaves our hair dry, dull and worn out. The same goes for hair that's excessively coloured, straightened or highlighted.
At times like these, your hair craves for some deep conditioning and restoration.
Hair masks can nourish your hair starting from the tip to the roots. They provide a deeper level of conditioning and ensure 360-degree protection to your hair.
When you apply hair masks at regular intervals (ie. once a week or once a month), it reduces hair fall, breakage, split ends and overall extrinsic damage.
And most of them are quite affordable.
Sure, you can go for the pricier option. But a low-cost hair mask packed with plant-based oils does the job perfectly well.
So for your next visit to the drugstore or supermarket, we'd recommend picking out any of these:
If you're not in the mood to splurge on a hair mask (we get it), why not make one at home instead?
This DIY Avocado Banana Hair Mask Recipe can be ready in just five minutes.
It's quick. It's easy. And it involves just three ingredients.
Here's what you'll need:
1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
2 tablespoons of olive oil
To prepare the hair mask, peel the banana and avocado. Dump all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until it forms a smooth, gooey mixture.
Rub the paste on to your hair, starting from root to tips. Pile your hair in a shower cap and let it set for about 30 minutes.
Rinse out the mask and then apply shampoo.
Voila, you just manifested smooth, silky, luscious hair.
3: Unwind with Bath salts
Imagine this: you get home after a long tiring day and soak your feet into a warm water of healing bath salts. Sounds a lot like heaven? We agree.
Bath salts are an excellent way to relax your body, mind and soul.
Submerging your body or (even just feet) in a tub filled with salt and water has immense benefits.
For one, it has been proven to have healing and restorative effects. Bath salts like these from Mura help soothe your muscles, detoxify your body, relieve stress and promote better restful sleep.
The minerals found within bath salts also promote more youthful, glowing skin from the inside out by purging impurities and balancing moisture levels.
This simple at-home spa ritual can elevate your self-care routine. Think of it as a warm way of saying thank you to the feet that have carried you during the day.
Spa Day at Home with Friends
Pampering yourself to a spa day at home is relaxing and fun. But sometimes sharing your spa day with friends is equally joyous.
You get to spend some quality time with each other amid your busy schedules, shun all blues, and get the whole gang together again.
Here are a few tips on how to make spa day special for your friends:
1: Slip into Comfy Bathrobes
Before starting your spa day extravaganza, you need to put on the right attire.
When your friends come over, give them a set of luxurious bathrobes and slippers.
Once you've had the refreshments and feel ready, it’s time to reap the full rewards of your in-home spa treatment by stepping into the bathrobe that awaits you.
This is the culmination of a do-it-yourself luxury pampering session.
Make sure you have wisely chosen the right bathrobe for the occasion.
Your bathrobe serves as the perfect symbol of loving yourself and your friends enough to set aside the time for deep relaxation.
These luxurious Spa Robes, crafted with the same care as Bhumi's beautiful towels, offer a roomy fit and feature a large hood that creates a comforting sensation of being wrapped up in a cosy cloud.
The robes are made from 100% Fairtrade GOTS-certified organic cotton, free from toxic chemical sprays and genetically modified seeds. This superior fabric is both soft and absorbent, allowing the robe to dry quickly while providing a soothing and gentle feel on the skin.
Make this a part of your weekly self care routine and you will feel the payoff all week long.
2: Make DIY Face Masks
Face masks are great for your skin.
A good face mask helps draw out the impurities lying underneath your epidermis. It helps hydrate and moisturise your skin, remove excess oils, unclog your pores, and slow down any signs of ageing.
They can also be quite therapeutic. When infused with aromatic essential oils like mint and rosemary, a face mask can lift your spirit by tickling your senses.
Once you've washed off the mask, your skin ends up feeling tight, toned and rejuvenated.
You can try making a simple facial mask from items lying around in your house (no need to run to the grocery store or order an expensive mask from Amazon).
No home spa party with friends is complete without a fun mani-pedi session.
Just like a salon, you can plan out your manicure and pedicure treatments in advance.
To make the most of this occasion, we'd recommend investing in a good nail kit.
Agreed, you might not do as great a job as your salon manicurist/pedicurist. But rest assured you'll do a pretty decent job with a manicure kit like this one.
Don't feel like a nail kit? You can also buy these tools separately to make your Mani-pedi session easier:
For a fancy manicure, you'll need hand cream, clippers, nail file, nail paint, and polish remover. Although top coat polish is optional, it does help your manicure last longer.
For a relaxing pedicure, you'll need a tub or basin to soak your feet (Epsom salts are a bonus), a scrub, file, clippers and nail polish.
You can even brighten up your nails with a pop of colour.
Or better yet, experiment with some fun nail art or stickers.
While you wait for your nails to dry, make a few glasses of mimosa, pour some expensive wine or pop open that champagne bottle you stored for such occasions.
A mani-pedi session at home provides the perfect opportunity to have fun and chat with your friends to stay updated on what's happening in their lives.
Kids Spa Day
Just like us, kids deserve a full day of rest and relaxation with some extra TLC and love.
So if you're looking to pamper your children with a surprise spa day at home, here are a few tips to make it a success:
1: Make Bath Time Fun with Bath Bombs
If you have little ones, bath bombs are a fun and easy way to turn their bath time into a luxurious at-home spa experience.
Bath bombs and bubble bars are little ball-shaped fizzers that dissolve in water, leaving behind a trail of colours, glitter and a lovely fragrance in the air.
They come in a wide range of colours and shapes that brighten up your toddler's bath time.
The best bath bombs for kids are made up of entirely safe and natural ingredients that are, in fact, nourishing for your child's skin.
Many bath bombs are infused with essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil, that have soothing scents and promote good sleep for your little one.
So toss in a bath bomb and let your kid indulge in some luxury fizziness.
Many of them even come with a surprise toy inside.
2: Relax with a Foot Soak
If your kids are tired from running around the house, they'll love this one.
Foot soaks are perfect for soothing tired muscles and relieving stress.
Made with essential oils and nourishing botanical ingredients, they will leave your child's skin feeling soft, hydrated and moisturised.
The purifying mineral salts are extremely relaxing and help release stress from the body. Not to mention they are completely safe and free of all chemicals and parabens.
For a foot bath, fill a container with warm water. Add a tablespoon of foot salt to the water. Mix the salt with your hand for one or two minutes until it dissolves completely.
Let them soak their feet in the water for at least 15-20 minutes.
After they're done, pat their feet dry with a towel.
3: Prepare a Snack Board
While you're getting that foot soak or facial, it's time to make some spa nibbles.
Styling a snack board can be a fun activity to do together with your kids.
Pile on your favourite fresh or dried fruits, dips, and crackers. You can also add some raw veggies along with an assortment of nuts of your choice.
Looking to spend a few hours de-stressing and reconnecting with our significant other? A romantic spa day or evening sounds perfect for the occasion.
Here are a few tips on how to make it happen:
1: Take a Bubble Bath Together
There's nothing more romantic than sliding into a tub together for a bubble bath.
A relaxing hot bath helps both of you unwind and destress from all the worries of life.
For a few blissful minutes, you are not thinking about work, kids, paying the bills or planning the future. You are fully present in the moment, enjoying each other's company.
Set the mood by lighting up a few scented candles all across the bathroom.
Sprinkle some Epsom salt, add bubbles and a few drops of soothing essential oils like lavender and jasmine.
Throw in some rose petals or any other aromatic flowers into the water for a truly luxurious bubble bath.
You can also spice things up by putting on a romantic playlist like this one on your phone.
2: Indulge in Couple's Massage
A couple's massage is the perfect act of intimacy for a spa-like feel at home.
A couple's massage is also an exercise in bonding, making you feel closer to one another.
Instead of going to a spa, sometimes it might be nice to have your partner give you a massage instead. You can even take turns to ensure that both of you get the chance to relax.
Before you begin, make sure to slip into a luxurious cosy bathrobe and moisturise your hands.
Though it doesn't sound like the most romantic activity, exfoliating is a wonderful way to give your skin some TLC.
Body scrubs help exfoliate your skin by getting rid of dead cells, leaving you with bright, soft and supple skin. They take away any dullness, rejuvenating your body from the inside out.
The best part is you can make your own DIY scrubs together as part of a spa date. It just requires a few pantry ingredients. And the scrub can be prepared in less than five minutes!
All you need is an oil base and some sugar or salt.
You can try out this anti-aging strawberry oat body scrub that will lend your skin a youthful radiance.
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants that combat free radicals and promote a healthy production of collagen.
Plus, the fruit also contains AHA exfoliating acid that helps give you the bright skin you’re looking for.
To make the scrub, you'll need:
½ cup strawberry puree
1 cup brown sugar
½, cup rolled oats
¼ cup coconut milk
Simply mix all the ingredients to form a lovely pink paste.
Scrub it over each other's face and body.
Keep it on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it off.
Spa Day Checklist
In order to have a spa day at home, you need to plan and arrange a few things in advance.
From finding the right ingredients in your pantry and bringing out the luxury candles to arranging a good set of spa towels and bathrobes, prepping a day or two in advance will make sure the day goes smoothly for you and your loved ones.
This is where having a spa checklist comes in handy.
Here's a quick list of the items you'll need to have spa day at home:
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