HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN DIY SPA EXPERIENCE We could all use a little peace right now, so we’ve put together a short guide to help you enjoy an at-home spa experience Writing | Kat Nicholls
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rom the moment you step foot into a spa to the moment you leave, everything is designed to help you feel relaxed. Therapists talk in soothing tones, while the lighting is kept low and the air is heavy with sweet-smelling oils. Just the thought of it is enough to unfurrow your brow, and help you breathe a little deeper. At this moment in time, we’re sure many of you could do with exactly this scene. Sadly, however, going to the spa isn’t something on the cards right now. But we don’t think this should stop us from getting that deep exhale we desperately need. With a little ingenuity and preparation, we can recreate the spa experience for ourselves at home. It turns out, a lot of us are already thinking about DIY when it comes to beauty. Research from Showers To You shows 83% of us have considered recreating our favourite beauty products at home, including shampoos, face masks, and lip balms. Before you get started with your DIY spa day, you’ll need to carve out some time and, if you live with others, let them know so they can give you some calming space and peace to relax.
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SETTING THE SCENE Think about appeasing all of your senses, starting with scent. Scent: Our sense of smell is directly linked to our limbic system in the brain, which is why it can have such a powerful effect on how we feel. Utilise aromatherapy here and burn some essential oils, spray a room scent, or light a scented candle. Scents known to relax and soothe include lavender, bergamot, and ylang ylang.
Taste: Infuse your water with fresh mint, lemon, or cucumber if possible, or brew some herbal teas. Chamomile, peppermint, and lemon balm teas can all help ease stress, giving you a moment of tranquillity. YOUR TREATMENTS At this point, you’re hopefully already feeling a little more relaxed. Now it’s time to decide on your treatments for the day. Here we’ve listed some suggestions to get you started.
Sight: If it’s possible, keep the lighting nice and low. Light several candles (just be careful not to leave them unattended), and let the warm light permeate.
Enjoy a warm bath with salts: If you can get hold of bath salts, add a couple of scoops to your bath. Depending on the blend, they can encourage relaxation, ease muscle pain, and uplift your mood – we love Radox’s Sleep Aromatherapy Calm Your Mind Lavender bath salts. If you don’t have a bath, drop some essential oils on to a damp washcloth and inhale deeply while in the shower. Just make sure not to put the oils directly on your skin!
Touch: For your spa experience you want to feel relaxed in every sense, so be sure to wrap your body in comfortable, tactile fabrics. Why not put your robe on the radiator so it’s warm when you wear it?
Exfoliate: Great for improving circulation and getting rid of dry skin, treating yourself to a body scrub is an easy at-home spa treatment to try. Plus, you can easily make your own! Dr Asher
Sound: Having calming music on in the background can really help to set the tone of your experience. Try the music section in the Calm app, or look at the ‘spa & massage’ genre on Spotify, which has a collection of playlists.
