So it’s Friday, and you’ve had a really busy week that you thought would never end? If you have no plans, then why not put your feet up and relax with your very own home spa experience…
This month Tots100 challenged us to create our own home mini spa. I love mini spa nights, either with my girls where we all get our nails and hair done, or with my mum and sisters where we sip wine glasses of healthy fizz (fizzy water with lemon), snack on fruit and nuts and have a facial and manicure… and just occasionally I get the chance to treat myself to a long soak in the bath and a spa night all to myself…
Yep, I know how to live!
I’m lucky at the moment, as I still have my “Christmas Toiletries” to indulge in, but it’s easy to have a spa night for less pennies too.
I have a glass of water, as drinking lots of this stuff is the best thing you can do for your skin, in my humble opinion.
I run myself a hot, Lush bathbomb bath. For everyday use, I use Lush “bubble bars” which last ages or a cup of epsom salts with my favourite essential oils.
Liz Earle Energising Body Wash and Body lotion is really sorting out my problem winter skin. My excema on my arms has cleared up and my skin feels both soft and firm. Dry brushing every day is helping too! It’s great to use in the morning, as the fresh smell really perks you up foir the day!
I then use the iconic, award winning Liz Earle Hot Cleanse and Polish to get rid of any impurities before I start my facial. You can use any cleanser you like. I would still wipe it off with a hot muslin cloth or flannel.
I exfoliate with Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator, if you don’t have any exfoliator, you can add a little bit of sugar to your favourite cleanser and rub this over your skin instead. It all helps to get rid of any dry skin and makes your skin all shiny and new!
I also rub a little bit of Lush lip scrub or sugar over my lips too.
I splash cold water on my face, then it is time to steam.
I put hot water and a Lush tab in a bowl. I carefully lean over the bowl and put a towel over, so my skin benefits from the steam. I also do this when I am getting a cold or my sinuses are blocked. I add eucalyptus to the water and it is heaven to be able to breathe freely again once your nose in unblocked!
I steam for about five to ten minutes. Personally, I couldn’t sit still for any longer!
Then I use Lush Full of Grace Serum on my skin. Traditionally, I would always have put my serum on second to last just before my moisturiser, but Lush recommend that if you put it on before your face mask, it makes the face mask work more deeply into your skin, so I do it that way round now!
Then time for your face mask. I love Lush Fresh face masks, so fresh you have to keep them in the fridge. I haven’t got any at the moment, butinstead I found a Body Shop Warming Face Mask in the bathroom cabinet. If you’re completely out of face mask, there are thousands of homemade recipes online depending on what ingredients you have. I always have oats, so an oatmeal or oatmeal and honey mask recipe is good for me. I even used A Thrifty Mrs Egg White and Tissue mask once!
After applying my facemask, I pop a slice of cucumber on each eye and lie down for five minutes. Bliss. And breath. And relax.
If you are out of cucumber (sometimes they get mistaken for food and eaten! Yes, really!) pop two teaspoons in the fridge, when they are sufficiently cold, hold them over your closed eyes. So soothing to tired, achey eyes.
I then wash my face mask off with a hot flannel. Splash my face with cold water and pat my face dry.
I apply my Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic toner. I love that tingly, revitalised feeling! If you don’t have toner, you can make one up using:
1/2 cucumber with peel, chopped
3 tablespoons witch hazel
2 tablespoons distilled water
Whizz all the ingredients up in a food processor, sieve the mixture and store in a fridge. I don’t have witch hazel, so I made this once with just cucumber and cooled boiled water.
Then it is my favourite time. Time to put a luxurious moisturiser on your super clean, cleansed, steamed and toned skin! I used Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Dry/Sensitive Skin. I would love to try the Superskin version!
I used Lush Enchanted Eye Cream on my eyes and Molton Browns Lip Balm (from a hotel of course) on my lips.
I then settled down in my cardboard spa slippers with a cup of beautifying herbal tea.
Then of course it’s time to get up and busy again back into real life, but it’s lovely (and so good for you!) to relax when you can.
This post is my entry into the Tots100 Center Parcs January Challenge.
