As a busy parent jugging a part-time job with staying at home with my son, I know as well as the next mom how precious time and money are. My much-loved visits to the spa do not occur as often as I’d like (even though I work at a spa!). But, I’ve definitely learned how to be resourceful. Here are a few inexpensive treatments I do in the privacy of my own home that help me feel like everyday is a day at the spa.
A luxurious bath. There is nothing better after a long day than a nice soak in a warm tub (you can even hop in with your baby if time is tight). I personally like to take a super-hot bath after my son is asleep and make it really special. I brew a cup of tea (Tazo Vanilla Rooibos is a favorite; it is sweet and truly dessert-like), light a candle (I am obsessed with Bath and Body Works’ Fireside scent) and throw in a cup or two of Epsom Salts (the cheapest bath soak out there, available at most drug stores and used for everything from soothing sore muscles to serving as a body scrub when combined with a bath oil or wash). Or, instead of Epsom Salts, I sometimes use Sage Bath from Dr. Hauschka, a bath oil that smells amazing, herbal and fresh. I also love bath bombs or bubble bars from LUSH, which create wonderful scents and colorful or even glittery bath water!
Hair and face masks. While in the bath soaking, I like to apply a hair mask and a face mask. For a hair mask, I like this one by Carol’s Daughter or this one by Organix. My favorite face mask of all time is Dr. Hauschka’s Rejuvenating Mask, a silver bullet for breakouts that’s also creamy and deeply nourishing.
Nourishing skin with oil and moisturizer. After a bath or shower, I always slather myself with body oil and moisturizer, mixing the two together. Dr. Hauschka’s Birch Arnica Body Oil is a great option for soothing sore muscles (I work out a lot and heft my 30-pound son around, so I am always sore), and smells herbal and delish. The best body moisturizer I have found for dry, itchy, winter skin is . My big sister told me about this years ago and I have used it every winter since. Thanks, Jess!
No time for a bath? Try a foot soak. If I don’t have time for the whole bath routine, I still like to squeeze in some nurturing “me time” with a simple foot soak. I throw in some Epsom salts or Sage Bath, fill the tub halfway and dip my feet in. After I give myself a foot massage with Dr. Hauschka’s St. John’swort Foot Cream, I throw on a pair of thin cotton socks over the moisturizer to help it sink in while I sleep. This treatment is great if you are on your feet all day, are a runner, or during the summer when you are wearing flip flops all day long. Also terrific for legs and arms is Dr. Hauschka’s Rosemary Leg and Arm Toner, which smells incredible and is warming and revitalizing.
Pampering dry hands. I do the same treatment for my hands as for my feet, rubbing them with an ultra-thick hand cream. I am partial to Weleda’s Skin Food, which I top with a pair of thin, cotton gloves (you can find these at most Target stores or some drugstores in the bath aisle). My husband laughs uproariously at my gloves in bed but they’re necessary for hydrated, soft hands in the dead of winter–especially for moms who wash their hands constantly or do dishes all day long.
Morning spa rituals. When I can, I like to squeeze in some spa time in the morning, starting the day with lemon water or, better yet, warm lemon water. This is a classic holistic practice that helps awaken and enliven the body and aid in digestion. To make it, you simply boil water in your tea pot (or microwave) and then add it to a slice of lemon in a mug.
Dry brushing is another practice I sometimes do first thing in the morning before I take my shower. To dry brush, you take a big, hard, bristled body brush (which you can find at most drugstores or Target) and you brush your body, moving in upward strokes, bringing the blood towards the heart, upward and inward. Dry brushing is great for many things—it can help with circulation, is very exfoliating and invigorating, and will help wake you up!
A morning yoga class is another practice that gets me moving, stretching and focusing on my breathing, as well as helps set my intentions in a positive direction for the day.
A mini cleanse. Lastly, occasionally eating vegetarian for the day is a good way to feel rejuvenated. I find that it gives my digestion track a little bit of a break and if I center my meals around fruits and vegetables, it serves as a sort of mini-cleanse without me forgoing eating actual food. And everyone can benefit from more fruits and veggies in their life!
Amity Spiegel is an esthetician at Soho Sanctuary. Follow her occasional Tweets about beauty and wellness @amityps.
