You do not need a luxury hotel booking, an expensive spa day or a suspiciously fluffy dressing gown to enjoy a little pampering. With the right products and a few simple touches, your own bathroom can become a surprisingly convincing mini spa. The trick is to stop treating your bathroom as somewhere you simply rush through on the way to the rest of your evening. Dim the lights, put your phone somewhere out of reach, warm up a towel and give yourself permission to take your time. From a beautifully scented bath to an at-home facial, there are plenty of ways to turn an ordinary evening into a proper self-care ritual. You can even create your own treatment menu, choosing products depending on whether you want to relax, refresh, hydrate or simply feel a little more human. Here are five easy ways to bring the spa experience home.
Start With a Seriously Relaxing Soak
Nothing says spa quite like a bath, so start your transformation by swapping the usual five-minute shower for a proper soak. Run the water at a comfortably warm temperature, add a luxurious bath oil or soak and let yourself slow down. Aromatherapy can make the experience feel even more special, particularly when you choose a blend with a relaxing, comforting aroma. Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil combines Vetivert, Camomile and Sandalwood for a calming bathing ritual, making it an ideal choice when you want to unwind at the end of a busy day.
We recommend: Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil
Give Your Skin a Little Extra Attention
Once you are comfortably settled, turn your bath into an at-home body treatment. Exfoliating can leave skin feeling smoother and softer, while following with a nourishing body moisturiser helps make the experience feel properly luxurious. There is no need to scrub aggressively or use every product in your bathroom cabinet. Choose one body exfoliator and take your time massaging it over the skin, paying particular attention to areas such as elbows, knees and feet. Rinse thoroughly, then apply your favourite body moisturiser while your skin still feels slightly damp for a beautifully soft finish.
We recommend: Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow
Make Time for an At-Home Facial
A spa experience is not complete without a little facial pampering. After cleansing your skin, apply a face mask suited to your current skin concerns and use those few minutes as an excuse to do absolutely nothing. Hydrating masks are particularly useful when your complexion feels dry or depleted, while clarifying formulas can be a good choice when skin feels congested. You can even keep your mask in the fridge beforehand if you enjoy that refreshing, cooling sensation. The important thing is not to turn it into another task. Put your feet up, close your eyes and let your skincare do the work.
We recommend: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Mask
Do Not Forget Your Hands and Feet
It is easy to concentrate on your face and forget about the rest of your skin, but giving your hands and feet some attention can make your DIY spa session feel much more complete. After your bath or shower, apply a rich cream to dry hands, massage moisturiser into your feet and take a few minutes to work the product into the skin. If you have a foot mask or treatment, now is the perfect time to use it. A little massage can make the ritual feel even more indulgent. You are aiming for that lovely feeling of being thoroughly pampered from head to toe.
We recommend: CeraVe SA Renewing Foot Cream
Create the Right Atmosphere
Finally, remember that a spa experience is about more than the products themselves. Lighting, sound and scent can completely change how your bathroom feels. Turn off the harsh overhead light, use candles or softer lighting where appropriate, put on a relaxing playlist and leave your phone outside the room. Have a fluffy towel and dressing gown waiting for you when you finish, and perhaps make yourself a cup of herbal tea to enjoy afterwards. Aromatherapy Associates offers a range of bath and body products designed around an aromatherapy experience, so even something as simple as a scented shower can become part of your evening ritual.
We recommend: Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Sleep Mist