Beat the Winter Blues with These Easy At-Home Spa Tips

RealBeauty.com

The weather in some parts of the country has made us want to do nothing but sit inside curled under a blanket and eat mac and cheese. But all this inside time can lead to the winter blues. Here are amazing DIY tips for creating an at-home spa, straight from the country's most well-renowned spa experts and owners. Related: 5 Pedicure Recipes You'll Want to Try

1. Pay Attention to the Details
Part of what makes the spa experience so luxurious is the little extra touches. That's why you should do some prep work before you start your treatments. Throw your robe in the dryer for 10 minutes so it's warm and fluffy when you want to lounge. Nuke a neck wrap in the microwave for two minutes to help your muscles relax while you soak in the tub, and stash a cooling gel eye mask in the freezer (a bag of frozen peas also works) for a quick pick-me-up. Related: 7 Ways to Shake Off a Winter Funk
-Hefina Rees, lead esthetician, and Vicki Cairns, spa supervisor, at Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman

2. Scent Your Space
What aroma takes you to your happy place? Chances are it's not cleaning supplies or last night's dinner. To make your home smell spa-like, burn a heavenly scented soy candle, place pretty potpourri in each room, or use aromatherapy diffusers. The most universally soothing fragrances: lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus.
-Suzanne Gibson, spa director, Mokara Spa at the Omni Houston Hotel

3. Raid the Fridge
Even the fanciest spas approve of using basic (and cheap!) ingredients in at-home treatments. For example, you can make a moisturizing face mask by mixing a tablespoon of honey with one egg white. Apply the mixture to your face and rinse off after 10 minutes. Another homespun recipe: Mash a fresh pineapple or papaya into a paste and mix it with a bit of olive oil and honey. Apply to your face and rinse off after 10 minutes. Related: 7 Beauty Recipes Using Last Night's Dinner Leftovers
-Hefina Rees, lead esthetician, and Vicki Cairns, spa supervisor, at Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman

4. Show Your Hair Some Love
Extend all this pampering goodness beyond your face and body with a nourishing hair treatment. First, turn your bathroom into a mini steam room by taking a hot, extra-long shower. Then, massage a deep conditioner or hair oil into clean damp tresses. Wrap your hair in a towel and hang out in the bathroom with the door closed for about 30 minutes to let your mane fully absorb the treatment.
-Paul Labrecque, owner of Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa in NYC

5. Buff Your Body
Follow the directions in the previous slide to turn your bathroom into a steam room, then turn off the shower and scrub your body with a mix of your regular body wash, plus 1/4 cup raw sugar cane and 2 teaspoons coconut milk (you can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil). Once you're smooth from head to toe, dry off and apply a rich body cream.
-Aaron Pahk, lead massage therapist at Hard Rock Hotel Reliquary Water Sanctuary & Spa

6. Take a Milk Bath
One of the absolute best skin-smoothing ingredients can be found in the dairy aisle at your supermarket. The lactic acid in milk softens skin better than most super-fancy potions, which is why spa pros recommend pouring a few cups of the stuff (choose whole milk over low-fat) in your bath. After a long soak, your body will feel buttery soft.
-Aaron Pahk, lead massage therapist at Hard Rock Hotel Reliquary Water Sanctuary & Spa

7. Revitalize Your Skin and Eyes
Most spa facials involve some kind of face massage to boost blood flow and help the products absorb better. Here's how to get results on your own: Take a warm shower to soften your pores, then cut a chilled seedless red or green grape in half. Grapes contain hydrating glucose and powerful antioxidants that fight skin-damaging free radicals. Slide the flat side of the cut grape over your skin, starting between your brows and moving out toward your temples. Sweep up to your forehead, then down your nose and over your cheeks.
-Regine Berthelot, treatment manager at Caudalie Spa in NYC

8. Drink Up
Believe it or not, some spas actually encourage you to drink alcohol, specifically a glass of red wine. The grape seed polyphenols are amazing antioxidants, plus the vino will leave you totally relaxed.
-Regine Berthelot, Treatment Manager at Caudalie Spa in NYC

9. Stay in the Zone
When you're finished with your at-home treatments, sip a spa-approved beverage of your choice (fruit-infused water, red wine, or herbal tea) while relaxing with a book. This is the time to take a break from magazines and newspapers and indulge in an art or architecture book. Allow your mind to wander for just a few moments longer before you join the real world again.
-Hefina Rees, lead esthetician, and Vicki Cairns, spa supervisor, at Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman

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