How to Have an At Home Spa Day

I can’t afford to go to the spa every day. If you CAN, then quit reading this right now. I don’t want to talk to you. Pfffft. If you are a normal person who doesn’t go to the spa every day, read on for my DIY spa tips.

1. Clean the house. I know what you’re thinking. “Uh, Jen – this is not how you have a spa day.” Well, I don’t know about you, but I can’t relax in a messy house. If the house is a wreck, just clean the bathroom or whatever room you’re using to escape. You can also call TaskRabbit and get someone to clean it for you. I just found out about this service, and I’ve already had a college student come pick up a package (a giveaway for a My Beauty Bunny reader actually) and bring it to the post office. I’m busy and I hate the post office! College student needs money for alcohol ramen. Win win!

2. Light some candles. Sometimes I forget how awesome candles are. But lately, I’ve been on a candle-buying kick. I just got some Voluspa candles from one of those sample sale sites and then I went and bought some more at a local candle shop. The cruelty free soy candles I buy at my local farmer’s market are the best though and only $10 each! You can actually buy them online (you’ll thank me later). I also love Tomslitehouse soy candles – they have a million different scents.

3. Unplug. This is the hardest part for me. Turn off the TV, put your phone on vibrate and put your laptop away. I actually don’t know if I have ever successfully done this.

4. Take a bath. I’m really loving Aromafloria Stress Less bath and body products with lavender, chamomile and sage. You can use the Foaming Bubble Bath or the Ocean Mineral Bath Salt – whichever suits your fancy. Their Salt Glow Body Polish is very nice – moisturizing but not greasy. The best thing about the Stress Less line is the scent – WOW. It smells amazing. You can close your eyes and imagine you’re at the spa. When I get out of the bath, I use the Body Oil. This is by far my favorite from the line. There is a body lotion too, but I think the oil smells the best. There’s even a jar of inhalation beads that you can sniff any time (great to use during stressful days at work). I’m giving away a gift set on Facebook now – make sure to enter soon!

5. Put on a mask. I love LATHER’s new 10 Minute Brightening Mask With Glycolic Acid. I feel like a lot of masks don’t really do anything. If I’m going to lounge around, I want to be multi-tasking and doing something good for my skin. You can really feel it working and even though I have sensitive skin, I didn’t have a reaction to the glycolic acid. In addition to the exfoliation from the glycolic and lactic acids, you also get brightening effects from the kojic acid and licorice. Caffeine de-puffs. After using, my skin is amazingly soft and smooth.

6. Deep condition your hair. I like North American Hemp Co. Omega Deep Rich Treatment. It’s cruelty free, vegan and it moisturizes with hemp seed oil, omega 3, 6 and 9′s, thermal algae, cornflower and sesame extracts (sounds like you could eat it). I also like the Soy Tri-Wheat Treatment from Healthy Sexy Hair. It’s made with soy protein, cocoa extract, jojoba oil and avocado oil. They both moisturize, but don’t weigh hair down.

7. De-puff your eyes. Cucumber slices and cool tea bags really do work. Try black or green tea – the caffeine is good to decrease puffiness, but the astringent nature of tea also helps. I’m also loving derma e’s Pycnogenol eye gel. They have a ton of great products, but the pycnogenol gel is one of my faves because it doesn’t clog up the pores and cause milia to appear around my eyes (like thicker creams do). Pycnogenol is a type of tree bark extract that is 50 times stronger than Vitamin E! It also has green tea extract and witch hazel.

8. Curl up with a good book and a cup ‘o tea. Or read your kindles or your ipads – you crazy kids.