DIY Spa Treatments You Can Make From Things You Have At Home

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Research from The National Center for Biotechnology Information shows that regularly engaging in self-care activities decreases one’s feelings of stress and increases one’s feelings of psychological and physical wellbeing. ScienceDirect even reports that engaging in regular self-care could correlate with spending less on healthcare. For some, this good news can immediately come with a feeling of being defeated for many reasons. First of all, it’s no secret that spending the day at the spa is very expensive. Good self-care can often feel like it’s only available to the ultra-wealthy. Grandview Research reports that the ultra-luxury “destination spa” is a growing trend. But among who? Probably not anyone for whom money is an object.

Money isn’t the only obstacle to a spa day. There’s also the reality that, even though things are opening up a bit more given the current pandemic, not everyone feels ready to go to a spa. Spas are enclosed. They’re designed to feel like caves, with few windows and little circulating air. They can feel like incubators for the COVID-19 virus. So it’s understandable if you just don’t feel ready to enter that environment. Whether it’s finances or the coronavirus holding you back, you deserve to have some R&R. Luckily, there are some effective and luxurious spa treatments you can make at home, with ingredients you likely already have. Here are several Do-It-Youself spa treatments you can make from your own kitchen.

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Hair masks

Avocado banana hair mask

What you’ll need: ½ avocado, ½ banana, one egg, one tablespoon of olive oil.

How to make it: put everything in a blender and blend up until smooth. Put the resulting mixture on your hair and leave on for about 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water and shampoo and wash as usual.

What it does: Bananas not only add shine to your tresses but they can also fight dandruff and are deeply moisturizing for the scalp. Plus, they’ll leave your head smelling great. Avocados contain healthy fats that fortify your hair, and letting those sit on the head for a while via a hair mask lets the fats really penetrate the hair follicles. Olive oil is also wonderfully hydrating and strengthens the hair with its omegas.

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Yogurt and honey hair mask

What you’ll need: Two tablespoons of yogurt (organic or natural is best), one tablespoon of honey.

How to make it: Combine the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Put the mixture on your hair, starting at the roots and working it down to the ends. Massage it in thoroughly. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse and wash as usual.

What it does: One nice thing about this mask is you’ll note it doesn’t contain any sort of oil, which many do. If you have very thin or naturally oily hair, you’ll like the lightweight feel of this mask. The protein in the yogurt can have strengthening benefits for dry and brittle hair, and its lactic acid is reported to be very cleansing for the scalp. Honey works to smooth hair follicles, making them look healthier and shinier. It’s also moisturizing so it’s great for dry tresses.

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Pumpkin and honey hair mask

What you’ll need: ¼ cup canned pureed organic pumpkin, two tablespoons unrefined coconut oil, two tablespoons honey (this is an excellent mask to make when you have leftover ingredients after pumpkin pie).

How to make it: Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Add the mixture to clean and combed hair. Let sit for 15 minutes and rinse.

What it does: Pumpkin is rich in vitamin E, which allegedly stimulates the scalp and can encourage hair growth. It’s also full of fortifying potassium. Coconut is deeply moisturizing and has strengthening omega fatty acids. Honey adds shine and hydrates while smoothing follicles.

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Face masks

Oatmeal face mask

What you’ll need: ½ cup hot water, 1/3 cup raw oats, two tablespoons of plain yogurt, two tablespoons of honey, one egg white.

How to make it: Combine the oats and hot water in a bowl, mix, and let settle for a few minutes. Then mix in the other ingredients. Pat a thin layer of the resulting mixture onto your face, let it sit for 15 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Add some sort of strainer or plastic wrap over your sink drain to prevent oats from clogging it.

What it does: Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin and its texture can scuff off dead skin cells. Oats can also remove excess oil in the skin, making this a great mask for those with oil complexions. Yogurt acts as a fortifier and a cleanser, as does honey, thanks to its antibacterial properties. Egg whites can help close pores and tone the skin.

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Mayonnaise face mask

What you’ll need: one tablespoon mayonnaise, one tablespoon honey, one tablespoon powdered sugar, one tablespoon oatmeal.

How to make it: combine ingredients and mix together until they form a thick paste. Massage the mixture into your face. This is an exfoliating mask so this step is important. Let sit for two to three minutes, then rinse.

What it does: Mayonnaise can help remove dead skin cells as well as hydrate the skin. It can also sooth inflamed skin. Honey works as a cleanser and antioxidant. Powdered sugar is much gentler than coarse brown or granulated sugar, which is fine for the body but too rough for the face. Powdered sugar is a gentle exfoliant. Oatmeal scuffs of dead skins and soaks up excess oil.

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Body scrubs

Coconut oil brown sugar body scrub

What you’ll need: one cup brown sugar, ½ cup melted coconut oil

How to make it: combine ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly mixed. Massage the mixture over your skin, focusing on areas of dry, rough skin. Rinse the skin thoroughly. Be sure to apply a moisturizer after.

What it does: In addition to having antibacterial properties, brown sugar is a great exfoliant that effectively scuffs off dead skin cells. Coconut oil is wonderfully hydrating, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory so it cleanses and soothes the epidermis. You can add an additional moisturizer after if you’d like, but the coconut oil is very hydrating.

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Avocado honey body scrub

What you’ll need: ½ avocado, three teaspoons honey, two tablespoons cornmeal.

How to make it: Combine ingredients in a bowl. Massage onto damp skin. Rinse with warm water. Consider adding a particle trap to your bathtub drain so the cornmeal doesn’t clog it.

What it does: Avocado is rich in antioxidants which protect the skin against free radicals. It’s also deeply hydrating and contains carotenoids that boost elasticity. Plus, it can fight inflammation. Honey is antibacterial, antifungal, and moisturizing. Cornmeal is a great exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and leaving new, smooth skin exposed. It can also remove excess oil without leaving skin feeling dry.

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Vanilla and coffee body scrub

What you’ll need: 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, ½ cup coconut oil, 20 drops of vanilla essential oil, one tablespoon of ground coffee.

How to make it: Combine all ingredients but the coffee grounds in a bowl. Coconut oil should be soft but not melted. Add coffee grounds at the end. Blend until thoroughly mixed. Massage onto damp skin. Rinse with warm water.

What it does: The antioxidants in the coffee grounds can help protect the skin from sun damage. Coffee can also boost circulation, which results in healthier looking skin. Coconut oil has moisturizing fatty acids, is antibacterial, and is anti-inflammatory. Sugar is a great exfoliant, removing dead skin cells to reveal new, smooth skin. The vanilla essential oil is also rich in antioxidants, and will leave you smelling great.