When things get stressful, we all need a bit of self-care and pampering time. But not all of us pop off to a posh spa for the day! So while the ups and downs of life and work are ultimately unavoidable, there are plenty of ways for you to relax and unwind after a long work week. And what better way to release all that tension from your body than with your very own at home spa day?
Indulging in your very own spa day at home is the perfect way to give your body the pampering gifts you know it deserves, revitalising your energies so you can take on any tricky project that comes your way.
You could go all-in and lavish yourself with all the creams and moisturisers that take you fancy, or your spa day could be as simple as enjoying a warm bath with some chill music and candles. Either way, a spa night at home is a great way to boost your mind, body, and soul.
So, to help loosen those potential frayed nerves and give your skin a radiant glow, here are our top spa day at-home ideas to brighten up your January.
Prepare your at-home spa in advance
Preparation is the key to getting the most out of any at-home spa day, and that means doing a little bit of organisation in advance so you’re not rushing trying to sort everything last minute. That’ll make you stressed, which is what we’re trying to avoid.
First and foremost, set a date and time in your calendar for your spa night at home. Not only will this force you set aside some time for yourself, something we don’t do often enough, but it’ll also give you something to look forward to throughout the week.
If you’re worried you might not have time for a lengthy relaxation session, that’s ok. Even as little as 30 minutes of unwinding in a bath with your favourite scented candle is enough to receive stress-relieving benefits and give you a much-needed boost.
As the week progresses, spend time gathering all the things you’ll need for your at-home spa, such as a spa candle or two, masks and moisturisers, bath products, oils, a drink, snacks, and maybe a book if you’re so inclined; we’ll provide a full checklist for you at the end of this article and you can find many spa accessory gifts right here at thortful.
You’ll also want to decide what rooms you’ll be using as part of your at-home spa. Not all of us have a large bathroom, so if space is tight, you can make use of your bedroom and lounge as well to act as relaxation zones. Clean and declutter these areas the day before so you can slip straight into your at-home spa when you step through the door.
Lastly, make prepare any snacks the night before and select what drink you want. Wine, fizz, and gin are all great for taking the edge off, but nothing says comfy like a huge mug of hot chocolate. Also, be sure you notify your partner or flatmates that you’re taking time out for yourself. A crucial aspect of any spa day at home is a period of unbroken solitude, so you want to minimise distractions and disturbances as much as possible.
Recreating that spa mood
When it comes to spa day at home ideas, recreating that genuine spa mood is a must.
From the moment you get in from work, you want the stress to start shedding away, giving you room to breathe. Once you step through your door, your mobile needs to be turned off and a comfortable spa robe or dressing gown slipped on. Consider leaving your robe and towels ready and waiting on your bed for easy access, and if you’ve a favourite pair of slippers, have these right by your front door so you can slip them on immediately.
Once you’re ready for your at-home spa day to properly begin, start running your bath and preparing the room. When it comes to the temperature of your bathwater, make sure it’s warm rather than hot. Hot water can damage your skin and leave it dehydrated.
If spa candles are your thing, lay them out the night before or as the water is running and light them once the bath is ready. If you’re keen on candles, check out our candle gifts – or consider making your own candles as an de-stressing alternative!
Also make sure to add any bubble bath mixture, bath oils, or bath salts to the water early on so they can fully infuse. Baths salts are particularly soothing as they help debloat your body and allay muscle pain. Of course, if you prefer a bath bomb, drop this in when your bath is ready and leave a few minutes for it to dissolve.
Alternatively, if you’re not using candles, you can set up a diffuser instead. Pick a fragrance you love, or if you can’t decide on a scent, then lavender, green tea, and roses are always popular choices. Finally, put on any music you want, set aside your book, snacks, and drink, and dim the lights of your chosen room. If you can’t dim the lights, then a good alternative is stringing up some fairy lights the night before for a similar effect.
Naturally, this whole process can be made even easier by asking your partner or flatmates for help. They can prep everything for you before you get back from work, so all you need to do is slip into your robe and relaaaaaaaax.
Pampering yourself in the perfect order
As a spa night at home is all about relaxing, you want to make everything as seamless as possible. That means doing things in a sensible order.
Start by removing all your makeup and applying a body scrub. A body scrub will help to remove any dead cells on your body while leaving it looking smoother and brighter. You can then apply your chosen face or an eye mask. Make sure you pick one that’s hydrating rather than cleansing as you want to lock in moisture.
Once your mask is ready, you can move on to applying a hair mask as well. A hair mask is perfect for rejuvenating dry, fragile, and damaged hair. You can rinse it out after the recommended time, or you can leave it in a wrap your hair up in a towel turban. This will help enhance its effects while you relax. Be sure to tend to your nails as well. Doing this while they’re dry will make them less likely to split.
With all this initial pampering out the way, you’re now ready to slip into your bath. And do you know what the best part about waiting is? Letting the warm water sit for a while causes steam to form in your bathroom, creating a sauna-like effect. Just slip into your tub, inhale the aromatic scents, and relax.
Eventually, if you can convince yourself to get out of the bath’s comforting embrace, towel yourself off and moisturise your skin. You can also rinse the hair mask out, using your shower head to avoid getting your face mask wet, as well as attending to any remaining foot and hand care.
With the last of the pampering done, you’re left with two options. You put on some lip balm, don your comfiest pyjamas, and sink into your bed, or if your book’s too good to put down, create a nest of blankets and keep reading. Just remember to apply your lip balm when you’re ready to turn in. Come the morning, you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the week!
Your at-home spa day checklist
Now you know exactly what you need to recreate an authentic spa day at home, but as promised, here’s our at-home spa day checklist so you can be sure you have everything you need:
- A spa robe or dressing gown
- Comfy slippers
- A spa candle (or five)
- A diffuser
- Bath oils, salts, bubbles, or bombs
- A face and eye mask
- A hair mask
- Creams, scrubs, and moisturisers
- Your drink of choice
- Snacks
- A book
- Music
- Battery powered fairy lights
- And as a bonus, a few potted plants if you have the space (they’re great mood boosters)
Of course, you don’t have to do a spa night on your own. If you want a night in with friends, then there’s no reason you can’t invite them round for a chat and gossip.
If you’re looking to use this at home spa day to treat a special someone, then we have hundreds of cards – with everything from birthday cards to thank you cards. Naughty or nice, traditional and funny – we have cards to suit everyone. For more self-care tips, have a look at our stress busting tips or small joys to be grateful for in life, and check out the rest of the thortful blog for more ideas.
