Pampering At-Home Spa Ideas & Recipes

At-Home Spa Tips: ▪ Favorite Essential Oils       ▪ Using Body and Foot Scrubs ▪ Foot Massage                  ▪ Substituting Oils ▪ Cautionary Concerns        ▪ Enhancing your Foot Bath At-Home Spa Recipes: ♥  Homemade Bath Crystals           ♥  Basic Bath Salts ♥  Basic Bath Oils                       ♥  Lavender Salt Body Scrub ♥  Honey Body Scrub                    ♥  Bath Bombs ♥  Poppy Seed Foot Scrub               ♥  Peppermint Foot Soak ♥  Foot Fizzies                                ♥  Peachy Facial ♥  Minty Message Oil Favorite Essential Oils Here are some of the most popular essential oils and their benefits: Lavender - Promotes relaxation Eucalyptus - Relieves congestion Peppermint - Delivers an energy boost, stimulates and awakens the mind. Tea Tree - Has antibacterial properties Lemon - Benefits the immune system Orange - Relieves stress and insomnia Rose Oil - Has a potent anti-depressant effect and may be used to treat nervousness, sadness and stress Rosemary - Relieves muscle aches Ylang-Ylang - Raises the spirits Substituting Oils In each of the recipes below, you can substitute oils, but avoid using mineral oil as the skin doesn't absorb it, or nut oils since some people are allergic to them.  Some popular carrier oils are sweet almond, apricot kernel oil, grape seed oil, canola, jojoba, olive, coconut and safflower.  Note:  Almond oil has a tendency to go stale quickly, within 2 weeks, so when using it in a recipe remember to use the mixture promptly. Cautionary Concerns Label essential oils carefully. Before using any herbal or essential oil product, do a patch test by rubbing a dab of the mixture on the inside of your arm.  Wait an hour, and check for redness or rash.  If you see signs of irritation, do not use the product. Never take oils orally!! If you have respiratory problems, oils may trigger air-passage spasms. Never apply undiluted oils directly to the skin as this may cause irritation. Pregnant and nursing women may be more sensitive to essential oils and shouldn't use aromatherapy sources.  Always do a test patch before using bath salts or scrubs using essential oils. Keep essential oils and products made with them away from heat. Homemade Bath Crystals 2 cups Epsom Salt (16 oz) A few drops of your favorite essential oil (Lavender is recommended) A few drops of food coloring (optional) 1/2 tsp glycerin for moisturizing (optional) Mix together and store in ziplock bag to keep moist. Basic Bath Salts Sea salt, Epsom salts (or combination of the two) Essential oil in desired fragrance Food coloring Powdered milk to moisturize skin (optional) Dried herbs such as rose petals or rosemary (optional) Glass bottles or Jars Combine the salts and add the oil one drop at a time.  Gradually add coloring until the desired color is achieved.  Add the powdered milk and the dried herbs.  Transfer the salts to decorative bottles or jars and apply labels.  Sprinkle the salts into your bathwater as the tub fills to release the aroma from the essential oil. Basic Bath Oils Supplies:  Glass Bottles with tight fitting lids.  Almond oil or Safflower oil.  Essential oil in desired fragrance. The almond oil or safflower oil is what is called the "carrier oil".  Pour the carrier oil into a container and add the essential oil......one drop of essential oil to one ounce of carrier oil.  Pour the scented oil into glass bottles and label. Using Body and Foot Scrubs Keep your jar of body or foot scrub and a small scoop near your sink or shower.  Don't reach into the jar with wet fingers.  Rub a small amount of the scrub over clean, wet skin and rinse.  Use on your hands, body and feet but not on your face.  Do not rub on wounds.....as it will sting! Lavender Salt Body Scrub 2 Tablespoons dried lavender 2 cups sea salt 1/2 cup sweet almond oil 1/2 cup light olive oil 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil 2 drops lavender essential oil Crush the lavender.  Mix together with salt and oils.  While standing in a tub, work the salt paste into skin.   Rinse with warm water. Honey Body Scrub 3 cups sea salt 1 1/4 cup almond oil 1 cup grape seed oil 1 1/2 oz. glycerin Honey fragrance oil (up to 1 oz) Put the salt into a large bowl.  Stir in the oils and glycerin.  Note:  When you add the oil, the salt turns a honey color.  Add the honey fragrance oil, adjusting the strength of the scent to your preference.  Scoop the scrub into a cosmetic jar or container. Bath Bombs 1/4 cup baking soda 2 Tbsp cornstarch 2 Tbsp citric acid (found at a health food store) 1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil 1/4 tsp essential oil 2 drops food coloring Light mist of water Mold for shaping bombs Mix the baking soda and cornstarch together.  Add the canola oil, the drops of food coloring and the essential oil.  Using a water mister, mist the mixture lightly one time.  Mix well until there are no lumps and the color is well blended.  Add the citric acid.  Heap as much of the mixture as possible into a mold.  Press down very firmly packing the mixture well.  Do not add more mixture to the mold after firmly packing it as it will not create a cohesive bath bomb.  Let the bath bomb air dry for 1-2 days on a baking rack.  Variation:  Use Lavender essential oil as well as 1/2 tsp of dried lavender blossoms.  Add the lavender blossoms when mixing the baking soda and cornstarch together. Foot Massage Warm some oil in your hands or use foot scrub.  Place your thumbs on the heel of the right foot.  Apply gentle pressure to the entire underside of the foot, slowly gliding your thumbs toward your toes.  Massage the entire heel, including the sides beneath the ankles, with your thumbs.  Add more oil or scrub to the top of the foot.  Place four fingers in one of the depressions between the bones on the top of the foot and gently massage toward the ankle.  Repeat between all these depressions.  Finally, position both hands on one foot, with your fingers underneath and your thumbs on top.  One hand at a time, apply pressure and gently stroke the foot, sliding your hands toward the toes. Minty Message Oil 10 teaspoons grape seed oil. 3 drops Eucalyptus essential oil. 2 drops Peppermint essential oil. 4 drops Rosemary essential oil. Blend all ingredients together and store in glass container.   Use as a shoulder, neck, hand or foot massage oil.  Shelf life: 6-12 months. Poppy Seed Foot Scrub 1/2 cup Epsom salts 1/4 cup Poppy seeds 2 Tbsp Canola oil 2 Tbsp Almond oil 7 drops Lavender essential oil 3 drops Peppermint or Spearmint essential oil Mix Epsom salts, poppy seeds, canola oil, almond oil and essential oils.  Mix prior to using.  Massage scrub onto feet; concentrating on problem areas.  Note:  If almond oil is not readily available, double the canola oil. Enhancing your Foot Bath To enjoy a soothing footbath, place marbles in the bottom of a small basin, add warm water, and float sprigs of rosemary on the surface.  Rub your weary feet across the marbles to release the breezy herbal scent and give yourself a gentle massage. Peppermint Foot Soak Steep 2 ounces chopped fresh peppermint in 4 cups of boiling water for 1 hour.  Pour into a large bowl of hot water.  Add Epsom salts.  Soak!! Foot Fizzies The menthol of the essential oils and the bubbles refresh tired and aching feet. 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/4 cup cornstarch 10 drops Peppermint essential oil 20 drops Spearmint essential oil Mix all the dry ingredients in a large glass bowl, breaking up any lumps with your hands.  Remove approx. 1/2 cup of the mixture and place it into a small bowl.  Add the essential oils to the smaller bowl and mix with the dry ingredients.  Note:  Use a spoon to start mixing and then use your hands to evenly distribute the fragrance. Place the scented mix back into the large bowl and mix well.  Lightly mist the mixture and immediately mix well with your hands.  Note:  Don't over mist or your mixture will start to fizz up.  Continue misting lightly and mixing until the mixture is moldable. Scoop the mixture with a melon baller.  Note: Pack the mixture tightly in the mellon baller, adding more as needed.  Gently tap the molded fizzies out onto waxed paper.  Allow them to air dry overnight to completely harden.  Use two to three fizzes per foot bath.  Yield: 34-38 fizzies. Peachy Facial Medium peach, ripe 1 Tbsp honey Uncooked oats (up to 1 cup) MAKE THE FACIAL:  Peel the peach with a knife.  Remove the pit and slice the peach into segments.  Place the segments in a bowl and cover them with plastic wrap.  Microwave the peach for 1-2 minutes, until soft.  Mash with fork.  Add the honey to the cooked peach and stir.  Mix in the oats until the mixture forms a thick consistency. USE THE FACIAL:  Pull your hair up off your face and wash your face and neck.  Apply the facial mixture to your face and neck avoiding your eyes.  Leave the facial mixture on your skin for 10 minutes.  Rinse well with cool water.  Use immediately.  This recipe yields two masks and is for normal skin.

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