Winter is a wonderful time of year for a relaxing, pampering treatment at the spa – but it might be simpler than you think to make it a reality without setting foot outside of your front door. Here’s how to recreate your very own at-home spa day experience.
From high-tech LED masks and crystal contour tools – now available for at-home use – to easy-to-find products you may already have in your skincare cabinet, it’s easier than ever to make your bathroom, bedroom or living room into an oasis of calm.
Here’s how to recreate a luxury spa day experience from the comfort of your own home.
Walk into any luxury spa and you’ll probably be captivated at first smell. All the best spas have aromas that leave you feeling relaxed but invigorated at the same time. Recreate the at-home spa experience by lighting your favourite candle and letting the scent fill the room before you even think about beginning your beauty rituals. If you love aromatherapy, try Neom’s Wellbeing Pod that not only releases a fine mist of natural essential oil blends, but also humidifies the air around your home for instant spa vibes. Bespoke your mood booster with scent blends ranging from ‘Calm & Relax’ to ‘Make You Happy’.
Yes, cotton pyjamas are great but there’s no item of clothing that says ‘spa-ready’ like a white fluffy robe. Just cocooning into one can help you reset. The trick to spa-like comfort levels with your robe is to size up, (or borrow your boyfriends) so the arms are roomy and your knees are covered. You can't go wrong with a classic fluffy House Robe by Soho Home, which will transport you to Soho Farmhouse in a flash. There's a hood too, for even more cosiness. Put on your favourite chill-out music in the background and you’re all set.
Never underestimate the power of massage – even self-massage, although feel free to get your partner or a family member involved too. Studies show that a massage can activate the internal processes of the body, helping it to respond and correct any imbalances caused by stress. If your mind’s racing, try using Aromatherapy Associates’ The De-Stress Collection before bedtime – the range is many a beauty editor's secret weapon. Our advice: spread the De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Oil all over your body taking time to inhale the fragrance as you massage it deeply into your skin. Then, step into a freshly drawn warm bath. You can also boost the aromatherapy benefits by cupping your hands to your face and inhaling deeply three times. This is a good trick if you are short of time too, as it also works in the shower.
Doing a 12-step facial like the experts isn’t easy but here’s a clever little tool that can help. Rub your hands together to warm up your favourite serum or facial oil and then get to work with Odacite’s Crystal Contour Gua Sha, gently gliding the stone across your face for that post-facial glow. Handcrafted from natural sodalite crystals, the luxe but oh-so-simple tool hugs the curves and contours of your face to help increase blood circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage, meaning reduced puffiness to give your cheekbones a subtle lift. Skin (and you) feeling off-kilter? The Blue Sodalite stone is specifically known as ‘the harmoniser’ to help restore peace and tranquillity, meaning it's particularly good after a heavy night too.
Shut the door to your bedroom or bathroom, and find your moment of calm. I always light my candles then shut the door for five minutes before re-entering for the scent to really hit me.
– Nicola Elliott, Neom founder
Head or hand massage? It’s everybody’s favourite question from the spa therapist when your facial involves some kind of downtime for a product to work its magic. When you’re sitting in a hydrating face mask at home, use the 10-15 minutes wisely by doubling up with a relaxing head massage. You can DIY, or ask a partner or friend to do the honour, and product-wise, there's a reason why Fable & Mane's HoliRoots is a multi-award winner. The lightweight vegan hair oil is infused with ashwagandha – a stress-relieving and hair-strengthening Ayurvedic root. Apply around two pipettes evenly over the whole scalp and massage in for a scalp treatment that will not only encourage deep relaxation but also promote circulation for healthy hair growth.
Even the most high-tech beauty treatments are now more accessible from your sofa – as our full at-home beauty tech guide outlines. For a skin-boosting pamper in particular, look to the regenerating powers of LED light therapy. One of the most popular and expert-trusted devices – with celebrity fans including Lily Collins and Suki Waterhouse – is Currentbody's LED Face Mask, which harnesses the power of Red and Near-Infrared light to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and increase your skin’s firmness over time. It's made of flexible silicon to adapt to any face shape, so it's easy to wear too, and, as an added skin bonus, any topical skincare you apply post-treatment will work even harder on your face, so follow up with a DIY facial for optimum results.
No spa day is complete without a spell in the relaxation room post-treatment, especially sipping on a calming herbal tea to continue the spa atomosphere as long as possible. Try your favourite blend from Fortnum & Mason's very (self)giftable range, with our favourite being this sleep-inducing Nocturne Botanical Infusion. It combines calming notes of lavender, valerian root and camomile with hints of cherry and lemon balm too, so it's really ideal for encouraging rest and recuperation. Brew for five minutes, and then relax in your favourite spot in the house with a big blanket and pretend you’re at your favourite spa.
Lead image credit: Olivia von Halle
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