Create Your Own Spa At Home

In today's stress-filled world, a visit to a spa can provide much-needed rejuvenation for body and soul. While there is no substitute for being pampered by someone else's hands, other factors such as one's busy schedule and fluctuation in one's wallet do not always make that possible. Below is a step-by-step guide to recreate two of the most popular spa treatments at home -- a facial and a dry pedicure.

At-home facial treatment

Items Needed:

• Cleanser

• Toner and cotton pads

• Deep cleansing scrub or clay mask or hydrating mask

• Steaming pot of water -- preferably as wide as face

• Aromatherapy oil or chamomile tea

• Towel large enough to cover head

• Washcloth

• Moisturizer or hydrating serum -- optional

Steps:

• Cleanse face with cream cleanser or gel -- thoroughly rinse off.

• Using cotton pad apply toner to entire face to remove any traces of cleanser avoiding eyes -- this can be a floral water or witch hazel.

• Put water to boil in pot until very hot and cover with lid to prevent from cooling off -- for purposes of scent drop in a couple of drops of aromatic oil or place chamomile tea bags in the water to steep.

• Apply clay or hydrating mask or facial scrub -- avoiding eyes with emphasis on any area that's more congested, meaning has more breakouts or blackheads.

• Allow mask to remain 10 minutes -- for added relaxation apply cold chamomile tea bags or cool cucumbers to eyes and lay back.

• Uncover pot and place face directly over steaming water with towel over head to create a "steam cocoon" -- allow vapor to soften the mask and massage into skin as a needed.

• Rinse off mask and remove thoroughly with wash cloth then apply toner to remove all traces.

• Apply day or night moisturizer or allow refreshed skin to breathe.

Dry pedicure

Items Needed:

• Pumice stone or foot scraper -- not wet

• Scrub cream

• Pail with hot water / bathtub

• Moisturizing cream or oil

• Emery board and orange stick and buffer

• Clippers or scissors

• Towels and plastic bags plus socks

• Optional -- cool chamomile bags or cool cucumber slices, salts/aroma oil

Steps:

• Without soaking feet (dry), use using pumice stone or callous polishing paddle massage entire feet to remove dry scaly skin and reveal new soft skin.

• Apply scrub to feet with massage action and wrap in plastic and warm socks -- to warm socks place in microwave for 30 seconds on high.

• Allow scrub to remain on skin for about five minutes -- to add to relaxation and reduce any puffiness to eye area lay back and place tea bags or cool cucumbers on eyes.

• Take off socks and plastic and once again massage scrub into skin, then rinse off with warm water.

• Place feet in hot water in tub or pail and soak -- to enhance the effects of the water you may add hydrating oil or salts to the water.

• Soak feet for at least five minutes, towel dry and use orange stick to push back cuticles and scissors or clippers to trim back nails, remembering to trim across (square) to avoid ingrown nails.

• Use emery or buffer to file to perfection -- rinse again, dry thoroughly and apply moisturizing lotion or mask and replace warm socks for comfort and to help lotion penetrate skin.

• Skip the polish this time around; the nail plate -- what's commonly referred to as the "nail" as well as the nail bed or skin beneath the nail -- will benefit from a break from the application of polish.

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