How to make your own at home spa day

Deep breath – if you’ve been feeling a little off kilter these days, you’re not alone. With the current news cycle spinning a million miles a minute, it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious or simply stressed on a daily basis. As we navigate the new normal of staying at home and practicing social distancing, there’s never been a better time to relax, reset and pamper yourself with a well-deserved at-home spa day.

A smiling woman reaches for a product on her counter in her bathroom — Self care can make a big improvement in your overall wellbeing, especially during periods of added stress © eyecrave / Getty Images

From lighting aromatic candles to establish a sense of zen, to nourishing your complexion with a potent new skincare product, there are endless ways to pamper yourself from head to toe. Here’s how to unwind without ever stepping foot outside of your home.

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Set the mood

Now that you’re undoubtedly spending more time at home than ever before, take a moment to evaluate the vibe. Excess clutter can create emotional chaos, which is exactly what we don’t want for an at-home spa day. Declutter, dim the lights and create an inviting and orderly space.

“When you think about a spa, the most common elements are candlelight, soft music, plush robes, slippers and aromatherapy. It’s a great way to set the tone,” says Christina Stephens, spa director of Wymara Resort & Villas in Turks and Caicos.

With that in mind, wrap yourself up in a cozy robe (like ) or slip into a pair of luxe pajamas (try the ) and pour yourself some decadent hot tea, such as , which is packed with antioxidants.

A woman with short dark hair sits on the floor of her bedroom meditating, surrounded by candles and decor in soothing neutral tones — Creating a relaxing environment is the first step to unwinding © PeopleImages / Getty Images

For an added immunity boost with stress-relieving benefits, stir in a teaspoon or two of supplement powder to hot water and sip slowly. You’re well on your way to finding nirvana.

A spa-like vibe is easily enhanced with a soothing scent wafting throughout your house or apartment. The citrusy are a popular purchase among those in search of a little peace. Allow yourself a few precious moments to breathe deeply and let it all out.

“During high-stress times such as now, it is more important than ever for people to remain calm and find healthy ways to relieve stress and anxiety. Turn off the lights (and the news for a moment) and play calming music while focusing on your breath,” advises Pamela Maes, spa director at Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck in New York. “Take a couple of deep breaths and release them slowly. Do some simple stretches and listen to your body. ”

A woman wrapped in a white towel in a white toweled bathroom applies cream to her face in a mirror — Stress can be extra hard on the skin, so there's a practical reason to pamper yourself a little more than usual © FreshSplash / Getty Images

About face

An at-home spa day starts with radiant skin, so wash your face thoroughly with a cleanser that works for you. gently removes dirt, oil, makeup and other pollutants without drying your skin.

For a more invigorating wash, cleanse and exfoliate at the same time with a dual-sided cleansing pad packed with collagen and enzyme powder.

Next, apply a face mask of your choice, sit back and soak in these precious minutes of bliss.

“A fun way to elevate your at-home spa experience is to create a chilled cucumber burrito to depuff the eyes, alleviate allergies and slip into a state of total relaxation,” says Vance Soto, president and owner of in Los Angeles. “Take a chilled cucumber and grate it generously into a paper towel. Roll it into a burrito and leave on for 10-15 minutes.”

A woman sits on her living room couch and carefully applies a mud mask using a makeup mirror on the coffee table — Even the process of applying skincare products like facial masks can be soothing © rudi_suardi / Getty Images

As for face masks, consider , a Dead Sea mineral mud mask loaded with vitamin E and antioxidants. This detoxifying power player unclogs pores and removes excess oils, impurities and dead skin cells.

Or for a hydrating fix, you can’t go wrong with , a serum-soaked mask enriched with rose petal extracts, sea buckthorn fruit, pomegranates and rosewater that nourishes, moisturizes and reduces redness in the skin. The pretty pink mask is bouncy to the touch. Pro tip: To level up your at-home facial, depuff, stimulate blood flow and lift the contours of your face with the

Finish off your face time with a healthy application of or lock it in with the a melatonin and dandelion-infused leave-on treatment that immerses skin in hydration and smells heavenly.

Lips don't lie

Repair dry, neglected lips in seconds flat. Take a dollop of lip scrub (like ) and pair with to gently buff away dead skin cells. Rinse off and apply a healthy layer of , a hydrating product that also leaves behind a prismatic shine.

A woman rubs cream into her hands, on one of which is a golden wedding band — After all this extra thorough hand washing, your mitts probably need a little extra TLC © Chee Gin Tan / Getty Images

All hands on deck

Your hands are likely dry and cracking from excessive hand washing, so you’ll want to nourish them back to health, too.

“Moisturize one to two times a day with a fragrance-free cream such as or ,” says Houston-based dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Mullans.

We also love (packed with oat milk as well as reishi and maitake mushrooms) for an intense hand moisturizer that works wonders when it comes to softening, conditioning and fortifying the skin, while reducing redness and inflammation.

Get your hands on a set of , which are tailor-made to fit your exact nail size and shape thanks to their 3D modeling technology. The stick-ons are available in chic colors and modern patterns.

Treat your feet

Try this quick two-step method to bring your feet back to life.

First, cleanse your feet thoroughly with , which are infused with essential oils, extracts and moisturizers to break down dirt, sweat and oil. Then, slip on a pair of . Kick your heels up and leave on for 15 minutes.

A woman with a white towel wrapped around her hair sits with her back to the camera in a white bath tub with white tile walls, extending a leg out towards a neat row of bath products on the far edge of the tub enclosure and a white orchid — You can treat yourself even when you're social distancing © AJ_Watt / Getty Images

Rock your body

Slow down in the shower and buff your bod with an exfoliating body scrub like or , while using to achieve the smoothest skin possible.

Next, hydrate every inch of your skin with a nourishing cream, like s organic, vegan and all-natural CBD-infused body lotion. Other favorites include (the De-Stress scent is a favorite) or, an affordable powerhouse packed with vitamins C, E, B3 and B5, blueberry and spinach leaf extract, omegas and antioxidants.

Lastly, stretch your limbs and roll out any stress or tension with the help of the . This small but mighty handheld stress buster is perfect for at-home use when tense muscles, poor circulation or bothersome aches and pains simply won’t disappear on their own.

A young woman with prosthetic right leg styles her short hair in front of a vanity table with a large light-up mirror — Even if you're not going out, it'll feel good to have your hair on point for your next video chat with friends © Cavan Images

The mane attraction

Finally, now’s the time to tackle your hair health head on. Your mane is a direct reflection of your stress level, so a little TLC can go a long way.

“When we’re stressed, it affects our circulation and creates an imbalance in the hair follicles, therefore leaving the roots of our hair starving for nutrition. Follicles start to weaken and lose vitality and elasticity, and hair will fall out sooner than it was intended,” explains Carla Gentile, co-founder of , an emerging Los Angeles-based beauty brand in the CBD space.

To combat this, apply a nourishing hair oil (like ) or a rich mask that targets your specific concerns before you hop in the shower to shampoo as usual.

For an all-natural approach, you can whip up a DIY hair mask at home, too.

New York hairstylist Tina Malholtra of Mia Wagner Salon in New York City recommends mixing together avocado, banana, honey and olive oil and letting it sit for 15-20 minutes.

“The avocado and banana have natural oils and fats that help repair the hair, and avocado contains vitamin B which helps with strength. Olive oil helps the consistency of the mask, while honey is packed with enzymes to improve shine,” she says.

Hair care while self-isolating will also help maintain the health of your hair between salon or barber shop visits © Dowell / ��ϲʼ�ʱ��

To rinse clean, use STEAM’s and , which are infused with CBD and natural botanicals. This duo moisturizes strands from root to tip, while soothing dry scalp, reducing frizz and adding noticeable shine.

Make it a memorable shower by adding a few drops of essential oils (eucalyptus, lavender or ) to create a steamy spa-like experience.

“Turn on hot water and slather some essential oils on the opposite wall of the shower head. Relax, meditate and enjoy your own personal steam room,” suggests beauty brand founder Matthew Mileo, who turned his home into a personal spa, too.

Post shower, absorb excess moisture from your hair with the and then blow dry with the , a lightweight and ergonomic tool.

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