HOME SPA HACKS
CHEAT YOUR WAY TO A SPA HIGH AT HOME WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT
Sit back and relax – your beauty regimen is about to get a lot more luxurious.
this isn’t your garden-variety home-spa story. And that’s because we’re not telling it in garden-variety times. Right now, the idea of transforming your bathroom into a luxurious space might seem ridiculous. We totally agree. What we’re suggesting is that small adjustments to even the most basic beauty regimen can boost the good feels. Because it’s not so much the spa treatments we’re chasing… as the bliss cloud you float out on afterwards. We don’t have a magic wand. Your bathroom is not suddenly going to feel like a retreat. But adopting just a few of these tricks will get the positive iso vibes flowing.
SHELFIE your shelves
Treatment rooms are minimalist because being surrounded by clutter is stressful. So now is the time to roll up your sleeves and sort your cabinet, windowsill and shower cubicle. Start by removing all the products that have expired or that you don’t use or love. Then chuck, recycle or (if gently used) give them away. Now, wipe down the ones left standing (and the shelf you’re perhaps seeing for the first time in a while). Next, make a list of what you need to replace, replenish or add. That way, next time you have budget for a beauty product, you’ll have a plan. Finally, place them back in an order that makes sense – such as in steps, from the first formula that hits the skin to the last, with weekly treatments on a separate shelf. Size or colour is another way to go. You might not feel it straightaway, but the benefits of a well-organised space are no joke (and scientifically proven).
SOAK a little
Simply luxuriating in a steamy bath – phoneless – can shift your mood dramatically and help your nervous system chill the f*** out. Make the water piping-hot and leave yourself to steep for at least 20 minutes. Make the most of the bath’s restorative powers by dry brushing all over before you step in, then slap on some treatments that are optimised by the heat and moisture, such as a deep-conditioning hair treatment and a comforting face mask. They can work their magic while you soak, delivering glowier skin and silkier hair with zero effort.
ICE, ICE, baby
There are quite a lot of treatments that involve discomfort – a massage that really gets into the knots or a body scrub that feels a bit rough. And that’s because the benefits are worth it. To that end, let us introduce you to the transformative power of freezing-cold water. For a deep-dive, watch the second episode of The Goop Lab on Netflix. But here’s the how and why in a nutshell: deep breathing is essential so you can tolerate the cold temperature. Start with a blast of cold water at the end of a hot shower and slowly extend the amount of time you can handle it. Exposing your body to cold temperatures has been shown to make you better able to withstand everyday stressors. It also has some insane health benefits: cold temps produce brown fat (the kind that eats fat rather than stores it). “Meaning your fat cells burn calories without exercise,” explains Jenny Gunton, a professor of medicine at The University Of Sydney who’s studying this phenomenon. Sold.
HONOUR thy clichés
Light a candle. Wrap yourself in fluffy towels. Drink some herbal tea. Pump some Enya out of your portable speaker. Demand total privacy. While these might seem deeply clichéd ways to create a relaxing vibe, when you throw them all together they really do work. No matter how much your brain is eye-rolling, your body will pick up on the wind-down cues.
TREAT your feet
There’s a reason most people finish a spa day with freshly polished toes. Having deliciously soft feet and colourful nails just feels good. After your bath, use a pumice stone or foot scrub (hell, a rough towel will even do the trick) to smooth dry spots. Then slather on the thickest salve you own and throw on some socks (which, let’s face it, are the new shoes) for 10 minutes. If you’re still up for more, massaging a little oil into your feet will make them feel like actual velvet. Rinse, dry and polish.
START rolling
Just about any facialist worth seeing does lymphatic massage to make skin look brighter and boost circulation. At home, jade rollers are seriously addictive and gloriously simple to use. Just slather on your favourite serum or moisturiser and roll in an upward motion, working from your neck towards your forehead. You can also roll out from the nose, in a sweeping motion up towards the temples. If you can, spend up to 10 minutes treating your skin to this hands-on time in the morning. And try keeping your roller in the fridge to help reduce puffiness. Jade rolling is also thought to draw out and dispel bad energy. At this point, we’ll take it.