SELF-CARE SUNDAYS

This Valentine’s Day, the ultimate gift is the one we’re giving ourselves. From fragrance to skin; create a sense of wellness with these expert-driven rituals Transform bath time into your own luxury event. Santé Wellness Retreat and Spa’s Graham Hindle

SKIN 1 Switch soap for oils

Use body and facial oils filled with a blend of essential oils, rich and creamy face masks, a luxurious body mask, body and facial scrubs. Apply each product slowly, using long fluid strokes to enjoy the different textures. Use oils for a massage on stressed areas like hands, feet, neck and shoulders. Massage gently around the eyes and on the temples.

2 Exfoliation and hydration are key

To exfoliate the body use a coarse mixture of a salt and sugar base or crushed grape seeds. Apply generous amounts to the entire body, dip your hands into water and work on each area using circular movements. Rinse off in the bath or under a shower. Apply a rich, lightly fragranced body moisturiser or body butter all over, paying special attention to dry and neglected areas like the back of neck, elbows and heels.

3 Indulge in serums and masks

After gently removing makeup, apply an enzymebased exfoliation all over the face and neck with damp fingers. Leave on for the prescribed time, usually 5-10 minutes. Gently remove all traces of the product. Apply a serum that is high in hyaluronic acid to the face and neck to boost the moisture content of the skin. Apply a facial mask and cover the eyes with round cotton pads soaked with an alcohol-free toner to refresh. If you’re in the bath, lie back and relax. After 10 minutes, remove the mask with cool water and apply the facial cream using light strokes.