Our times have become uncertain which can make it difficult to allow the body to return to homeostasis and repair the systems trying to find balance. We reached out to our team of experts at Willow Stream Spa to provide some at-home techniques, to bring the spa to you.
Allow your mind and body to rest and reset
A warm Epson salt bath infused with relaxing oils can assist in the the relief of muscle tension, daily stress and even insomnia due to its high content of magnesium. If you do not have Epsom salt at home then substitute with sea salt or even table salt. Salt is a natural purifier and can help ground energy. If you have any essential oils such as Lavender, Rose, Geranium, Jasmine, Neroli or anything you feel relaxed with add a few drops to your bath, just be careful because it makes the bath tub slippery. If there are no essential oils in your home then add a fragrance of choice that you find relaxing. This fragrance may even be found in your shampoo so go ahead and put a few drops in your water. Do you like the smell of vanilla and happen to have it in your baking cupboard? Add a few drops to your bath. Soothing music from a YouTube meditation sounds page and a candle can add even more to this ritual. Remember to take slow deep breathes while in the bath with the Intention of letting go. Don’t have a bath?
Exfoliate with an at home recipe. Make your own salt scrub with 2 parts salt to 1 part oil. This can be any kind of food grade oil Sunflower, Grapeseed, Coconut etc. Add a scent of your choice and stir. Turn your relaxation music on get in the shower before turning the water on and slowly scrub the whole body with the intention of scrubbing away old, stale energy. Take deep breathes and lovingly polish the whole body with strokes towards the heart. Be careful, the oil will make the floor slippery. Turn the water on and take a refreshing shower, imagine the water carrying your stress down the drain while you continue to take long cleansing breathes. Water, salt, scent, sound, low light and intention can have wonderfully relaxing and restorative affects on the mind and body allowing it to return to balance. You can always ground yourself in challenging times by simply using your breath. Add a mantra to it to help you sink into relaxation. Breathe in: “I am” breathe out: “at peace”.
Now more than ever, self care has become the most important action we can take for ourselves, set aside some time for yourself to ground, rest and recover. You might just find you love it!
Create your own facial masks at home
Finding your skin is out of balance? Here are a few home remedies that you can treat yourself to.
You can build quite an array of facial masks to help soothe and calm, moisturize and quench, exfoliate, brighten and in general ease any discomfort your skin is facing. First and foremost, remember to be extra cautious when blending ingredients as the combined ‘actives’ in the natural substances are usually greater than they appear to be. Also, perform a patch test on the jawline just in case you have an irritation/sensitivity. And lastly, masks are not meant to be left on too long so never exceed 15-20 min, otherwise tightness, irritation, inflammation or redness can occur. Apply to clean skin and use your hands if you don’t have brushes, rinse with warm to cool water.
The main ingredient you will need is pure Aloe Vera gel, which you can find at your local health food store; Whole Foods, Choices etc. But what is even better is if you have an Aloe plant! Other ingredients, depending on your needs, you can grab as desired and are listed below. Remember Aloe is the bulk and base of the mask and you should mix it with only one of these ingredients to achieve your desired results. Follow a 2:1 ratio, without making the Aloe too runny.
Calm and Soothe
Organic raw honey- mix with aloe (best for irritated, sensitive, dry, and post sun exposure). Skin is soothed, comforted, hydrated, and dewy. Honey has so many benefits and can also be used alone on the skin for instant softness, moisture increase and anti-inflammation. Even though it’s very sticky it’s worth it. Just warm with fingers and apply evenly, avoiding eyes.
Exfoliate and Brighten
Mix apple cider vinegar or lemon juice with Aloe for an exfoliating mask. This can help with hyper-pigmentation, scars and speed up the healing of blemishes but can be very stimulating and tingly. Use very little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and remove within the 10 minutes of application with cold water.
Moisturize and Soften
Mix grapeseed oil with aloe for an extremely hydrating and moisturizing mask. Great for all skin types and is jam packed with anti-oxidants. The skin is quenched, supple and looks refreshed.
Protect and Tone
Mix plain yogurt and rose water with aloe for a cooling and protective mask, designed to feed our skins good bacteria. Rose water is an extra add in that isn’t necessary but definitely makes it lovelier and facilitates evenness in the complexion.
