Have a girls’ day in! Remember as teens we would have slumber parties, do masks, paint each other’s toes? Well, why not do something similar? Send out a free, electronic invitation, with a service such as elite (www.evite.com). Have each person bring something to do or a beauty “ritual” to share. Then everyone takes turns giving and receiving!
You can serve spa like refreshments such as sparkling water with fruit slices and ice cubes made from all natural juice, veggie plates, hummus and pita, yogurt and herb dips, tortilla chips and fire roasted salsas and fruit compote. Google Spa recipes and try something new! Have everyone bring a dish and share!
Here are some suggestions for “beauty ritual” that are easy and fun!
Pedicures-
Here are some simple steps that'll let you pamper your feet in 30 minutes or less:
Remove old polish using a gentle nail polish remover.
Clip and file your nails. (File one way, don’t saw back and forth- it can damage your nails.)
Soak your feet for about ten minutes in a dishpan or plastic bowl filled with warm water and a few drops of chamomile and lavender essential oil and/or Epsom salts (which have excellent relaxing properties that will soothe your tired, aching feet).
Apply a cuticle softener; after a few minutes, push back the cuticles gently using an orangewood stick. Use Cuticle nippers to remove dead skin around the cuticle bed. Don’t get over-zealous when it comes to removing dead skin from around your nail bed. You can clip live skin, and allow bacteria to enter through cuts. OWIE!
Apply a callus remover liquid containing alpha hydroxyl acids. Slip you feet into plastic bags for 5-10 minutes, remove the bags and use a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells. Don’t “file”/pumice your feet when they are dry.
Use an exfoliating paste/scrub on your feet and calves in a gentle circular motion to remove any dead skin, then remove with a warm, moist towel; then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation. Don't forget your toes!
Massage feet and calves with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin.
Use some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad on your nail beds to remove any lotion on your nails and apply a base coat, then add two coats of your favorite nail polish color. Add nail decals, gems or paint flowers on your toes! Follow with a topcoat.
If you don’t want to go with a full pedicure, do a foot care ritual. It’s still relaxing and you’ll fee like a million bucks afterward.
Soak your feet in a tub or basin with 1 cup of Epson salts and some essential oils for 15-20 minutes.
Use an exfoliating paste/scrub on your feet and calves in a gentle circular motion to remove any dead skin, then remove with a warm, moist towel; then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation. Don't forget your toes!
Massage feet and calves with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin.
Slip on some socks to seal in the moisture!
Manicures-
Follow these simple steps for the perfect at-home manicure:
Remove old polish using a gentle nail polish remover
Clip and file your nails. (File one way, don’t saw back and forth- it can damage your nails.)
Soak your hands for about ten minutes in a plastic bowl filled with warm water and a few drops of chamomile and lavender essential oil and/or Epsom salts.
Apply a cuticle cream/softener; after a few minutes, push back the cuticles gently using an orangewood stick. Use Cuticle nippers to remove dead skin around the cuticle bed. Don’t get over-zealous when it comes to removing dead skin from around your nail bed. You can clip live skin, and allow bacteria to enter through cuts. OWIE!
Use an exfoliating paste on your hands and forearms, remove with a hot towel; then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation.
Massage hands and arms with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin.
Use some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad on your nail beds to remove any lotion on your nails and apply a base coat, then add two coats of your favorite nail polish color. Add nail decals, gems or paint flowers on your nails! Follow with a topcoat.
Facials-
For your girls night in, have every one can bring their favorite product to share, or a quick trip to the beauty supply and the grocery store can get you everything you’ll need for a soothing facial.
Cleanse your skin using a gentle cleanser in order to remove surface oil, dirt and germs. If you have oily or combination skin, use a foaming gel cleanser; if you have dry skin, look for a creamier blend that won't dry out your skin.
Exfoliate. Natural exfoliates include: Ground oats and pineapple. Grind oatmeal in your food processor and add 3 T. oats to 2T. Plain natural yoghurt or whole milk. Apply to the face and remove after 10 minutes with a warm towel. Or put ¼ cup pineapple and 3 T. plain natural yoghurt into the food processor and pulse. Once combined apply to the face and remove after 10 minutes with a warm towel.
At this point, you may wish to apply a serum or spritz the skin with a nourishing toner (don’t use anything that stings, burns or causes discomfort. That means NO SEA BREEZE OR ALCOHOL BASED ASTRINGENTS!)
Apply a mask. If you have oily or combination skin, try a clay-based mask; for dry or mature skin, look for a hydrating mask (with a creamy or gel texture). Peel off masks are better suited for those skin. Most beauty supply stores or drug stores sell masks in small sachets if you do not already have a favorite mask. Apply mask to the skin, being careful to avoid the eye area (this can lead to sagging skin). Leave mask on for 10 to 20 minutes or as directed. Do not allow clay masks to dry completely. The active ingredients only work as long as the mask stays moist. Sprtiz the mask with a spray bottle of water to keep it moist once or twice. Remove the mask with warm towels and follow with a light spritz of toner.
[caption id="attachment_866" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="montagne-jeunesse makes a great selection of individually packaged masks for home use"]
[/caption]Most facials end with a special moisturizer or lotion applied to the face. Apply a light moisturizer in order to prevent dehydrating the skin. Look for a moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher in order to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays. Don’t forget to apply moisturizer to your neck and décolleté.
[caption id="attachment_869" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A face and neck massage during a facial after exfoliation, but prior to the masking can improve blood flow to the face (sending fresh blood flushes out waste in tissue) and promotes relaxation"]
[/caption]If you wish to apply an eye cream, use only a pea sized amount and apply it with your ring fingers in a gentle patting motion. Don’t drag your fingers across the gentle under-eye tissue. It can damage the delicate skin in that area.
Massage-
This is where having a partner to help is great. Here is a great protocol for facial massage:
Apply the massage cream or lotion and begin massaging the face and neck areas in small symmetrical circles. The strokes should move up the neck and along the contour of the face. Do not leave out any facial muscles.
Next, gently glide the back of the hands across the forehead with light pressure. Placing the thumbs side by side on the center of the forehead with the hands cradling the face, draw the thumbs outward towards the temples and make a gentle sweeping movement around the temple. Repeat the movement several times to relieve tension in the temples.
Apply pressure in the hollow areas under the eyebrows by placing the hands along the sides of the face; use the thumb to press gently under the ridge one spot at a time. Move the pressure point from the inner to the outer edge of the brows and repeat the thumb pressure. This technique can help relieve tension headache.
Position the thumbs alongside the nose bridge with hands cupping the face. Firmly slide the thumbs downward to the nostrils and outwards along the contour of the cheeks applying pressure along the way. Gently release the pressure when the thumbs reach the hairline. Then pull both hands up alongside the face towards the top of the head and away from the face. Repeat this motion two more times.
Position fingertips in the cheek muscles and gently make circling movements counter-clockwise for a few times moving along the cheek muscles. This motion alleviates tension in the cheek area.
Gently stroke the ears with the index fingers and thumbs while moving along the rims of the ears. This technique is very relaxing and enjoyable.
Position the fingers just behind the neck while pressing with a thumb pad on a spot in the jaw area and circling this spot before moving to the next one. Holding the chin with the fingers, stroke the chin with the thumbs using circular motions downward. Finish the jaw massage with gentle strokes alongside the chin. This movement releases tension in the mouth and jaw.
Make circular motions on the scalp and comb the fingers through the hair to release tension from the face and the head and to stimulate the scalp.
Finally, remove the massage cream or lotion with fresh and damp cotton pads.
The next several beauty rituals require more room or specialized equipment, namely a massage bed or facial chair. A recliner can be substituted, cover it with a flat bed sheet to protect it.
Massage-
Who doesn’t love a neck and back rub? Here are some great websites that show how to give a great back massage!
http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/backpain/h_BackMassage.htm
http://www.ehow.com/video_8066_give-back-massage.html
http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Give_a_Back_Massage
Remember to ask about the pressure- too much, not enough, just right? Always have clean hands and trimmed nails. After the massage, remove any excess oil or lotion with a warm towel. If you don’t have a massage table or a recliner, have the person receiving the massage sit in a low back chair or sit backwards in a chair, so their chest rests against the back of the chair.
Body treatments- these can be messy. I recommend doing these in a tiled area of your home, or cut apart trash bags and lay them down, put down newspaper, a tarp or a drop cloth.
You may want to wear a bathing suit or a bra and panties you don’t mind getting wet. I recommend doing body treatments 1st before you start the rest of your day of rituals.
Body scrub-
Sometimes known in spas as a sugar shimmer, salt glow, or full body exfoliation. Whatever you call it- it’s FUN and a great way to sweep away dead skin cells. I like using sugar. It has natural alpha hydroxy acids in it that break up the web of expired skin calls clinging to your skin.
Here is my recipe:
2 parts sugar (1 white and one brown) to 1 part oil (olive oil, coconut oil, etc), add any essential oils you like. You can also add any leftover ground oats you have or a few tablespoons of baking soda to add a little extra exfoliation. Apply to your body and rub in circular motions. Remove with warm towels or hop in the shower and rinse off. Towel dry and apply a moisturizing lotion or crème.
Body mask- in day spas, this can be called a body wrap. Mud and herbs are applied to your body and you are wrapped in a cocoon of blankets while the mud and herbs do their thing- softening, moisturizing, and toning.
Apply a body mask (available in most beauty supplies or drug stores) and wrap yourself in a silver thermal blanket or in saran wrap to keep the heat in. Relax for 4-50 minutes. Remove with warm towels or hop in the shower and rinse off. Towel dry and apply a moisturizing lotion or crème.
Other Fun Spa activities
Ask the girls to bring their robes, so everyone can lounge and hang out during treatments.
You can also do deep conditioning hair treatments. They are available at local beauty supply stores, or do a Google search for at home varieties- You’d be amazed what mayonnaise does to dry, over-styled hair! Apply the conditioning treatment, put on a shower cap or wrap your hair in Saran Wrap and hang out for 20-30 minutes, then shampoo out the mayo. Towel or blow dry.
If any of the girls have Paraffin pots, they are a great addition to any spa day. Dip clean, freshly scrubbed hands or feet in the melted paraffin, then cover the paraffined area with a plastic bag and relax for 2-30 minutes. Remove the paraffin and discard- you hands and feet have never felt softer. If you have dry, scaly elbows, paraffin works miracles. Wash elbows and exfoliate with a scrub/paste, then dip each elbow into the paraffin and wrap in Saran wrap. After 30 minutes, remove and discard the paraffin.
[caption id="attachment_867" align="aligncenter" width="273" caption="Paraffin Wax Pots are available at most Drug stores, mass merchandisers and beauty supply stores"]
[/caption]Offer cucumber slices to place over puffy eyes, or herbal tea bags (such as chamomile) that have been moistened with warm (not boiling) water. Raw potato slices can also help de-poof your under eye area.
[caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cucumber slices on the eyes promote relaxation and can reduce under-eye puffiness"]
[/caption]Remember to practice good sanitation- wash all equipment with hot water and soap and dry with a clean towel. Do not share tools or implements, especially if someone has a fungal foot infection. Mani/pedi tool kits are available at beauty supply stores and most 99 cent/dollar stores.
If you are using products that are stored in a tub, do not dip your fingers into the tub, use a plastic spoon or disposable spatula, or wooden stir stick, and discard it afterward- this will help curb the spread of bacteria.
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