Archives for August 2020

With hair and nail salons, and other non-essential beauty businesses still closed in many areas, you’re probably feeling like you’re in desperate need of some pampering. We definitely are! Relaxation Day is coming up on August 15^th, so there’s no better time than now to celebrate self-care and treat yourself to a spa day! And you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. Read on for some of our best tips and DIY skincare recipes for a relaxing spa day at home.

You’ll first want to recreate the atmosphere that you would experience at a day spa. Turn on some of your favorite relaxing music that will help calm you. Spas are all about invigorating the senses so smell is important. If you have a diffuser at home, perfect! Try diffusing lavender or eucalyptus essential oils, which will instantly relax you. No diffuser? No problem. You can also light your favorite candle as well.

Now that your mood is set, you’ll want to next decide what bath and body treatments you want to try. The sky’s the limit really, there are so many great DIY options out there. Here are some of our favorite spa-like treatments for face and body.

·      1 ½ tsp water

·      1 tbsp matcha or green tea powder

·      1 ½ tsp honey

·      1 tbsp olive oil

·      Apply for 10 minutes then rinse off

Why it’s good for your skin: it strengthens the capillary walls and helps increase circulation to the skin, giving you that beautiful hydrated glow you deserve. The matcha is naturally anti-bacterial so it helps remove excess oils from your skin and also provides a soothing coolness that helps reduce redness.

·      Mix one-part olive or coconut oil with 2 parts sugar

·      Add ground dry oats and honey for hydration and calming properties.

Why it’s good for your skin: Honey is a humectant and oats are soothing and gently exfoliate.

After you exfoliate, make sure to add hydration back into the skin with a moisturizing body lotion.

·      Mix all together: ½ cup coconut oil, and

·      1 tsp vitamin E oil

·      If you want to add a slight scent: 6 drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender, tea tree, etc.)

·      When done, you can store the rest in a glass jar

Why it’s good for your skin: the coconut oil is naturally anti-bacterial and moisturizing. It is comprised mostly of nourishing fatty acids that hydrate the skin. Vitamin E oil works to block free radicals from your skin, which in turn, helps reduce wrinkles and keeps your skin looking young. It is also an anti-inflammatory which calms and hydrates the skin.

What better way to feel like you’re really at the spa then to relax in a warm tub with a fizzy bath bomb. They’re great because they smell amazing, help you decompress and they leave your skin feeling silky soft. We’ve chosen eucalyptus here because it’s one of the most common scents in a spa but you can choose to incorporate any scent you like!

·      1 cup baking soda

·      ½ cup citric acid

·      ½ cup Epsom salts

·      ½ cup corn starch

·      3 tbsp oil (almond or coconut are preferable)

·      Water spritzer

·      5 – 30 drops essential oil of your choice (we chose eucalyptus)

·      Soap coloring or pigment

Directions: mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk to mix all ingredients together. Add the oil (almond or coconut) and whisk again to mix. Add essential oil of your choice, about 5 – 30 drops depending on how strong you like your fragrance. Add soap coloring of your choice to give it a fun color. Very carefully spritz the mixture with water 3 times, whisking as you spritz to avoid a reaction with the citric acid. After spritzing, pick up the mixture in your hand and form into a ball. If it starts to crumble, continue adding water one spritz at a time until it holds shape. Once formed into a ball, place into a bath bomb mold and secure both sides. Let dry for several hours and remove from mold. It’s ready for your bath!

To soothe aches and treat calluses, you can create your own foot soak with calming lavender. (You can try this with any scent you want). Love the smell of peppermint? Swap out lavender oil for peppermint oil.

·      ½ cup Epsom salts

·      ½ cup fine Himalayan pink sea salt

·      20 drops lavender essential oil

·      1 tbsp dried lavender buds, optional

Directions: Pour Epson salts into a foot tub, big enough to fit your feet. Add sea salt and lavender essential oil. Pour about 2 quarts warm water into the foot tub and add the dried lavender buds (if using). Soak feet for 20 mins, when done, dry feet with a towel.

And it’s as easy as that. Spa day at home! It’s important to take some time out for yourself every so often and pamper yourself. It’s not just good for your body and skin, but for your mental health as well. And these are the perfect recipes because they are safe for your skin and all natural.

As always, we’re here for you so if you have any questions at all regarding your skin health, do not hesitate to give us a call and we are more than happy to answer them for you or help you setup your in-clinic or telehealth visit.

Yours in good health,

Your West Dermatology Team