Compliments of Earth911.com
As any eco diva knows, natural spa treatments are becoming one of the hottest trends in primping and pampering.
But your day of pampering at one of these chic eco spas could cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
If you’re looking for a little all-natural luxury on a somewhat more modest budget, we’ve got you covered. Dim those lights, and spark up those candles. Here are five lavish spa treatments that you can do yourself.
The best manis and pedis include a sea salt treatment, which is easy to whip up right at home. Photo: Flickr/FoundryParkInn
1. Sea Salt Scrub
Spa-Day Splurge: Dead Sea Salt Glow and Massage at Great Jones Spa in New York City
Salt scrubs are one of the go-to spa treatments for rich and famous divas looking to brighten and detoxify their skin. Salt works as a natural exfoliant, buffing off dead skin cells and leaving your skin smooth and soft, and essential oils and herbs rejuvenate the skin for a healthy glow.
Price: $130 for 60 minutes
DIY Treatment: Lemon and Essential Oil Salt Scrub
Price: $15 or less
What you’ll need:
Kosher salt, jojoba oil, one lemon, the essential oil of your choice and a glass mason jar.
Mix it up:
Measure out equal portions of the kosher salt and jojoba oil, which you can find at your local organic foods store, and place them in the mason jar. You can store any extra scrub in the jar at room temperature for up to two weeks. So, make as much as your pampered heart desires.
Stir the salt and jojoba oil together, and use a zester or cheese grater to zest the lemon into the jar. Make sure you are only scraping off the yellow part of the rind, not the white.
Now add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice. Try lavender for relaxation or peppermint for a quick pick-me-up. Give your scrub a quick stir, and you’re ready to go.
Take your time when applying the scrub to your skin. Massage it on with slow circular motions, and breathe in the sweet herbal oil smell.
Draw yourself a warm bath with a few drops of the same essential oil for a good rinse and soak afterwards.
2. Age-fighting Eye Treatment
Spa-Day Splurge: CACI ULTRA Eye Lift at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole in Teton Village, Wyo.
This eye lift uses a naturally-derived treatment in combination with micro-current technology to give your eyes a quick lift, but while micro-currents are cool and all, you can get some pretty perky eyes without them.
Price: $95 for 15 minutes
DIY Treatment: Cucumber Eye Treatment
Price: $10 or less
What you’ll need:
One large cucumber, aloe vera gel and one glass mason jar.
Mix it up:
This one is just too easy. Throw about a quarter of the cucumber into a blender. Strain into a mixing bowl, and spoon in just a little of the remaining pulp from the blender.
Add one ounce of the aloe vera gel, available at your local natural foods store, and you’re ready to go.
Cleanse your face first, and apply a generous layer of the treatment under your eyes. The cucumber and aloe will sooth undereye skin and leave you looking rested and rejuvenated.
Allow the treatment to sit on your skin for at least 20 minutes. This one can also be used overnight.
Facials are great for smoothing the skin, fighting blemishes and erasing fine lines. Photo: Flickr/FoundryParkInn
3. Relaxing Facial
Spa-Day Splurge: True Transformation Facial at Le Petite Retreat Day Spa in Los Angeles
There’s nothing like a good facial to make a girl feel like a queen. Most indulgent facials at green destination spas use natural fruit and herbal extracts to clean out pores and tone and moisturize your skin, leaving you feeling clean and refreshed.
Price: $95 for 50 minutes
DIY Treatment: Herbal Steam, Rosewater Toner and Avocado Face Masque
Price: $15 or less
What you’ll need:
Dried rose petals, dried herbs or essential oil, one avocado, one lemon, extra virgin olive oil, a large glass bowl and two glass mason jars.
Mix it up:
The first step to this at-home facial is making your rosewater, which has been used as a natural toner since Marie Antoinette. First, place your rose petals in the bottom of a pot on the stove, and pour in just enough water to cover the petals.
Cover the pot, and let it boil away for about 10 minutes. Once your water smells like rose, it’s done. Take the pot off the stove, and allow your rosewater to cool. You can store any extra in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
While your rosewater is cooling, start on your avocado face masque. Avocados are fabulous natural moisturizers and the fatty acids will give your skin a subtle glow.
Place your avocado in a blender with the juice of half a lemon and about 2 teaspoons of the olive oil. Scoop it into your mason jar, and put it in the fridge for later.
Now you’re ready to start your facial off with an herbal steam. Fill a large glass bowl about halfway with water, and add your dried herbs or a few drops of essential oil. Cover it with wax paper and put it in the microwave until it is nearly boiling.
Sit with your head over the bowl, and drape a towel over your head to keep the steam from escaping. This natural herbal steam will open up your pores the same way a professional facialist would.
After a 10-minute steam, splash on some rosewater, and smooth on your face masque. Relax with the masque on your face for about 20 minutes, and follow up with another rosewater treatment.
4. Salon-quality waxing
Spa-Day Splurge: Organic Waxing at Blue Marble Spa in San Diego, Calif.
Sugar and honey waxing is becoming one of the hottest all-natural beauty trends. The natural ingredients are less irritating to the skin, leaving it smooth and free of redness, but some of these organic depilatory treatments can get pricy.
Price: $80 for one full leg
DIY Treatment: Sugar Wax
Price: $20 or less
What you’ll need:
Sugar, one lemon, vegetable glycerine, cloth waxing strips, wooden popsicle sticks and one glass mason jar.
Mix it up:
Combine two cups of sugar and ¼ cup of water in a saucepan on the stove. Add the juice from the lemon and 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin. This may sound like an obscure ingredient, but you can find it rather easily at your local organic foods store.
Stir the mixture constantly until hot. Pour it into the jar, and you’re done. You can save this wax for weeks. So, make one big batch if you’re feeling ambitious.
To use your wax, simply place the jar in the microwave for about 15 seconds on high. Stir with a popsicle stick, and allow the mixture to cool for at least a minute before beginning application.
Be very careful. Sugar wax can get extremely hot and lead to severe burns. Test a small amount of the mixture with your finger or on the inside of your arm before applying a thick coating. The wax should be warm but not hot.
Use a popsicle stick to smooth the wax onto your skin in the same direction your hair grows. Smooth on a cloth strip, and firmly press down. Rip the strip off in one smooth motion in the opposite direction.
You can find cloth waxing strips at your local drugstore, or make your own by cutting up some old linens.
5. Conditioning Hair Treatment
Spa-Day Splurge: Restorative Hair Treatment at Moss Wellness Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.
When a luxury-loving girl notices her locks getting a little limp, she runs to the spa for a fancy restorative treatment. These treats for the tresses are mostly comprised of natural oils, which replenish dried-out locks and add shine and luster.
Price: $25
DIY Treatment: Warm Olive Oil Hair Treatment
Price: $5 or less
What you’ll need:
Extra-virgin olive oil, the essential oil of your choice, a glass mason jar and a plastic bag.
Mix it up:
Pour about a cup of the olive oil into a glass jar with a few drops of the essential oil of your choice. Shake it up, and allow it to sit overnight so the oils can mingle. This will be enough for more than one treatment, and the extra can be safely stored at room temperature for up to a month.
Before use, shake it up again, and place it in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Make sure the mixture is not too hot.
After rinsing your hair with some warm water, use your fingertips to massage a small amount of the oil mixture into your scalp. Repeat until your entire scalp is covered, and apply the remaining oil to the ends of your hair.
Use the plastic bag to cover your head, and lock in the oils. Relax and breathe in the essential oil goodness for about a half hour, and then shampoo as usual.
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