DIY Snowy Day Spa Soaks

It's been cold here in central Massachusetts the past few months.  It seems like we've had about 12-18 inches of snow just about every 3 or 4 days, school is always being canceled, and people have had enough.  In fact, I just looked out the window, and it has just started snowing again.  True story.  Well, everyone deserves a respite, and for me, it comes in the form of a nice, warm bath.  Luckily, a comforting, pampering bath is one of the easiest DIY spa experiences to create at home.

To start, all you need is a nice, warm tub of water.  Not too hot -- that would be drying to your skin -- but warm enough that you can sit comfortably for 15-20 minutes.  (It's okay to replenish the heat with short bursts of hot water while you're in there, too.)

And now, the best part:  Bath Additives.  You have a whole kitchen filled with possibilities!  The basics are milks, grains, oils and botanicals.   Here's a breakdown for each category.  Mix and match depending on your mood.

Milks:  It's said that Cleopatra bathed in milk.  I'm not sure if that's true or not (I wasn't there!), but either way, added to a bath, milk is mildly exfoliating, cleansing and moisturizing.  Use Cow's milk (skim, whole, buttermilk...), Goat's milk, and even Coconut milk, which creates a super-silky bath and smells like a tropical paradise (can be found in the Asian aisle at your local market).  Add 1-4 cups per bath.

Grains:  My go to bath grain is Old-Fashioned Oats. It's naturally moisturizing and can alleviate dry, itchy winter skin. You can buy cosmetic-grade colloidal oatmeal at the drug store, or you can simply grind up some whole oats in a coffee grinder until they reach a powdered consistency.  Add them while filling the bath.  If you have some cheesecloth, even better.  Fill it with whole or coarsely ground oats (and some botanicals, if you wish), tie up with string, and hang it under the faucet while filling the tub.  Then, just let it float in the water while you soak. 

Oils:  Boost the moisture in your bath by adding oils.  Unless you happen to have an emulsifier on hand (such as one of the Polysorbates), the oil will simply float on top of the water.  But it will leave you feeling soft and moisturized.  Try adding a small amount (a teaspoon or so is all you'll need) of jojoba, hazelnut, extra light olive, rice bran, flax oil, or any other liquid oil you have on hand.  Just be forewarned that these will make your tub slick, so take caution when stepping out of your bath.

Botanicals:  Here's where you can get really creative.  Do you have a kitchen stock-pile of herbal teas?  These work great in the tub, and if you keep them in the tea bag, you don't have to worry about cleaning up messy buds, barks and leaves afterward.  The obvious choices for botanicals are calendula, chamomile, lavender and rose (all are soothing, and smell nice).  But do you have a cold?  Teas with peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary or fennel will help with congestion, and even sore muscles.  Looking for an antioxidant boost for your skin?  Try Roobios or Green Tea.  A nice chai blend can help to stimulate circulation.  With teas, or any botanicals you choose, keep in mind that in high concentration (like in a cup of tea) they can cause staining... both on you and your tub.  One bag, perhaps two, should do the trick in the bath.  [Caution: if you suffer from hayfever or other seasonal allergies, certain botanicals, such as chamomile or lavender, can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Be sure to read labels!  Also, some herbs, such as Chamomile may lighten hair.]

You'll want to limit your soak to about 15-20 minutes as anything more can be dehydrating and can sap energy.  

When you're all done and the water's drained, a quick sprinkle of household baking soda and a wipe with a damp cloth will clean the tub and get rid of any residues.

Strawberry Spa Day

I went shopping at BJ's yesterday and scored a huge, 4 lb. box of sweet, delicious strawberries for $5.  This was pretty exciting for me because strawberries and bargains are two of my favorite things.  So, the kids and I have pretty much eaten the entire box of strawberries in less than 24 hours, and we're left with a bunch of strawberry tops.  Normally I just throw these into the compost bin (and soon I'll be putting them into my new worm composter -- stay tuned!), but today I thought I'd have myself a Strawberry Spa Day.  Strawberries contain natural fruit acids which help brighten the skin and gently exfoliate.  Here are a few easy recipes you can do yourself with everyday ingredients you probably have in your kitchen, just in case you came home with your own Strawberry bargain yesterday, too.  Please keep in mind that this may be too harsh for those with very sensitive skin, and of course, it's not suitable for those with a strawberry allergy.

Simple Strawberry Exfoliator:
Cut the top off of a strawberry.  Eat the bottom.  Holding the leafy part of the strawberry top, rub the cut side of berry over your face, hands, feet, elbows, knees, etc.   Then rinse with warm water and pat dry.


Fresh Strawberry Hand/Body Sugar Scrub:
Save the cut-off tops from  a bowl of strawberries (about 15-20).  Remove leaves and mash remaining strawberry pulp in a small bowl (or puree if you're feeling really motivated).  Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive or sunflower oil and 1-2 teaspoon sugar, depending on how much scrub you like.  Mix well to form a paste.  Massage onto wet skin.

Custom Strawberry Facial:
Save the cut-off tops from about 5 or 6 strawberries. Remove leaves and mash remaining strawberry pulp in a small bowl.  Add 1 tablespoon cream (dry skin), or milk (normal/oily skin), and 1 tablespoon rice flour (can sub cornstarch if you don't have rice flour), and add 1 teaspoon of honey.  Mix well. Apply to face and relax for 5-10 minutes, and remember to breathe deeply because it smells delicious.  Then rinse with warm water.