Do-It-Yourself Tuesdays: Spa Day!

Has preparing for midterms/tying up loose ends/getting your body ready for Spring Break left you stressed out to the maximus? Late-night cram sessions and 20-page final papers followed by an intense hour at the gym can have you looking and feeling less than your normal, amazing self.

By Kim

I myself am stressed to the max with work and am not at all appreciative of the bags under my eyes right now (I look a little something like this). I swear I saw my first wrinkle today. And then I cried.

All I want is a little R&R so I can be fully recharged and ready for Spring Break. After all, you need to look and feel your best before you go off and party for an entire week (duh). I’d love to just take a day and chill out at the spa. Relaxing music, soothing body treatments, a little “me” time is all I really need to feel better and look a whole lot more rejuvenated.

Too bad I’m in college and have to spend all my money on tuition instead of a fancy $80 facial or $60 body exfoliate. But that’s OK, because with a few key ingredients and a couple of hours, I can bring the spa and relaxation to me. And you can too, sister.

Here are a few DIY recipes and tips to create the perfect spa day that will have you feeling less stressed and more relaxed, guaranteed!  It worked wonders for me and now I no longer look like the Wicked Witch and look (or feel like I look) more like this.

What You’ll Do
1. Turn off your cell phone. Yes, do it. I dare you. The freedom and relaxation that comes from not hearing your phone buzz every few minutes is amazing.

2. Turn on some smooth jams. I prefer Miss Norah Jones (she’s the bomb.com). But if you really want that spa ambiance, turn on Spa Radio station on Pandora Radio so you really feel like you’re at a pampered place.

3. Detox your bod by drinking tons of ice-cold water throughout the day. Add some cucumber slices for a crisp taste and spa feel.

4. Scrub up with the Lemon-Brown Sugar Body Scrub (recipe below).

5. Freshen your face with the Citrus Facial (recipe below).

6. Sit back, kick your feet up, and relax with a bowl of organic fro-yo with fresh fruit.

7. Leave the “spa” feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for whatever the week has to offer.

Lemon-Brown Sugar Body Scrub
Body scrubs exfoliate the skin, which can help remove toxins from your body (like the ones from all those games of beer pong and late-night TBell runs)! Scrubs also remove dead skin, leaving your skin with a renewed, healthy, and natural glow.

What You’ll Need
1/4 cup coarse brown sugar
1 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup grated lemon peel

What You’ll Do
1. Mix together all ingredients. The brown sugar will help to exfoliate the skin, the grapeseed oil will moisturize the skin, and the lemon peel will create a tingly feeling that stimulates your senses.
2. Gently rub on your body.
Tip: Scrubs can be very messy and goopy, so use this in the shower or bath for easier application.
3. Rinse with water.
4. If you want to make a bigger batch, multiply all ingredients by 4 and store in a cute jar. Mason jars work best for a retro, vintage feel, and will add that extra unique touch to your homemade scrub. You can find Mason Jars at Walmart and other home stores.

Citrus Facial
This facial, like the body scrub, will remove dead/dry skin and revitalize your face. And citrus is a natural ingredient that helps further detoxify your skin (plus it smells delicious!).

What You’ll Need:
1 teaspoon lemon juice (or other citrus juice!)
2 teaspoons honey
6 ounces plain yogurt
1/4 cup oatmeal

What You’ll Do:
1. Blend ingredients.
2. Apply to face and allow to dry
3. Rinse with water and bask in your freshened face!

Recipes from OrganicAuthority.com.