{Beauty Bloom} How to Have a Spa Day at Home: Start with the Face

Summer put a serious damper on my skin, from head to toe. The long-lasting sizzle stayed too long and started having some unwanted effects. I spent more time than usually outside, mostly due to the crazy fun amount of cycling I did. I faithfully applied Shiseido‘s SPF 50+ all over, and yet still my body took a beating. There were days I drank up to 3 gallons of water, and yet still, my skin didn’t respond the way I’ve studied it should. I’m now in ultra recovery mode. Fall is her and long gone are days of searing heat, finally, Dios mio. It’s now the perfect time to decompress and kick off fall in the healthiest way. Spa treatments and all out luxurious spa days are my answer. I’ve not had one in forever, but as I celebrate another year, I’ve made some personal commitments to treat myself and my body every bit of fabulous.

But I have to be real, too. My travel schedule doesn’t give me much of a break where I can sneak away and indulge in an entire day of massages, facials, manis and pedis. It’s wishful thinking. My work-around is to do them at home. With a few simple products and the proper ambiance, you can create a spa-like ambient that can help start restore your mind and replenish your skin. Yeah, there are all kinds of ways to enjoy a spa, but there a few key things to have to get you started. This is 1 of a 3-part series. The first is address our face, probably the one element of our body that gets beat up the most.

{READ: How To Create an At-Home Spa with Almond & Milk Notes}

START WITH…

A CLEAN BATRHOOM. REALLY. 

There’s nothing unsexier than a dirty bathroom. Life gets hectic and busy, no doubt. If you consider it’s the one place that has total impact on how we feel about ourselves — thanks to the mirrors — you’ll understand and desperately want that space to be clean and free of the added junk and nice we’re going to get the minute we step out the door. I’m all about a super clean, super organized, super pretty bathroom.

BASELINE PRODUCTS.

I always start with a baseline of skin products that address certain stresses. Yes, there are hundreds of thousand of beauty products out there, but part of a successful treatment is knowing what works for your skin type and lifestyle. I consider my age, hormone level, complexion, water consumption, etc. when identifying what’ll keep my skin right and tight.

My at-home spa regiment starts with a really good facial treatment. 

Bobbi Brown‘s new Detox and Hydrate Set has everything you need to get started. I’ve been using her oatmeal wash, which was great but a little to harsh on my sensitive skin. It felt great during, but a few minutes into a dry face, I was too uncomfortable to really enjoy the benefits. I was all over this detox mask with is made with Hawaiian sea water and Amazonian white clay. A 3-hour bike ride will have me looking all bits of crazy — road debris, spider webs, etc. This mask is the first step in getting rid of the impurities, pollutants and excess oil (all of that SPF) I come across during the day. It’s almost good enough to make me feel I can leave the house without makeup. Almost.

The accompanying face cream hydrates your skin in a really subtle but necessary way. It’s not the only layer of hydration I do, but it helps pile up necessary moisture we lose through the day. Especially the kind of dehydration a long workout session can produce.

The detox set has a few more products in it but these two are great for the spa thing at home.

GET LIT. 

I used to save burning candles until I had guests over or when I really needed to have a quiet evening. I burn them all the time now. In the middle of the day, during meetings, over night (by accident, of course!) and most definitely when I’m enjoying an extended shower. Never go for scentless ones. What’s the point?! The aroma candles give off is part of the relaxation process. I love, love, love L’Occitane‘s Lavande collection. Everything about it. They have a hearty soy candle I’ve clearly enjoyed. I’m already done with it and looking for way a crafty way of not wasting the little bit that’s left. I could just get another one.

Burn candles, baby. Just burn them. They really do something soothing for the soul, especially if you’re in the middle of catering to yourself. They’ll automatically remove any lingering stress.

I also have fresh flowers in my bathroom. Hydrangeas and orchids are my absolute favorite to keep in constant stock. They simply add a touch of felinity and sensitivity everyone can benefit from. I have a pretty large bathroom, allowing me to have two large orchids. I can’t tell you how much they make me smile. And smiling is all good when decompressing.

Of all the products I’ve tired in the lats 6 or so years, I am a bona fide Erno Laszlo lovah. That guy there just got it right when playing with combinations and ingredients that would really be effective. I’ve gone through about 5 products in the last few months and already looking to re-stock. I’ve found that every product works for my morning or nightly routine. There were a few I’d only use when doing a dedicated facial treatment but the benefits I’ve seen from using it every day, makes it easy to make every day a mini spa day; even if it’s just 5 minutes at night.

{READ: Caribbean Beach-Style Massages}

For a dedicated spa day, the White Marble Serum is a light emulsion you’ll want to use to address dark and uneven spots. I find that using this is more about self-awareness and confidence rather than total practically for a spa. Our state of mind is very much an element to enjoying a spa. It’s all about loving ourselves. Applying a silky serum that helps even our skin is a sure way love yourself. The sleep mask is my latest addition to my small Erno family. I’ve sworn by the Active Phelityl Cream for the past 6 months and am obsessed. I’m pretty much out of it.  If I’m doing an evening spa treatment, the Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask seals the deal. It’s the last thing I apply to my skin before going to bed. Much like the Active Phelityl, it leaves my skin feeling completely renewed and supple in the morning. The biggest difference is a subtle glow I have from the restored moisture I tend to loose — a glass of wine before bed; having the fan blowing at the fastest speed, lack of water a few hours before bed — all of those contribute to overnight dehydration.

These are only the beginning steps of creating a sensual and effective spa at home. There are a few more things you have to have in order to walk away feeling like the boss chick you are. Ambiance and products are key. Start there. It’s not complicated. These are simply ways you can relax and rejuvenate at home. Not just once a season, but whenever your soul and spirit need it.

I’ll get to the massage part next. Stay tuned, beautiful people. 

Happy fall!

Eat well, love unapologetically, pray with true intention, and take care of yourself.

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