As much as I love traveling, I’m a homebody the rest of the time since I also love being in the peace of my own home. Our home is our private sanctuary and what better way to take advantage than to have the perfect at-home spa day where you can control your entire experience and indulge yourself the way you want? With the art of self-care comes stress relief, rejuvenation of the body and mind, rest and relaxation, and a little pampering. You can create your own wellness retreat in the comfort of your home for hours on end without worrying about budget or having a time limit at a spa. Here is everything you need to make your own perfect at-home spa day. Feel free to invite some girlfriends over too!
Set The Ambiance
Getting in the mood and setting the right ambiance is essential to having the perfect at-home spa day. If you can’t get to the spa, you have to bring the spa to you. And creating a space where you can fully relax and indulge yourself is where it all starts. Here is what you’ll need.
1 – The Right Lighting
You can start with setting up the right lighting with adjustable mood lights. They can come in yellow and white temperatures or even multicolors. Warm or neutral white light temperature creates a soothing ambience. Blue lighting also accelerates the relaxation process as well. Choose the lighting that’s perfect for you and it’s great to have options.
2 – Soothing Spa Music
Drown out the outside noise and get in the right mindset with soothing spa music. You can easily YouTube a good spa playlist for the occasion and there are so many to choose from.
3 – Scent And Candles
Another factor in setting the right ambiance for your perfect at-home spa day is having the right scent. Using candles not only looks nice, but it also provides the right lighting and the right scent. You can choose from candles, diffusers, or oils. If you’re really into high-end hotel scents, Hotel Collection has a great variety of options that will make your home smell beautifully.
Get Yourself Comfortable
The most important part of having the perfect at-home spa day is to get yourself comfortable and in your most relaxed state. These are items you’ll definitely want to have to get cozy and restful for your spa day.
1 – Comfy Robe
I love wearing robes since I’m always cold, but they’re also so cozy and comfortable and make me really feel at home. After doing a lot of research, my husband got me the Restoration Hardware Spa Robes with its highly-rated reviews. They’re light and comfortable and even though they’re warm, they don’t make you sweat.
2 – Furry Slippers
I also have always worn some kind of slippers at home since I was young, not sure if it’s an Asian thing but I’ve continued to do so in my own home. I find that it makes such a difference in keeping your feet clean, but also in preventing them from getting tired on non-carpeted floors. They’re also great for keeping you warm – don’t you find that your body is so much colder when you don’t have your feet covered with slippers or socks?
3 – Fleece Blanket
I have somewhat of a small obsession with fleece blankets – although I have quite a few, every time I see a nice design, I want to get another one. They’re great for chilling on the couch or being used as an extra blanket for the bed. And for your at-home spa day, you’ll want to have one for ultra-comfort! I love getting mine from places like Winners, Marshall’s, Macy’s or Ross. They always have new designs and they’re extremely affordable (think $20 USD or less). Barefoot Dreams blankets are extremely popular, but keep an eye out for a sale when they are priced between $60-70 USD at Nordstrom Rack. Another great blanket to have is the Big Blanket – Original Stretch Blanket or the Big Blanket – Premier Plush Blanket.
Items You Need For An At-Home Facial
One of the great things about going to a spa is the facials. I’ve been to plenty of facials and you can easily recreate your spa experience at home. Only thing is, you’ll probably need to do it yourself or have an at-home spa day with a friend so you can do it for each other. Below are some items you’ll need in addition as to what is listed in these step-by-step skincare routines that you can choose from for your at-home facial: Winter Skincare Routine or Summer Skincare Routine (depending on the season or whether your skin is oily or dry).
1 – Eye Mask
There are actually two kinds of eye masks – one that’s to keep away light so you can have a more comfortable sleep and the second one is a gel-like mask that you can keep in the fridge and use to cool down and reduce under-eye bags. If you have your lighting right for your perfect at-home spa day, then you’ll probably only need the gel eye mask for depuffing.
2 – Ice Roller
Another option is to use an ice roller. This is great to use for overall depuffing of the face as well. Here are 2 Products To Instantly Improve Dark Circles And Puffy Eyes.
3 – Under-Eye Mask
I love using under-eye masks for emergencies when I don’t get enough sleep, but they’re also great as a part of your at-home facial when you have a face mask on.
4 – Face Steamer
If you like to take it a step further, a face steamer is great for circulation in the face and delivers extra blood flow which delivers oxygen to the skin. It also helps get rid of bacteria and release sebum and help with acne. You only need to use this once a week for 10 minutes at a time.
5 – Facial Brush
Facial brushes have also become highly popular. The Tao Clean ONA Diamond Facial Brush is a great choice especially because it has a UV charging station like their toothbrushes that cleans it and takes away environmental contaminants. The Foreo Luna 3 is another option as you can choose which skin type to cater to.
Items You Need For A Spa-Like Bath
We don’t always have time to soak in the tub, but when we do – let’s go all out!
1 – Epsom Salt / Bubble Bath, Bath Salts, Or Bath Bombs
Pick your poison – there are so many options for the type of bath soaks you can have. Choose what your body needs or what you would like as well as the right scent and get to soaking!
2 – Eucalyptus For Aromatherapy
For natural aromatherapy, you can use eucalyptus and tie it to your showerhead. With the steam from your shower or bath, it will release the essential oils of the plant and will help in clearing any nasal congestion and inflammation. It also brings a really nice, relaxing scent.
3 – Body Scrub
Since a seaweed wrap is probably out of the question, the next best thing is to have a body scrub. I like using the Frank Body Coffee Scrub – it smells like coffee but works extremely well for any skin condition. Not only does it exfoliate, it makes your body really soft.
4 – Shave/Wax
What better time than to shave and wax if you need it? Although I highly recommend getting laser (I barely have any hair since I get the genes from my mom, but I’ve done it almost 10 years ago and it’s the best thing ever)! For any minor maintenance, I like using the Billie Razor. It works so much better than any razor I’ve used including the Gilette Venus razor.
5 – Foot Scrub
Don’t forget your feet! Sometimes it takes a little more effort to have soft feet since we’re on them all the time. I like using the Silkline Professional Two-Sided Foot File and then immediately applying body lotion after.
6 – Body Lotion
I’ve always used body lotion after showering since I was young and it’s a habit I learned from my mom. My go-to body lotion is Hempz – the original scent just smells so light and luxurious and there are limited edition scents that are also great for the summer. I also really like that they use non-toxic, plant-based ingredients.
Tip: Do your face mask and hair mask while having a bath so it doesn’t take additional time if you want to hit 3 birds with 1 stone!
Items You Need For An At-Home Hair Treatment
Now that we have covered your face and body, let’s get your hair done. Using professional products will make a world of a difference in how your hair will look and feel. They have better research and development as well as ingredients that are safer for your hair. My favorite hair products are Olaplex since they repair my hair and make it extremely healthy, smooth, and soft. When I’m not using Olaplex, I like using other professional salon brands such as Joico, Paul Mitchell, Sebastian, and Ouai to name a few.
1 – Shampoo
Start taking care of your hair with a good shampoo. I like using the Ouai Detox Shampoo once a week to clear any buildup and alternate between that and another professional shampoo the rest of the time. During your perfect at-home spa day, it would be a good idea to use a detox shampoo while you’re detoxing the rest of your body!
2 – Hair Mask
I don’t always have time to use a hair mask, but an at-home spa day definitely calls for this step. Most hair masks require you to leave them in your hair for a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes after using shampoo. I either like using the Olaplex No. 8 Moisture Mask (after shampoo) or the K18 Leave-In Hair Mask (after conditioner). They’re great for repairing, nourishing, and moisturizing your hair.
3 – Conditioner
To seal in all the good stuff, you’ll want to use a conditioner right after. Leave your conditioner in for about 2 minutes and then rinse off.
4 – Leave-In Conditioner
After you’ve done your hair routine in the shower, you’ll want to use a leave-in conditioner or detangler to further nourish your hair. I really like using the Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother. And if you skip the hair mask in Step 2, you can also choose to use the K18 Leave-In Hair Mask instead for Step 4. This step further smoothens your hair, detangles it, protects it from heat damage, and provides extra moisture.
Items You Need For An At-Home Manicure
Your perfect at-home spa day won’t be complete without taking care of your hands!
1 – Paraffin Treatment
Not a necessary step, but if you have the equipment and want a true spa feel, having a paraffin treatment for your hands will make them extremely soft.
2 – Hand Scrub
If you don’t have a paraffin treatment available, a good hand scrub does the job as well. You can even use the same one as you do for your body, but there are scrubs made specifically for the hands.
3 – Hand Cream
Massage your hands using a good hand cream. I like the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Mains hand cream. It smooths any dry hands with no stickiness or residue and are even recommended by mechanics – so you know it has to be good! It also has a soft, light scent to it.
4 – Manicure
I prefer using a nail file over nail clippers as I find that I can get more accurate with the shape of my nails. I also love using a cuticle trimmer to cut away any dead or hard skin around the nails. Once your nails are all cleaned up, choose your favorite shade and give yourself a beautiful at-home manicure!
Food And Drinks
To really have the perfect at-home spa day includes having your favorite foods and drinks ready. To better mirror a real spa, these are items you’ll want to have with you throughout your entire at-home experience.
1 – Cup Of Tea / Cucumber Lemon Water For Detox
Whatever your preference may be, cucumber lemon water is always good to drink throughout the day to detox the body. Also, come equipped with some tea to make sure you stay nice and warm as well. I’ve tried a ton of tea but my favorite will always be Chinese tea and green teas. Another great brand I’ve enjoyed is the Fortnum and Mason Green Tea With Elderflower.
2 – Snacks / Cheese Platter
You’ll want to have some snacks to munch on throughout your spa day. I especially love cheese platters for these occasions as they’re so classy but also really delicious and filling. Plus you get a variety of different options to choose from. I would also eat lighter during my spa day so I don’t get too full or be uncomfortable.
3 – Champagne / Glass Of Wine
This is the perfect occasion for a glass of champagne or wine to really get into the spirit of the perfect at-home spa day. Plus it can be bottomless!
4 – Fruits / Small Desserts
Treat yourself with something sweet to end of your spa day. Fruits are yummy and healthy or spoil yourself a lovely piece of cake or two.
How To End The Perfect At-Home Spa Day
1 – Relax And Get Into Bed
There really is no better way to end the day than to relax and get into bed. It’s my favorite part of the day. Whether it’s for a quick nap or to end your night off – you’ll feel so good knowing you treated yourself and took care of your body and mind.
Really love being at home? Here’s How To Plan The Perfect Staycation for times when you aren’t able to travel far.