This is a guest post by Francine Kaplan. Francine is a lifestyles writer from Atlanta, Georgia. Her work has appeared in Veranda, Arthritis Today, Pink Magazine, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, and Women’s Wear Daily.

The day spa industry beckons women everywhere to come and be pampered at a price. Let’s face it, who hasn’t dreamed of forgetting their cares and responsibilities while wrapped in a fluffy terry robe and being thoroughly indulged? But there’s nothing that says you have to break the bank to treat yourself to a revitalizing facial; a long, soothing soak in an aromatic tub; or a few quiet reflective hours alone. Renew your body and spirit by creating a spa day right in your own home.

Pampering yourself without busting the budget can be done spur of the moment, but for maximizing the experience a little planning goes a long way. What the spas do best is present an atmosphere of calming luxury that is not difficult to copy. Think of breathing slowly and deeply while inhaling pleasing fragrances and listening to soothing music under soft lights. That is the mood you want to recreate.

Atmosphere

Work on setting the right mood from the get go. Maximize the relaxing atmosphere by incorporating the same strategies that spas use. Create as little distraction as possible and focus on enjoying yourself.

Turn off the phone. Don’t let any outside forces pull you out of your spa zone. Dim the lights and think lovely thoughts. Flickering candles, either plain or scented, signal to your emotional core. To illicit warm and comforting associations, place them all around your spa area.

The sense of smell is also extremely important. Aromatherapy adds to a feeling of well-being with familiar and calming scents. Make it simple by simmering some cinnamon on the stove or lighting a scented candle, or more elaborate by choosing your favorite fragrance from the hundreds of products available in bath and body shops. Incense, essential oils, bath salts, bubbles, body lotions, and creams add to the pleasing smells and may be purchased or made with simple home recipes (see below) employing everything from oatmeal and yogurt to avocado and blueberries.

Screening out the noise of the world with gentle music causes the breathing to become slower and deeper, muscles to relax, and the mind to shut out worries and cares. Music is said to restore harmony and balance. Spas tend toward New Age themes with sounds from nature such as bubbling brooks, ocean waves, and softly blowing winds, but anything melodic without jarring changes will work as well.

Gearing Up

Depending on what suits your needs, a spa break can start with gentle exercise like a walk or some yoga stretches and include a light meal or snack. The rest of the menu might consist of a facial, steaming soak in the tub, exfoliation treatments, manicure, and pedicure.

The list of supplies available to aid in home treatments is extensive, but here are the basics:

• exercise clothing and exercise CD
• robe and slippers
• a soothing sounds CD
• scented candles
• washcloth, loofah, bath brush, sea sponge or pumice stone
• fluffy cotton towels
• bath salts or essential aromatic oils
• cleansers, toners and moisturizers for face, body, hands and feet
• manicure/pedicure clippers, nail brush, orange stick, file, polish
• chilled drinking water (with a splash of lime or lemon)
• a steaming cup of green tea

Tips of the Trade

Exfoliation
The process of exfoliation removes dead skin cells, cleanses the pores, and boosts the circulation. This eliminates fine lines and leaves behind softer smoother skin. Whatever scrub (bath salts, oatmeal) and scrubber (bath mitt, loofah) you use, make sure to do it carefully and lightly, with gentle circular motions to avoid irritation and inflammation. Moisturize immediately after exfoliation to prevent dry skin, and never use body scrub on the face. The more delicate facial skin requires a lighter touch.

Facials
Start a facial by lying down for a few minutes with a warm wet towel on your face. Then, cleanse the face, making sure to remove all traces of makeup. Boil a pot of water, adding herbs or essential oils such as chamomile, fennel seeds, and roses for dry skin; or rosemary, lavender, and peppermint for oily skin. Take the pot off the burner, drape a towel over your head, and steam your face to open and unclog pores. Steam for 5 to 10 minutes (whatever feels comfortable to you). Immediately apply a facial mask (see below) and lie down while it dries. When dry, rinse your face, removing the mask and follow with toner and moisturizer.

Eye treatments
Lack of sleep and stress contribute to puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Cool compresses will help these conditions. Lying down with a gel mask that can be chilled in the refrigerator is one way to do it. Others include using cooling slices of cucumber, wet tea bags, or wet cotton balls and placing them over the eyes for several minutes. The cold decreases swelling and constricts blood vessels.

For treating dark circles, grate potatoes to release an inherent enzyme they carry that is a natural skin lightener. Make cheesecloth pouches of the mash and apply for 15 to 20 minutes to the area beneath your eye, keeping potato juice away from the eye itself.

Home Skin Product Recipes

Oatmeal Blueberry Mask
This easy mask, used once or twice monthly, deep cleans and exfoliates your face. It is particularly beneficial for oily skin.

1 cup oatmeal
1 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon honey
5-6 almonds, whole

Puree all ingredients in a blender until finely blended. Spread mixture over face, and allow to set and dry (10 to15 minutes). Rinse with warm water, and splash skin with cool water or toner. This mask may be covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Recipe courtesy of  Spa Index.

Apple Cucumber Facial Mask

1/2 cucumber, peeled
1 thin slice apple
1 egg white
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon apple mint leaves
1 drop lime essential oil

Combine first six ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add the essential oil last and mix well. Refrigerate the mixture for 10 minutes.

Apply a layer to your clean face and neck area and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. The Apple Cucumber Facial Mask is best when used immediately, as the ingredients are perishable. The leftovers can be refrigerated in the coldest section of the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days but should be discarded after that.
Recipe courtesy of Spa Index.

Avocado Dry Skin Mask
Avocado oils work wonders for dry skin. Use this mask for all-around revitalizing and marked improvement in skin texture.

1 egg yolk
½ avocado

Beat the yolk of an egg until it is light and frothy, then add the mashed pulp of a half avocado, blending it well (you may use a blender at this point). Cleanse your face thoroughly before applying and spread mixture over the face and neck evenly; relax on a slant board or bed for about 20 minutes. Remove with clear tepid water and a face cloth, followed by a rinse of cold water or a mild skin lotion.
Recipe courtesy of the California Avocado Commission.