5 ingredients for a self-care retreat at home
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a pampering session at home? A spa-day at home is not only convenient but also easy on the pocket and most importantly customizable. A self-care session relieves you of stress, muscle tension and toxins. It also serves to improve mood and lower blood pressure. Here are five ingredients from your kitchen that you can use for a self-care retreat at home.
TURMERIC
Turmeric’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities make it an incredible ingredient for skincare, thanks to its component curcumin. Turmeric has been used in skin care for centuries, especially in the South-East Asia as an ingredient for “ubtan” (a yellow paste put on brides before weddings).
Turmeric can be made into a paste with anything from yogurt to honey depending on what results you desire and applied on the face. It’s known for its whitening (more like yellowing ... just kidding) and brightening properties. Make a paste of half a tsp. turmeric with 2 tbsp. of gram flour and water and apply on face till it dries. For a more bleaching effect use lemon juice instead of water. However a word of caution IT STAINS!!!
COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil is an incredible hair care ingredient, known for its hydrating and rejuvenating properties. It’s used in a lot of commercial skin care products for the same.
Coconut oil may be used as a hair mask for thick and long hair. Its rejuvenating properties nourishes the scalp and serves to smooth split ends. For dandruff relief, mix a tablespoon or two with egg and voila! Bye Bye dandruff.
SUGAR
Thinking of exfoliating your lips, body or feet, sugar is here to serve as an exfoliants. Mix it with honey or some essential oil, even vanilla extract or coffee and there you have a nice smelling scrub. A simple recipe or you may say a base is to whisk sugar and coconut oil in 2:1 ratio and any of your desired essential oil, vanilla essence or coffee to the mix adding honey adds an extra hydrating ingredient to revitalize after the scrub has removed the dead layer of skin
HONEY
Honey has been used in skin and hair care for centuries owing to its anti-oxidant and antibiotic properties. Honey can be added to hair and skin masks for a hydrating effect. For a simple honey and oats scrub mix honey and oats in 2:1 ratio apply to your face for 10-15 min and scrub it off with a damp towel.
AROMATIC OILS
Essential oils not only nourish the skin but also nourish the mind with their relaxing properties. Essential oils can be added to all the above recipes for a feel good effect. Or u can scent your spa day towels with them for the spa feels. Lavender oil is great for skin and eucalyptus oil is great for a stuffy nose, just a fun fact if you didn’t know it.
So just head to your kitchen right now and HAVE A GREAT SPA DAY.