With the stresses of everyday life it’s important to take some time out to de-stress, detox and indulge in some well deserved ‘me time’. I for one can’t afford a day at the spa especially not on a regular basis, so instead I like to set aside some time and pamper myself in the comfort of my own home. So, ladies grab your favourite beauty products, draw a hot bath and sit back and relax. It's Friday after all.
BATH BOMBS & BUBBLES
Let’s start with the essentials. There is nothing better than a hot bubble bath, the kind of bath where if I haven’t lost a couple of pounds by the time I get out, the long hot soak was a failure! And it’s safe to say that no pamper night is complete with a bath bomb, or bubbles. For bubbles I recommend Soap & Glory’s Calm One Calm All* (£6.00), a stress-battling softening bubble bath. The formula includes built-in body lotion and it pretty nice too. If you fancy lying under a blanket of bubbles and bathing in pink water I recommend The Comforter Bubble Bar (£4.75) from Lush. And how can I not mention Lush bath bombs? The feel-good fizzies, full of beneficial ingredients. Avobath* (£3.35) from Lush as the name suggests, contains avocado and olive oil to help tackle dryness and it smells fresh like lemons, mmmmm...
READING MATERIAL
When was the last time you read a book, or a decent magazine article? I don’t know about you, but working in marketing & having my little blog means I spend a very large amount of my time online, reading emails, tweets, blog posts and Facebook updates. And although a Netflix binge can be very satisfying, there is nothing quite like losing yourself in a great story, or engaging in an interesting magazine article. It is the best way to let your worries slip away (well for now anyway), not to mention reading will better your writing skills.
AT HOME FACIAL
Being a beauty addict I do tend to chop and change my beauty products quite frequently, but there are a few products I reach for above anything else when my skin is in need of a bit of TLC. Before I dip into the bath, I like prep my skin and soften the sebum with my at home facial steamer. Then whilst relaxing in the bath I like to apply my trusty Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. If you're a regular reader of BBA you’ll know that I rate this mask highly. If you’re yet to try this mask and a little hesitant of the price, try the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask Pods*, you get four in a pack for £5.00 - they are perfect for travel too! But remember to pick a treatment specific to your skins needs, for instance if my skin is feeling hydrated I will opt for my GLAMGLOW Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment which smells delicious and leaves my skin feeling super soft.
BODY PRODUCTS
Towards the end of my bath I like to get down and gritty and exfoliate my body. Exfoliation is a must if you want smooth, even toned skin. Exfoliation is key to a long-lasting tan, helps free ingrown hairs and helps your moisturiser penetrate better. My current go-to scrub is the Champneys Spa Indulgence Distant Shores Body Scrub £10.00. But remember to scrub before you shave and lock in the moisture post-scrub with your favourite body moisturiser.
CANDLES
And finally, don’t forget to do it in the dark and switch off those lights! A candle lit bath really helps to set the mood, making your home, well, more homely. And not only do candles smell great, candles are very calming - perfect at helping to drain your tensions away. And if you’re anything like my mum you’ll have a stash of candles & tea lights just calling out to be lit! I’m personally a big fan of Yankee Candles, especially their Mango and comforting Fluffy Towels* scent - which smells incredible!
Ps. A big thank you to Victoria Plumb for sending me such a beautiful pamper basket.
How do you like to pamper yourself at home?