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bliss
out
homemade spa treatments
by Stacy Conradt |
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After
a stressful week -- whether it be from work, school, money or because
your favorite pair of jeans is suddenly a bit too snug -- you deserve a
soothing day at the spa. But you don't deserve to pay $150 for a
massage, $70 for a facial and $60 for a mani/pedi. Especially when you
can create your own de-stressing remedies at home for a mere fraction of
that cost.
Of course, not all DIY
pampering tricks are created equal, which is why I've been testing home
remedies for all sorts of maladies, trying the old mayonnaise hair mask
trick so you don't have to. (Yes, I'm here to confirm: yogurt smells a
whole lot better, and works just as well.) So here's the roundup of my
favorite DIY spa recipes. Now quit waiting for your next paycheck to
indulge in a little spa therapy; raid your cupboards, get mixing, then
kick back and let these simple goodies do their magic.
Note: Be sure to test these
concoctions on a small patch of skin or hair before you go whole-hog.
the
aspirin/salt mask
I recently tried this after reading about it on a beauty forum -- and
was just as skeptical as you probably are right now. I know; it seems
too simple and too cheap to do the trick. But true to what the beauty
forum told me, the aspirin mask left my skin positively glowing.
what
you need | A bottle of non-coated aspirin (any brand will
do just fine) and a wee bit of moisturizer.
what
to do | Mash up 6-10 uncoated aspirin in a small dish or
bowl. I find using the back of a spoon works best. Mix with the
moisturizer until the consistency is that of a fine paste -- it should
not be runny. If it is, feel free to add another aspirin or two. Apply to face and/or neck. Let dry completely, then rinse off with
warm water, rubbing in small circles to exfoliate.
If you're in a hurry, you
can use it just as a wet exfoliator -- don't bother waiting for it to
dry, just massage it into your skin and rinse off.
If you don't have uncoated
aspirin on hand, try using Epsom salt, which draws out impurities. As
a bonus, you can throw a handful into your bath water and soak in it
to soothe tired muscles!
yogurt mask
Believe it or not, yogurt is a great moisturizer and helps soothe red
spots and pimples! For a 49-cent container of yogurt and 15 cents worth
of sugar, baby-soft skin can be yours.
what
you need |
- One container of yogurt
(the single-serving size), preferably plain, but I once used
strawberry in a pinch and it worked just fine.
- A cup or so of sugar.
what
to do | You will probably want to pull your hair back
before you start, to avoid getting yogurt in your hair. Then just mix
the two ingredients together and apply the mixture to your face. You
can leave it there like a mask, or massage into your skin to improve
circulation.
When you're ready to remove
the mask, just wipe it off with a damp cloth. Voila -- you'll be left
with incredibly soft skin, and any pimples should now be reduced in
redness.
saunter
along for more
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. host .
laze
. home .
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