20200614

CREATING THE SPA EXPERIENCE AT HOME


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I actually had a spa day booked with my mum for Mother's Day way back in March however, for obvious reasons, it was rescheduled for May...and then July. Who knows if it will ever happen or when we'll ever return to a world where a stranger touching your bare back isn't a horrifying prospect, so today I'm sharing my home spa routine and beauty favourites to perhaps inspire you and give you some ideas on creating that experience from home...

If you come here often, you might be aware that I'm totally a 'candle person', though incense and oil burners are also fantastic for creating a mood. A couple of my favourites are the Neom Scent to Boost Your Energy Candle* | £32 | and the Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle* | £42. The Neom candle is a bit more of a spring / summer option with lemon and basil, so it smells lovely and fresh. The Aromatherapy Associates is deeper and more aromatic, with woody myrrh and bay. I'll usually light one of these and run myself a bath. My current favourite is the Rituals Ritual of Ayurveda Bath Foam* | £13.50 | which I got around Christmas time in a Tili Beauty gift set. This bubbles up really well and leaves my skin feeling nicely soft when I get out of the bath. It's formulated with rose and honey, so also smells beautiful.

Whilst that's going, I like to make a start on my skincare routine. First, I remove any makeup and sunscreen using the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm* | £44. This was actually gifted to me (alongside the Comfort Zone product I'll get onto in a minute) by Moddershall Oaks Spa (it's a lovely little place in Stone, Staffordshire and - given I'm in Birmingham and I usually go with my Mum, who's in Manchester - it's perfectly-situated), and as I've had this used on me at the spa before. It's so luxurious-feeling too, making it perfect for getting the spa experience at home. I also don't mind having a bit of fragrance in a first cleanse like this, because it's meant to be a little bit indulgent and doesn't sit on your skin. It melts down makeup, feels glorious and is gentle around the eyes. I then follow it with another luxury favourite: the Omorovicza Moor Mud Cleanser | £54. This feels so lovely on my skin, and leaves it both soft and thoroughly cleansed after use. Again, there's some fragrance in the formula, but this causes me no issues. 

When it comes to masks: I have two options. One is a more results and actives-driven formula, and the other is more of a 'feels nice and hydrating' option! The Dr Levy Switzerland R3 Cell Matrix Mask* | £69 | isn't cheap but has some amazing reviews, so I was really excited to try it. This cream-paste mask is formulated with a little hit of everything at a low level (so it's not overwhelming for the skin): there's Vitamin E (a soothing antioxidant to protect the skin), Vitamin C (a brightening antioxidant), Vitamin A (retinol is derived from this, so it can help even out the skin's tone and reduce texture), niacinamide (to calm redness and rebuild the skin barrier), ceramides (to reduce irritation and strengthen the skin) and also hyaluronic acid (to pull water into the skin). So, it's doing a lot! However, this mask never feels irritating or too much and after use, I always feel like my skin looks better all-round. It's brighter, smoother and more hydrated, so it really does address my primary skin concerns. This is a wash-off mask, so you only need to leave it for 10-15 minutes.

On the more chilled-out, hydrating side, I have the Comfort Zone Hydramemory Mask* | £32 | which I often pair with the Jayjun Green Tea Eye Gel Patches* | £31 (10% off with code JASMINETALKSBEAUTY). These can easily be used together because they're both leave-on products, so you can chill with them on in the bath whilst you read a book without needing to get out to remove them; just take the eye patches off and place them on the side after around 10-15 minutes then pat in the excess. The Comfort Zone mask is formulated with moisturising oils and water-attracting humectants to give you soft, smooth, plump skin after use. The Jayjun eye patches have a lovely cooling effect and contain green tea as an antioxidant to protect the eye area from environmental damage and hyaluronic acid to draw water in. Overall, it's a great pairing for dehydrated skin like mine.

I love having a caffeine-free tea before bed in the bath and my fiction recommendation (that I'll be reviewing soon) is Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams which is actually 99p on Kindle at the time of writing! It's a must-read if you're a Millennial stumbling through your 20s, feeling like you should have it a little more 'together'. I ate it up in little over a week, which is fast for me!


There are also a couple of body products I enjoy using. The first is something I've repurchased at least twice; the Korres Lavender Blossom Shower Gel | £9. These shower gels have a moisturising formula, I really like the range of fragrances Korres do, they come in at a really good price-point and they're often on offer, so I usually pick up a few as a little treat. This particular scent is lovely, relaxing lavender. Once I'm out of the bath, I like to apply the Caudalie Vinosculpt Lift & Firm Body Cream* | £27 | to get that 'soft skin against the bedsheets' feeling. I love the signature Caudalie fragrance; it's this really light, fresh scent of grapes. This is a lightweight, milky moisturising lotion that softens my dry body skin without being too thick. It's also aimed at firming the skin.

Back to facial skincare, once I'm in my bedroom, the first thing I like to do is mist my skin. Because misting feels fancier than a toner and cotton wool pad, and we're creating a spa experience here! My current favourite is the Sioris Time is Running Out Mist | £17 (10% off with code JASMINETALKSBEAUTY). This is dual-phase hydrating water and moisturising oil mist, so you give it a good shake before going in. It gives me softer, deeply moisturised skin in just a quick mist. Next, if I'm not using the active Dr Levy mask, I'll introduce something a little more active at this stage in the form of the This Works My Wrinkles CBD Booster + Granactive Retinol* | £38. This isn't a really strong retinol, or anything like that; it's one of those 'little and often' products that can build up over time to give you some great results. It's also formulated with CBD oil, which is nice and soothing and should counteract any peeling, though I personally haven't experienced it with this oil anyway. After several weeks of use, I've found this not only lovely and moisturising, but it's definitely helped smooth my skin and made it look a bit clearer. It could also be a great 'introduction' retinol if you've not really explored it much before, plus it's at a very reasonable price. My only real negative is the amount of fragrance in the formula.
 
I follow it up with a moisturiser and then an oil (seeing as we're being extra). My favourite night cream is the Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream* | £69. Not only is this packed full of gentle, skin-replenishing goodness, but it feels so luxurious on the skin. It gives me such soft skin, so it's always a lovely treat to use it. Then I top it off with another more boujee favourite: the Algenist Advanced Anti-Ageing Repairing Oil* | £65. It's formulated with Algenist's signature algae extract as an antioxidant to protect the skin, alongside ceramides, which help strengthen the skin, and other moisturising oils. I love the non-greasy finish this oil gives and how it absorbs beautifully to really soften and smooth my skin, providing that deep nourishment. For me, it's a great overnight replenisher.


One of the things I've had to re-learn since the start of lockdown is doing my own nails. I was sent a manicure selection by Mavala recently, which I've been using to keep things looking polished. I just like having a nail colour on, ok? And Mavala is one of those brands you always find at spa salons, so it's perfect for this little at-home recreation. The Mavala Velvet Nail Polish* | £5.20 | has been my go-to shade; a sort of mink colour that works with most outfits and lasts a good 3-4 days before it starts to chip on me. Pretty good going for my nails!

My boyfriend looked at me like I'd lost my mind when I whipped these out, but I really have been enjoying a home mani and pedi treatment using the Seoulista Beauty Rosy Hands Instant Manicure* & Instant Pedicure* | £7.99 each. These are gloves and socks infused with moisturising oils that you leave on for half an hour. They leave my hands and feel sooooo soft and nourished! It really feels like a treat when I go for these treatments and there's no need for hand or foot cream afterwards; everything just feels moisturised and lovely, even the following morning.


My final steps before bed are a lip treatment and a bit of aromatherapy. I recently repurchased the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Grapefruit | £16.50 | and remember why I liked it so much. This is a thick balm that I put a good layer of on before bed. It leaves my lips so soft and moisturised by morning without the need for scrubs or anything like that. Lastly, I use a little of the This Works Deep Sleep Breathe In Rollerball* | £18. I'm a long-time fan of the pillow mist from this range, and this product is a similar alternative (I like it for travel, so you can use it to relax yourself during a flight without being inconsiderate and spraying around other people). I just use it on my pulse points so that when I sleep, I'm breathing in the relaxing lavender scent and hopefully get a more rested night's sleep. 


How do you recreate experiences like a spa day from home? 


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