Gals, listen up. I am here to tell you – you MUST designate a day that is all yours so you can recharge, shed the stress and reward yourself for making it through another busy week. BONUS: You can also add some skincare into the mix too. During menopause, as estrogen levels decrease, stress hormones (cortisol) increase. This is often what causes weight gain around your mid-section and adrenal fatigue. Excess cortisol has been linked to memory loss, heart disease, immune system deficiencies and high blood pressure. As if that’s not enough, when adrenaline is constantly racing through your body, your blood vessels can become constricted which can lead to hearing and vision loss. High cortisol manifests as anxiety, and you end up feeling like a rubber band stretched so tight that it’s about to snap. Sound familiar?
Stress compounded over time accelerates aging, and aging increases stress. It’s a vicious cycle that we have to interrupt.
Repeat after me: “I NEED THIS TO STAY HEALTHY. I DESERVE THIS.” I promise you, a regular spa night will change your life. It’s like hitting the reset button on your brain and releasing the pressure valve on all those worries that have built up over the course of the week.
I’ve always been a fan of the spa and go semi-regularly for a massage, but it’s not affordable on a weekly basis – unless I win the lottery. I know I need some time to pamper myself each week, but I didn’t realize how much I needed that time and how regularly I needed it until COVID lockdown. That’s when I started my weekly routine which my whole family now knows is called “Mom’s Sunday Spa Night.”
Covid was an extra stressful time, the four of us were trapped in our house together so there was never a quiet and alone moment. The introvert in me was screaming for a way to quietly unwind. When I say “screaming”, I mean in my head and out loud. One random Sunday night a couple weeks into lockdowns, I had just finished eating dinner (with the family, because…so much family time) and I just felt like my insides were boiling over with stress and anxiety. My hands were shaking and I felt extra ragey. My husband and I have a deal about dinner. Whoever cooks doesn’t have to do the clean-up. As I got up from the dinner table (he was already doing clean-up), I just looked at him and screamed ‘I AM GOING UPSTAIRS TO TAKE A BATH BECAUSE I AM SO STRESSED I CAN’T FUNCTION ONE MORE MINUTE, EVERYONE HAS TO STAY AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE.” And I stomped off to the primary bath without any further explanation.
I went upstairs, locked myself in the bathroom, and proceeded to create the first of what would become my regular “Mom’s Sunday Spa Night.” I made it up as I went along that night, based on whatever skincare, detox and pampering supplies I had on hand. I think I spent about 2 hours locked in the bathroom all by myself, and it was GLORIOUS. The routine that I created that evening has evolved a little bit over the past couple of years, but for the most part I do a lot of the same things I did that night, and I do them every Sunday unless we’re out of town. I’ve outlined my routine below as a guide for you, but I also encourage you to incorporate spa-like things that you love – things that help you relax, replenish your soul, and bonus points if you’re also doing something great for your skin or hair.
10 Ways To Create Your Very Own Spa Experience At Home
1. Pick a day of the week or month that you know you can stick to, and put it on your calendar so the time is reserved just for you.
Set boundaries with your family – let them know that time is just for you, and not disturb you. Protect this time like your life depends on it, because in some ways it does. Relieving stress, detoxing your body and mindfulness are not only good for your soul, it’s good for your mental and physical health.
2. Light a candle or candles, choosing a scent that relaxes you.
I personally prefer Bath and Body Works’ Lakeside Morning 3-Wick Candle because it’s a fresh scent but not too sweet. Scents are a very personal thing, though, so choose something that you enjoy. The key is to make setting up for spa night quick and easy, otherwise you won’t do it. I only use the one big candle rather than several little ones because I don’t want to hassle with set-up and storage for a zillion little candles.
3. Before you climb into the tub, exfoliate your face.
I recommend the Dermaflash Luxe+ to exfoliate your face and neck, removing peach fuzz and dead skin cells. Using this consistently over time may help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. This is one of my top 10 skincare tools that I swear by. Combining it with the zombie mask (step 4) leaves your skin looking smooth and firm.
4. Whether you have a peel, a mask or just a hydrator, it’s great to apply them before starting your bath
While you’re soaking in the warm water, your pores can open up and absorb the benefits of the mask. I love, love, love the DMK enzyme mask, especially after using the Dermaflash to exfoliate. My favorite aesthetician, Allison Cremona, is the owner of Gidget’s Beauty Box. She gets all the credit for introducing me to the DMK enzyme mask and its benefits. The treatment creates long-lasting results by stimulating blood circulation, oxygenation and the lymphatic system while flushing away toxins and free radicals from the skin. It is THE BOMB. The DMK mask consists of the Exoderma Peel (activator) and the Foamy LIft . You mix them together and apply to your face with a brush. Then leave it on for at least 20 min (I leave mine the entire length of my bath which is usually 45 minutes to an hour). This mask is life-changing. You can only purchase from a DMK representative, so look for one in your area. If DMK isn’t available, the other “Tik Tok Famous” option for zombie masks is the Hannah Cure All-In-One Facial Mask. In addition to the zombie mask, you might also choose to rotate in other facial treatments like the Collage Sheet Mask or swap out the Dermaflash Luxe with Goop’s Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator.
This mask is life-changing. You can only purchase from a DMK representative, so look for one in your area. If DMK isn’t available, the other “Tik Tok Famous” option for zombie masks is the Hannah Cure All-In-One Facial Mask. In addition to the zombie mask, you might also choose to rotate in other facial treatments like the Collage Sheet Mask or swap out the Dermaflash Luxe with Goop’s Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator.
5. After you’ve applied your facial treatment, set up a cozy, relaxing bath.
I’ve always loved baths, and even went a little OCD (ok, a lot OCD) about choosing the tub for our primary bath when we built this house. Yep – I went around to all the plumbing fixture stores and sat in countless bathtubs on display in the showrooms to find one that was deep and long enough that my tall-ish self could sit with my legs straight and still be comfortable. Make sure your bath is doing double or triple duty. Detox is incredibly valuable, helping rid the lymph nodes and adrenals of the toxic sludge they’ve built up while trying to clear your body of all the bad stuff. I highly recommend adding Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt to your bath to help with detox. This is another Lymie trick – we have to do a ton of detox when we’re in treatment. Since we’re a family of 4 Lymies, we buy Dr. Teal’s by the case from Costco because we use it so much. Epsom salt, which is a form of magnesium, also helps relax sore, stressed muscles and helps your brain the neurotransmitters that induce sleep and relaxation. I also like to add scented oils or bath bubbles is calming scents to help with relaxation. Like the candles, this is a personal preference. I like Philosophy, their products are typically good for sensitive skin and their scents are amazing. I can’t do flowery scents, and I don’t like super sugary scents so my go-to’s are Hula Girl, Pumpkin Icing, and Amazing Grace Bath and Body Wash. BONUS TIP: If you add scented oils, add them to the dry epsom salt before pouring the salt in the tub. This will help the oils mix with the water a little better than pouring the oils into the tub directly.
6. Indulge in a comfy neck pillow to make your bath more comfortable.
Another one of the “lovely” things about getting a little older is that my bones creak and pop and the slightest thing can give me a neck or backache. So yes, you should get yourself a neck pillow – your neck will definitely thank you. I have this one Luxury Bath Pillow and Neck Roll and have been really happy with it. Most of these are inflatable, and can easily be wiped down or the covers removed so you can wash them. Here is another really popular option Contoured Luxury Bath Pillow
7. Don’t forget a bath tray, it’s the most awesome bathtub invention ever!
I don’t know how anyone can enjoy a bath without one of these handy-dandy trays. It’s a perfect place to set your book and wine glass, and your old-lady readers (which I now have to wear, ugh!) I recommend the version that has adjustable sides so it fits most any tub. Most will hold an iPad too -just remember to be careful with electronics near the tub. NEVER plug them in to charge while using them in the tub! I have this one and love it: Adjustable Bathtub Tray. This one comes in a variety of solid colors or stained wood.
8. If you’re planning to have a good, long soak you probably need a bath-friendly wine tumbler.
This is another personal choice, of course. I typically enjoy a glass of white wine with my bath because the chilled beverage is a nice way to offset the hot, steamy bath. I’m a Yeti fan through and through, so their Wine Tumbler is my go-to. It does a great job of keeping my wine chilled, and sits low on the bath tray to reduce the likelihood that I’ll knock it over, LOL.
9. You can’t have a relaxing bath without a great book to help you escape!
My favorite way to escape reality is a really good book. I tend to prefer the spicy, supernatural category, with a good mystery / thriller as my second choice. It takes me about three days to get through a book, so I strongly prefer a series so I can immerse myself in the world and the characters for a few weeks. Some of my favorites are below:
- Stacy Marie Brown’s is super hot, and all of her other series all link together. She’s great at world-building and always has a strong female main character, which is a must for me. Reading order is important since all of the different series are linked. This is first series in the overall order: Darkness Series (5 Books)
- Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean Series: Book 1-Fourth Wing, Book 2-Iron Flame
- Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series (This one is a 20 book series): Book 1-The Warlord Wants Forever
10. After your bath is over, please don’t forget to moisturize your face!
All of that exfoliation means your skin needs extra moisture to recover. I always end spa night by indulging in Dr. Sturm’s skincare line. She’s a cult-favorite of Hollywood stars for a reason. Her products are all natural and are truly, absolutely amazing. It’s a guilty pleasure for sure, but it’s so worth it. Don’t let the price tag scare you, it takes just the tiniest bit of product so the generously sized containers should last several months. I’d rather spend extra for something that works than spend less on something that doesn’t work at all. IMHO, her stuff works! My faves are:
It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.
Mandy Hale, Author of The Single Woman
Ok ladies – you’re all set with everything you need to pamper yourself and improve your mental and physical health in the process. Now go make it happen – consistently!
Cheers, Lovelies!
