We’re living in the ‘self-care’ era, but that’s because caring for ourselves is more important than ever. It’s been a long year and we’re seeing the effects on our physical and mental health. But the beauty of self-care is that you get to define what it means — maybe it’s scheduling daily walks, or maybe it’s painting your nails a bright shade. Self-care doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive, and it can be as easy as showing your body some love with natural beauty treatments.
So turn to your kitchen to create your own at-home spa day, and take care of yourself from head to toe.
Hydrating Hair Mask
The lack of moisture in cold air means the winter months can take a toll on your tresses. To combat dry, lacklustre hair, take advantage of the natural oils and vitamins found in avocados, and mix with the moisturizing power of coconut oil. Apply the mask to damp hair and make sure your ends are saturated.
What you need:
1 avocado
2 tsp coconut oil
Tip: Let this mask work its magic while you prepare your other treatments.
Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels
Cup of Glow Face Mask
Create a rejuvenating facial along with your morning cup of joe! Not only are coffee beans rich in antioxidants, but the texture helps exfoliate dry skin. To make this mask, mix ground coffee with milk and apply to your face using gentle, circular motions. Leave for five minutes, then rinse with warm water.
What you need:
2 tbsp coffee grounds
2 tbsp of milk
Tip: Mix the grounds with coconut oil instead for a luxurious body scrub.
Sweet Body Scrub
Slough off dry skin with an easy DIY body scrub. Just combine brown sugar and your favourite oil (coconut, olive, or almond oil all work well here) in a bowl or jar to form a paste, apply gently to skin in the shower, and rinse. Follow up with your favourite moisturizer to keep skin smooth.
What you need:
1 cup brown sugar
4-5 tbsp of coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Tip: Use vanilla extract or a couple drops of your favourite essential oil to make this scrub smell fantastic.
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash
Nice-and-Easy Nail Oil
Anyone else’s hands feeling the drying effects of hand sanitizer? Olive oil is an easy way to add moisture back to your cuticles. Rich in vitamin E, olive oil prevents cracking, while the lemon juice helps remove stains from nails. Simply mix the two, apply to your fingernails, and let it soak in for 20 minutes before rinsing. For easy application, repurpose an old nail polish bottle and brush the mixture onto your nails as a weekly treatment.
What you need:
3 tsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
Soothing Foot Soak
Show your feet a little extra love with the softening effects and skincare benefits of coconut milk, and the antibacterial properties of honey. Dissolve the honey slowly into hot water, then combine with coconut milk in a basin. Test the temperature before soaking your feet for 30 minutes.