Belle’s Guide to Your Own DIY Spa at Home

Create your own spa de jour and carve out some much-needed relaxation time for yourself. Mix luxury and comfort at home with some of our favourite products for your own tranquil experience with these simple steps.

It’s no secret – 2020 has been a hard year. In the midst of a global pandemic, it’s no wonder people are reporting they are more stressed this year than they were before. But our ability to manage stress is truly essential. Our bodies require balance, and long-term stress can have negative consequences such as fatigue, reduced immune functions and can even affect your memory.

So what can you do? It can feel impossible at times, but it’s important to remember to relax and allow yourself time to breathe. Bonus points if you can go for a few hours without your eyes glued to your phone or the news.

Self-care looks different for everyone. Creative and physical activity like painting or yoga can help improve your sense of well-being. For us, there is nothing we love more than a deep cleanse followed by a good book with a glass of wine.

While it may not be the Hotel b Design & Spa in Les Baux-de-Provence or a traditional hammam from Amanjena in Marrakech, but you can still create a soothing and rejuvenating experience in the privacy of your home. Simply follow along with our DIY guide to pick quality products, and create the perfect atmosphere to unwind on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon.

Step One: Set the Mood

Ambience is key. With all the time we’ve all been spending at home, take the time to make your space feel different and special.

Grab your diffuser and try out a new scent like white tea. Or switch on your Aroma Happy Mist Diffuser Set to light your space and fill your bathroom with fragrant fruits for energy. Be sure to tuck away any clutter in your bathroom, and pull out your favourite robe.

Finally, find a fitting music playlist to set you in the right state of mind. Try searching for a binaural beats track, which has been linked to reduced anxiety and relaxation in recent studies.

Step Two: Exfoliate and Shower

It’s time for a deep cleanse. Not unlike a hammam, allow yourself to the enjoy the rituals and stages of bathing. Hop in the shower and use your Sisal Belt Weave to buff your skin as it helps increase blood circulation, and easily scrub hard to reach places like your back. You can also make use of a pumice stone or Sistal Sponge on rougher areas like your feet by working in circular motions.

Exfoliation is important to stimulate your collagen and keep your skin looking fresh. It can also help reduce the absorption of moisturizers and serums by removing dead skin. 

Use a bar of traditional Savon de Marsaille hard milled soap, a product that dates back over 600 years, to clean your skin. Wash away any sweat, oils and negative energy from the day before stepping out of the shower.

Step Three: Relax in a Bath

Picturing yourself stepping into another chamber, and as you towel off start running yourself a hot bath. As you wait for the tub to fill, wrap your hair in a Studio Dry Hair Turban to help your hair dry and reduce damage.

Now that you’re clean, allow yourself to focus on just relaxing. Throw in some bubble bath, bath salts, or one of our adorable Bomb Cosmetics Bath Mallow.

Close your eyes, and focus on the calming music. Take your time and allow the hot water to get your blood moving, helping to soothe sore or tight muscles after a long day.

Step Four: Put on some PJs and Moisturize

Step out of your bath into a new pair of cozy, luxury pajamas like Bed Head Pajamas, which are made from eco-friendly materials in Los Angeles.

Next, it’s time to moisturize, an essential step to help reduce dryness and oil build up.

Make use of quality, sustainable French product like the Compagnie de Provence Hand Creams to hydrate your skin and protect from daily environmental factors. Or to be safe, lather yourself in the Lothantique Hand & Body Lotion, which is vegetable-based and paraben-free. Don’t be afraid to over do it either - Lothantique creams have a light texture that quickly absorbs to leave the skin feeling great.

Step Five: Lounge with a Book (and a glass of wine)

With your body washed and cleansed, it’s time to attend to your mind. We are inclined to chide ourselves for giving into distractions, but it can be a great coping mechanism when used wisely.

Allow yourself to get lost in a good book or a movie for a few hours without paying any mind to your phone.

We are loving the New York Time’s best-selling novel, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria Schwab, about a young French woman in the 1700s that makes a deal to live forever, but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone who meets her. Or transport yourself to Provence with one of Peter Mayle’s novels set in the stunning region.

Pour yourself a (hefty – it is 2020) glass of wine, and light a candle to finish off your evening, breathing in the warmth and aroma of nature itself.

When you’re all finished, give yourself a five-star review for making time to care for  your body and your mind.

How was your spa de jour? Let us know your favourite way to unwind in the comments below.