It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is kindness. Kindness is defined by The Mental Health Foundation as ‘doing something towards yourself and others, motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference’. While we encourage you to show kindness to others, not just this week but always, we also encourage you to be kind to yourself and practise self-care – you can’t pour from an empty cup! The prospect of a spa visit may still seem a lifetime away, but with a couple of our favourite Essential Oils and a handful of home cupboard ingredients, you can create your own spa at home. So sit back, breathe and relax from the comfort of your own home.
Your Space
The spa ambience is everything, so to create a soothing atmosphere at home switch on some relaxing music, switch off your phone, and light our Total De-Stress Candle to transform your space into a haven of calm with the comforting blend of balancing Geranium and uplifting Orange.
Refreshing Foot Bath
You will need:
- 3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) Grapeseed Blending Oil. Delicate, lightweight and easily absorbed Grapeseed Oil is full of Vitamins C, D and E, all promoting good skin health. It is also full of essential fatty acids which will nourish the skin.
- Large bowl (big enough to get both feet into!) filled with tepid wate
- Towel
Instructions:
Simply blend the Peppermint Essential Oil with the Grapeseed Blending Oil and add to a large bowl of tepid water. Ensure the oil is thoroughly dispersed. Place your feet in the water, and close your eyes for 5-10 minutes.
Uplifting Foot Scrub
This simple combination of energising Orange Essential Oil and freshening Peppermint Essential Oil, will make your feet feel summer-ready in minutes.
You will need:
- 1 cup of Sea Salt, Epsom Salts or Pink Himalayan Salt.
- 4 tablespoons Grapeseed Blending Oil
- 2 drops of Orange Essential Oil
- 1 drop of Peppermint Essential Oil
- Small Bowl to blend ingredients
Instructions:
Blend the Grapeseed Blending Oil and Essential Oils in a small bowl and add the salt and mix together.
Massage into feet, take time to rub over all areas, especially where the skin is driest.
Wash off with warm water, then moisturise with Grapeseed blending oil once dry.
Lemon, Honey & Rosemary Essential Oil Hair Mask
This is a great mask if your hair is on the oilier side. Apple Cider Vinegar balances PH, Lemon will absorb any excess oil and honey will help seal in the moisture to leave a healthy head of hair. Rosemary Essential Oil will boost circulation to your scalp encouraging growth.
You will need:
- 20ml Apple Cider Vinegar
- Juice from one whole lemon
- 1 tablespoon runny honey
- 4 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil
- Towel or shower cap
Instructions:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, with your hands and apply to clean damp hair. Cover with a towel or shower cap and leave for 20 mins, then shampoo and condition as normal.
Nourishing Body Scrub
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon of Sea Salt, Epsom Salts or Pink Himalayan Salt.
- 2 tablespoons runny honey
- 1 teaspoon of Jojoba Blending Oil An enriching, skin-nourishing blending oil, Jojoba Oil has a chemical composition that is similar to our skin, partly fatty and partly water, making it ideal as a skin blending oil. It is balancing for our skin’s natural sebum production and is rich in Vitamin E which is a natural antioxidant.
- 2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
- 2 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
- Small Bowl
- Towel
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients into a bowl. Before turning on the water, step into the shower and use your hands to massage the mixture over your skin, paying attention to dry areas like elbows and knees, rinse off with warm water. Pat your skin dry with a towel and moisturise with a body oil (see below).
Not for face. Do not use on cracked or irritated skin
Indulgent Body Oil
For a luxurious home-made body oil, simply follow the instructions below. Blending your own body oil not only enriches the aromatherapy experience but also means you can adapt to suit your skin’s own needs.
We’ve used:
Lavender is calming and soothing to the skin
Frankincense is rejuvenating and helps restore dry and mature skin
Geranium is emotionally balancing and nurturing
You will need:
- 20ml of Jojoba Blending Oil
- 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
- 3 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
- 2 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
- Blending Cup / Bottle
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients into the blending cup or jug. Massage over your body after washing using long sweeping strokes.
Soothing Face Scrub
The following essential oils are suitable for normal, combination or dry skin types:
Chamomile is soothing for the skin, reduces inflammation and balances out skin tone
Frankincense is a rejuvenating for the skin
Lavender encourages healthy skin
You will need:
- ½ cup of of finely ground porridge oats or oatmeal
- 5ml of Jojoba Blending Oil
- 1 drop of Chamomile, Lavender or Frankincense Essential Oil (to use more than one essential oil as a blend, please increase the amount of blending oil you use. As a rule, only use 1 drop of essential oil per 5ml blending oil.)
- Small Bowl
- Towel
Instructions:
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Massage over your face and neck, avoiding sensitive skin around the mouth and eyes. Wash off with tepid water and pat your skin dry with a towel. Afterwards, we love to use one of the Faace Masks. Depending on what’s going on with our skin that day we pick either Tired, Period or Sweaty Faace. All cruelty-free, vegan, 100% plant-derived and smell gorgeous as they contain essential oils. These can be used as a mask or left on to work for longer – genius.
Restoring Hand Polish
Without trips to the salon and excessive hand washing, we’re sure your hands and nails have seen better days – we know ours have. Give dry hands they TLC deserve with this nourishing, polish blend.
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon of finely ground porridge oats or oatmeal
- 2 teaspoon of caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon of Jojoba Blending Oil
- 1 teaspoon of Wheatgerm Blending Oil. Heavier and richer in consistency with a mild aroma, Wheatgerm Oil is naturally high in essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants which can help improve skin suppleness and texture.
- 2 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
- 2 drops of Orange Essential Oil
- 4 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil
- Small Bowl
Instructions
Blend the essential oils with the Jojoba and Wheatgerm Blending Oils, then combine with the oats and sugar in a bowl and mix together thoroughly. Gently rub into clean hands and nails. Once finished, wash in tepid water and gently towel dry.
Have you got any tips on how to create your own spa at home? Let us know @tisserandmsia
Safety Information: It is ALWAYS best to do a patch test before using any new ingredients on your skin to test for allergies or irritation. Avoid the sensitive areas around your eyes and mouth when applying a face mask.
