The holiday season can be stressful. For many, the holidays mean entertaining guests and preparing large meals. The best way to deal with the stress of the holiday season is to take some much-needed time for yourself!
Pampering yourself this holiday season doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some ways to de-stress from the holidays without breaking your budget!
DIY Day Spa
A visit to the day spa is a revitalizer like no other. Unfortunately, such a trip can be very expensive, and in some rural areas may not even be an option to begin with. Instead of going to a fancy day spa, use items you already have around the house to create treatments similar to those you would receive at the spa.
DIY Foot Soak
Soaking your feet is a great way to relieve stress while softening callouses and making them easier to remove. While there are many foot soaks commercially available, it is also easy to make a foot soak with common household items.
Make your own foot soak by mixing equal parts Epsom salts and baking soda. Optionally, you may add a few drops of the essential oils of your choice. Lavender, eucalyptus, and mint are all great choices for a foot soak. Store the mixture in an air-tight container.
To use your foot soak, put warm water in a shallow container that is large enough to fit your feet. (A plastic dish tub works well.) Fill it with enough water to completely submerge your feet. For each gallon of warm water, at 2 to 3 tablespoons of your foot soak mixture. Stir it into the water until it dissolves. Then sit down, relax, and let your feet soak for a while!
Using an exfoliant midway through your soak will help remove any dead skin cells and make your feet softer. After your soak, pat your feet dry and apply lotion for a finishing touch.
DIY Face Mask
Another popular day spa treatment is the use of a face mask. Masks can be made with many different ingredients, and can serve many different purposes. For instance, those with oily skin may use a mud mask to pull excess moisture out of the skin.
This yogurt skin mask is appropriate for all skin types. It uses only two ingredients, both of which you likely already have on hand! Simply mix together one tablespoon room-temperature yogurt with one teaspoon of honey. Blend them together well and apply to your face. After 15 minutes, use a damp washcloth to remove the mask.
The yogurt skin mask has a cooling effect, and will help soften and condition your skin as well. For those with dry skin, try adding an extra teaspoon of honey; for those with oily skin, a few drops of lime juice added to the mixture is beneficial.
