Note: Depending on your time and frequency desire, you can do all of these steps together, or do them independently. For example, I may only do a manicure once a week, but I'll sometimes do the bath 2-3 times a week. Each step is independent, but together make for a very nice day!
Manicure/Pedicure:
At-home manicures are so easy, it's ridiculous. Doing your nails frequently not only makes you feel good, it can really set you apart at interviews, events, etc. Simply put - you look more together when your nails are done. Even for men, doing the manicure and skipping the polish part makes you look more professional.
For the manicure you'll need:
- 6-piece Pedicure Set (Dollar Tree Pedicure Set)
- Items it includes for this manicure: an Orange-wood stick, nail clippers, nail file.
- 4-piece Manicure Set (Dollar Tree Manicure Set)
- Items it includes for this manicure: nail pusher, cuticle scissors.
- Hand soap (any scent) (Dollar Tree)
- Glass bowl (Dollar Tree 4" Glass Bowl 3pk)
- Lotion (any scent) (Dollar Tree)
- Chap-stick (non-menthol) (Dollar Tree)
- Nail polish remover (Dollar Tree)
- Hand cloth - on hand
Extras:
- Cuticle-Away (CVS - $5.99)
I got the steps for this manicure on youtube. I'm posting the link, so you can watch it instead of me posting a ton of detailed steps that are more interesting to watch. I'll post the basic steps. I highly recommend the Cuticle-Away. It makes removing your cuticle a lot easier, but you don't have to have it. If you don't want to get it, just use the orange wood stick and cuticle clippers.
STEPS:
- Fill 2 glass bowls with a drop of soap and hot/warm water. Soak hands for 2-3 minutes, then pat dry.
- Apply Cuticle-Away and wait 45 seconds.
- Using the orange wood stick, run it along your cuticles and you'll see build up come off. That's your dead cuticles. Push - lightly - the top cuticle back as well. After that, clip the cuticle using the cuticle clippers.
- Rinse in bowls and pat dry.
- Take Chap-stick and rub it on your cuticles. Rub it in.
- File nails starting on the edges of nails and work in. File nails to round them. Clip if necessary.
- Wipe nail dust off using the hand cloth with a corner dipped in water.
- Apply lotion and rub into hands and massage your skin.
- Apply nail polish according to the video tutorial. Watch the second video on how to CLEAN your cuticles if you accidentally flood them to make it look best. It's easy - take a fine tipped paint brush, dip in acetone and wipe in cuticles to clean. Makes it look so much more professional.
Bath Spa
This bath spa is amazingly rejuvenating. It's perfect on a hard day and some of the things I use in the shower daily (the salt scrub). It has made my skin so much softer and fresh. This is VERY MUCH about setting the mood. 90% of this is mental - you have to get your mind at ease. So don't scoff at the little things, they make a difference. There's a lot of stuff on the list, but once you have it, it'll all last a pretty long time.
Items you'll need that should be on hand:
- Comfortable PJs (on hand)
- Robe (on hand)
- Wash cloth (on hand)
- Plush Towel (on hand)
- Thick socks (on hand)
- Ipod (on hand)
- My playlist: "Nowhere Warm - Kate Havnevik," "Beth - Glee," "Amber - Afro Celt System," "Breathe - Anna Nalick," "The Light - Sara Barellis," "Catalyst (Acoustic) - Anna Nalick," "Somewhere Only We Know - Keane," Selections from Enya
Items you'll need from Dollar Tree:
- Lotion (Dollar Tree)
- Epsom Salt (Dollar Tree Epsom Salt)
- Eculyptus Scented Espom Salt (Dollar Tree Relief MD Sore Muscles Soak)
- Sea Salt (Dollar Tree Sea Salt)
- Olive Oil (Dollar Tree Olive Oil)
- Yardley Lavendar Soap (Dollar Tree Yardley English Lavendar Soap)
- Glass bowl (Dollar Tree 4" Glass Bowl 3pk)
- Jar Candles (Dollar Tree Jar Candles 8")
- Bulk Luminessence Unscented Tea Lights (Dollar Tree Tea Lights)
- Bulk Luminessence Unscented Votives (Dollar Tree Unscented Votives)
- Bath Pillow (Dollar Tree)
- Collidal Oat bath soak (Dollar Tree) - comes in individual packets in a box.
- Air-tight Jar (Dollar Tree)
Extras:
- Essential oils (eucalyptus)
- Bubble Bath (Milk and Honey from Wal-Mart - big bottle for $1.88)
- Bath Brush (soft)
- Clay face mask
- Baking Soda
- Flowers if you have them
- Bath Bombs (Make your own: Bath Bomb)
Bath Scrub
Make the bath scrub by pouring 1/4 the bowl full of regular epsom salt, 1/4 with the Eculyptus scented salt, 1/8 with the Sea Salt, and 1 packet of the oatmeal soak, then pour Olive Oil in a bit at a time and mix until it clumps together. You can add more oil if you want it to be more "oily" but don't make it so it's soupy. You want it dry-ish so you can scoop it. Mix in essential oils to make it smell good. You can also add some lemon juice or peppermint extract too. Put the bath scrub in the air tight jar. Sometimes I also add some heated up honey. Just play around and see what you like.
The Bath Setting
Start by making up your bath scrub and scoop a few spoonfuls into one of the 4" glass bowls and place it on the edge of the bathtub. Do the same with the bath brush and clay mask if you have them. Mix some baking soda and epsom salt and put them in a pretty bottle. Get your candles and a lighter. Get your robe, fresh PJs and clean your bathroom a little if necessary. Fold your PJs and set them on the counter. Hang your robe on the inside of the door, somewhere close. Set the plush towel, folded, near the bath. Put the folded socks beside your PJs. Place the candles in various parts of the bathroom - enough to light up your bath area, leaving 4 tea lights out. Set up your music, ready to just hit play.
Preparing The Bath
If you decide you want a bubble bath, the Walmart brand Honey & Milk one I suggested is fantastic. It makes the bath feel soft and has just a very, very subtle, clean scent. Start the warm-hot water and pour in a generous amount of the bubble bath. As the bath starts to fill, take the baking soda and epsom salt mixture in the pretty bottle and shake it over your bath a few times. Toss in 2-3 bath bombs if you have them. Take a few deep breaths while you're doing this. Blow up the bath pillow and put it in place. Go and light your candles, placing 3-4 tea lights (after you light them) in the water (this doesn't work well with a bubble bath, so skip if you use the bubble bath). If you have some fresh flowers, let them float in the water as well. Set out the lotion and a fresh wash cloth by the bath. Let the bath fill, then turn off the lights and leave the room for 2 minutes.
The Bath
Time to enjoy! Open the door and the dark, candle-lit room is ready for you. Press play on your ipod, then undress, leaving your clothes away from the bath to not clutter the space. Put your hair up if you wish. Slowly let yourself drift into the bath (be careful if you have candles in them). Take the candles out one by one, taking a moment to think of something in your life you're thankful for, then blow them out and set them aside. Let yourself lay back and relax for a moment.
After you've relaxed, sit up and apply the bath scrub by rubbing it all over your arms, legs, chest and neck first. Don't rinse off. Take some more scrub and massage/apply to your feet. Massage as you desire. Let your legs and feet sink into the tub, not attempting to rub off the scrub, it will melt away. Next do your face. Massage the scrub into your face and neck. Finally, apply the scrub to your hands and massage as you lay back. Lay and relax with the scrub resting on as much of your skin as is exposed for 2 songs. Afterward, rinse lightly with water.
If you have a face mask, apply it, and leave it on the desired amount of time while you lay back and listen to the music. If you aren't using a mask, take the Lavender soap, make it foam in your hands, and apply to your face, then lay back and relax for 2 more songs. Rinse.
Remain in bath as desired, then lift yourself out and take the towel and pat dry. Your skin will feel oily, that's okay. The oil will soak in. The longer you stay in the bath, the more it will soak in with the heat of the bath surrounding it. Put on your thick robe. Breathe in and out for 1 minute, focusing on the good in your life. Take the lotion and rub it on your arms, neck, chest, feet and legs. Massage into hands and feet for an entire song. Put on your fresh PJs and the thick socks to hold in the moisture.
Final step: go to the sink and brush your teeth slowly as normal. Turn on the lights, blow out the candles, turn off the music and drain the bath - then go lay down and read or just relax for 20 minutes. This will let you relax, let the oils sink in and your mind continue to rest.
Moisture Me Up
This is a step for your body and hair to be extra moisturized and luxiourious.
Items needed (extra from bath section):
- Good, thick conditioner (on hand or at Dollar Tree - Suave)
- Shower cap (Dollar Tree)
After the bath and you've relaxed for 20 minutes, re-apply lotion. Take the chap stick and reapply it to your cuticles, massaging them in.
Wait another twenty minutes, then run a hot shower and wet your hair, ringing it out so it's damp, but not soaking wet. Without applying shampoo, get your best conditioner and apply it to your hair WITHOUT RINSING. Grab the shower cap and put your hair up inside it. Get out of the bath and go about your night. Leave your hair up, with conditioner in the cap as long as you can - I sleep in mine. If you sleep in it, put a towel on your pillow. Rinse the next morning, apply a LITTLE shampoo to scalp and rinse. Your hair will be rehydrated and silky! If you notice that hardly any conditioner seems to be left, you may want to repeat because your hair soaked it up. If there's a lot left, your hair is probably pretty moisturized already.
I hope you've enjoyed my easy, awesome at-home Dollar Store Spa!! I hope you take time to take care of yourself as I have. It's restorative and amazing!! I hope you all take the time to take care of yourselves. Post and let me know what you've tried!!
Live, Laugh and Above All....Love
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