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Guide to an Eco-Friendly DIY Spa Day

Guide to an Eco-Friendly DIY Spa Day



There is no better feeling than a day at the spa, except of course a day at the spa that is affordable, eco-friendly, and right there in your home! Whether you need a relaxing end to your workweek, a break from studying, or just want to give yourself a pamper, you have found the perfect guide for an easy and eco-friendly DIY spa day.

At Wowe Lifestyle, we take eco-friendly as seriously as we take making amazing lifestyle products. With only one Earth to live on, we understand the importance of preserving our natural resources and reducing global waste and pollution. While some spa days out can be wasteful, with many commercial spas using excessive amounts of water, harsh chemicals, and draining high levels of electricity, a day at your home spa can be done without all the waste.

In this guide, we will share some of our favorite recipes and DIY spa day treatments that you can do from home and without harming the environment.

Spa Day Preparation

Before your spa day begins, prepare yourself for relaxation. Start by brushing and flossing your teeth to prepare to feel refreshed. Try brushing with one of Wowe Lifestyle’s Eco-Friendly and Natural Bamboo Toothbrushes for a clean that feels as good as your toothbrush is for the environment! Get into some comfortable clothes, perfect for relaxing in. Robes, pajamas, comfy t-shirts, and loungewear are all great options for a spa day - just be sure not to pick anything you mind getting a few drops of oil or veggie mixtures on.

Once you have prepared yourself, it’s time to prepare your environment. Give your space a good tidy, and put away stressful distractions like a work computer, school books, etc. Dim your lights, light a few candles and choose your favorite music to set the mood for your at-home DIY spa day.

Fancy Water

Water always seems to taste better at the spa, but how do those gurus of relaxation make that tasteless liquid so darned delicious? Additives! Spas add fruits, vegetables, and herbs to their water, making it more delicious for the drinker and in some cases, to help reduce inflammation and irritation in the body.

Ingredients like watermelon, mint, lemon, lime, and cucumber can help soothe irritation and inflammation in the body, and make your water taste and feel more luxurious. Simply fill your favorite drinking container (we recommend the Wowe Stainless Steel Water Bottle) with water and a few sprigs of your favorite herbs and a few pieces of your favorite fruit or vegetable.

By making your flavored water at home, you are able to control exactly what you put into your body, and you can avoid purchasing pre-packaged drinks in plastic bottles that will inevitably end up polluting the environment. Hydration is an important part of staying healthy inside and out, so be sure to drink plenty of water even on your non-spa days.

Hair Treatments

The deep cleaning and conditioning hair treatments often found at spas may leave your locks feeling like silk, but many of the ingredients found in common commercial hair products are harmful to people, animals, and the environment. Common harmful ingredients found in hair care products include:

  • Sodium lauryl sulfate - toxic to animals, mutagenic to animals, carcinogenic to humans
  • Parabens - Parabens are endocrine disruptors, affecting the production of hormones for both humans and animals and have been connected to certain cancers, hormone disorders, and other health problems; parabens are regularly washed down drains and have been found in high levels in marine and sea life
  • Propylene glycol - the main ingredient in antifreeze, propylene glycol is present in many commercial hair care products and is toxic to people, animals, and the environment

Rather than visiting your local spa to be slathered in environmentally harmful ingredients, make your own healthy and eco-friendly hair mask! Follow this awesome recipe for a natural, safe, eco-friendly way to hydrate your hair:

Honey, Yogurt, and Oil Hair Mask

Warm 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small saucepan, stirring to incorporate over low heat. Pour the warmed honey and oil mixture over 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt in a small bowl. Mix well. Apply the hair mask to your hair from root to tip, and leave on for 30-45 minutes before rinsing gently in warm water.

Facials

Getting a facial is one of the ultimate forms of relaxation, but you don’t need to pay big money or go all the way to the spa to get the same luxurious experience. The fancy ingredients, long words, and hard to source additives spas advertise may make your skin look and feel good, but so will common everyday ingredients that are better for the environment and far less expensive.

Here are three awesome DIY natural facemask recipes you can use at home to give yourself an amazing eco-friendly facial. These masks are made with natural ingredients that won’t hurt the planet when you wash them down the drain. Make these recipes one after the other to get a full spa experience, or do just one to address specific skin concerns.

Hydrating Yogurt and Aloe Mask

Mix together one tablespoon of plain yogurt with one teaspoon aloe vera gel (fresh or from a bottle). Apply liberally to the face and neck and let sit for at least 5 minutes before rinsing with warm water. This mask will help hydrate, cleanse, and refine the look of pores, a great way to gently treat your skin to a little bit of luxury.

Tip: Add some orange zest or juice to include a little vitamin C, which helps in the production and synthesis of collagen, helping to keep your skin firm.

Exfoliating Yeast Mask

Mix 1 standard packet of yeast with a few teaspoons of lemon juice and a few teaspoons of water. Once a paste has been formed, spread the mixture onto your face and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. If you have oily skin or just need a deep exfoliating cleanse, this mask will help remove dead skin, extra oil, and impurities, leaving your face looking radiant and oil-free.

Toning Vinegar Mask

Vinegar has been used as a toner to reduce redness and even skin tone for centuries, and for good reason: it works! Simply mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with ¼ cup of water, apply to your face, and let it dry.

Tip: Experiment with lower ratios of vinegar to water and use this mixture as a finishing liquid after your other skincare to help tone the skin.

Foot Soak

Soaking in a big tub of warm water feels luxurious, but the amount of waste it causes simply isn’t worth it. Rather than wasting huge amounts of water and electricity on bathtub or jacuzzi time, consider getting your soaking fix with a simple foot soak. Here is a great recipe for a natural foot soak you can easily do with some warm water, natural ingredients, and a simple bucket or container at home.

Fill your bucket or basin with enough warm water to cover your feet, then add one of the following natural ingredients to create an amazing natural foot soak:

  • Apple cider vinegar (detoxifies and softens feet)
  • Lemon juice (softens dead skin and has anti-fungal properties)
  • Epsom salt (relaxed tired muscles and helps soften dead skin)

Manicure and Pedicure

Once your feet are soaked and feeling good, it’s time to turn your attention to your nails! Manicures and pedicures can cost a pretty penny, but with a few simple steps you can give yourself a top-notch mani-pedi from the comfort of your own home:

  1. Start by softening your cuticles and nourishing your nails with natural jojoba oil. You can buy jojoba oil in many grocery stores, online, and at plenty of natural stores. Jojoba oil is super nourishing, and just a few drops can help nourish, hydrate, and strengthen your nails.
  2. Once your nails and cuticles are nourished, it’s time to file and clip your nails. Make your nails your desired shape, but be sure not to be too rough on your nails as this can make them brittle and dry.
  3. Make a sugar scrub by combining 1 part sugar and 1 part olive oil. Rub your hands and feet thoroughly, making sure to get all the nooks and crannies. This step will exfoliate your hands and feet to remove any dead skin and grime.
  4. Moisturize using your favorite moisturizer, or a few more drops of jojoba oil.
  5. Add optional polish. Many people avoid polish for the health and environmental impacts, but if you can’t resist color, we suggest checking out one of these toxin-free nail polish brands.
Visit Wowe Lifestyle to learn more about living an eco-friendly life, and all the ways Wowe can help you do just that! We share tons of informative blogs and tips for living green to teach you more about the products you buy and use each and every day.