– How to plan a DIY spa night in.

Every year, without a doubt, Women’s Day can become extremely busy. But remember Women’s Day should be celebrated for the entire month of August. So book any time this month at Royal Palm for a pamper session. Yuvati Shah, owner of Spa Royale at Royal Palm Hotel Umhlanga also suggests having a day in with your besties or family members and enjoy some easy home remedies.

First things first, stage the evening and do it your way. Since this is time for just you and your girls, there should be no interruptions – no kids or significant other. Just because you aren’t in a fancy spa doesn’t mean you can’t fake it ‘til you make it.

Clear out the clutter, light up some scented candles or dim the lights to set the mood and create a playlist with calming music to add to the ambience. Grab cozy robes, comfortable slippers and clean towels. Your home spa day or night should be personalized but still be able to suit you all. Adjust the schedule, agenda and products to suit all your needs. You are now one step closer to serenity indoors!

Something to definitely include in your home spa regime is a face mask. Face masks are the perfect skin care treatment to help you with your skin care concerns. The right face mask can help hydrate skin, remove excess oils and help improve the appearance of your pores. They are also an excellent way to help remove impurities.

Everyone should introduce masking into their skin care regimen, if you haven’t done so already. For just a few (relaxing) minutes a day, your skin will go through a noticeable transformation that you can see and feel. You may look silly doing it, but that makes it all the more fun. Here’s a few facemasks suggested by Shah, that you and the girls can try indoors, depending on your skin type:

Hydrate and Nourish

What you need:

• Handful of oats
• ½ avocado
• 1 tablespoon of honey

How it works:

Even though this sounds like a full breakfast meal, these ingredients work great on your face too. Honey is a brilliant humectant, meaning it helps the skin hold moisture in without becoming oily. Honey is also great with reducing the appearance of scars and increases both healing and tissue revival. Oats have healing and soothing properties too and the avocados contain ultra-nourishing oils, which will leave your skin moisturized and smooth when applied.

Glow GlowGlow!

What you need:

• 2 teaspoons of honey
• ½ teaspoon of lemon juice

How it works:

This is a simple but highly effective DIY facemask for when you need to remove blemishes and require an inner glow. The lemon juice is a relatively strong ingredient so it would be best to only use this mask once or twice a week.

Tighten those pores!

What you need:

• ¼ cucumber
• ½ ripe tomato

How it works:

Tomatoes and cucumbers are both ingredients that have natural astringents which help tighten the pores. To make this mask all you have to do is wash and peel the cucumber, then blend it together with the tomato until you have yourself a smooth paste, and that is basically it.

Just like your face, your feet also get tired after a long day, and need extra care and attention to look their best. Shah offers some homemade scrub recipes to help your tootsies stay in tip-top shape.

Refreshing Lemon Foot Scrub

Lemon clears any blemishes from the skin, and the sugar scrubs the dead skin cells off. Coconut oil moisturizes your feet and makes them soft.

What you need:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup almond or coconut oil
• 6-8 drops of lemon essential oil

Directions:

Combine sugar and almond/coconut oil in a clean, dry bowl and add oil slowly until you have a soft, wet-sand consistency. Add as much lemon essential oil as preferred and work into feet for five minutes before rinsing away in the shower. Your feet will feel refreshing.

Baking soda Foot Scrub

Baking soda not only relieves aches and pains but also fights toenail fungus.

What you need:

• 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon warm water

Directions:

• Make a thick paste by mixing the baking soda and water.
• Apply it to your feet and massage for 10 minutes.
• Wash it off when you’re ready.

Brown Sugar and Olive Oil Exfoliating Foot Scrub

It is extremely gentle and the essential oils comfort your feet.

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 drops of essential oil (chamomile or peppermint)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

• Combine the sugar, olive oil, and baking soda in a bowl.
• Add the essential oil and scrub your feet with the mixture.
• Leave it on for at least 20 minutes and then wash it off.
• Follow up with a moisturizer.

Spa Royale @ Royal Palm Hotel is located on the first floor of the Royal Palm Hotel, Umhlanga. For bookings and enquiries, contact them on (031) 566 1286 or 083 408 8046 or email info@sparoyale.co.za.