At-Home Spa Treatments: 6 Easy, Inexpensive Beauty Recipes

With a few simple supplies and a free afternoon, you can treat yourself to something special. Here are six at-home spa treatment recipes you can make yourself. Rose Water: Rose water is a well-known toner and astringent. It costs a lot when you buy it by the bottle, but you can easily make it yourself. Firmly pack rose petals into a cup and place it in a bowl. Pour two cups of boiling water over the top and cover. Steep the roses until the liquid is cool and then strain out the petals. Refrigerate the water in a sterile glass jar between uses. Apply to the skin with a cotton ball to tone and tighten your skin. Sugar Scrub: Make your own sugar scrub to exfoliate your elbows, knees, back and limbs. Just take one cup of brown sugar, one cup of raw oatmeal and one cup of olive oil. Mix the ingredients together in a jar and then apply it to your dry skin. Stand on a towel or plastic bag and massage slowly in circles. Step right into the shower and rinse off the scrub. Lemon softener: The acid in lemons will work wonders on your rough elbows and rough knees. All you have to do for this simple spa treatment is to cut a lemon in half and then rub it on your rough patches. Wash off in the shower. Not only will this treatment soften skin but it will also lighten dark areas. Pumpkin mask: Pumpkin adds moisture to your skin, no matter what your skin type is. Just use three tablespoons of pumpkin from a can and one-half teaspoon of honey. If you have normal or oily skin, add one-quarter teaspoon of milk or one-quarter teaspoon of buttermilk for dry skin. Once you've mixed together all of the ingredients, clean your face using your regular cleanser. Spread the mask over your skin and then leave it on for 15 minutes. Clean off the dried mask with warm water. You can follow it up with rose water and then apply your moisturizer. Cuticle softener: This treatment is simple to use and can prevent jagged nails. Combine a teaspoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of vitamin E oil. Mix them together in a bowl and then massage the oil into your cuticles. After letting the oil soak in for fifteen minutes, you can wash away the excess oil with soap and water. Refreshing foot scrub: Combine two tablespoons of vegetable oil, two tablespoons of sea salt or beach sand (which you can find at your local craft store), three drops of rosemary oil and three drops of peppermint oil. Mix the ingredients into a paste and then massage the paste onto your feet. Concentrate on rough areas, such as your heels or calluses. When you rinse off the mixture, your feet will be silky smooth.