I want to host a spa party for my 15th birthday, and i need to knwo some of the essentials.
I am allready planning on getting a robe, towel and slippers for guests.
but, i'm not really sure where to start with everything else. decorate in all white stuff- plants and floor pillows maybe, have a designated "Spa Room" that you decorate
have manicure/pedicure supplies for guests to do each others nails
have fashion magazines for people to look through
bucket of water bottles
I don't think you need robes if you're not doing massages- so skip those and make gift baggies instead filled with spa type stuff- lotions, polish, bath stuff- whatever you want
play relaxing music
get a facial steamer or a parfin wax bath for your hands and feet
make homemade facials- here are some recipes (there are tons online also)
AVOCADO CARROT CREAM MASK
This mask combines avocados, which are rich in Vitamin E, with carrots, which are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and cream, which is high in calcium and protein. These ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.
1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons honey
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner.
Avocado Dry Skin Masque
California Avocado Commission
Beat the yolk of an egg until it is light and frothy, then add the mashed pulp of a half avocado, blending it well (you may use a blender at this point). Cleanse your face thoroughly before using this masque (or any masque). Spread the avocado mixture over the face and neck evenly; relax on a slant board or bed for about 20 minutes. Remove with clear tepid water and a face cloth, followed by a rinse of cold water or a mild skin lotion. The result should be a marked improvement in skin texture, and all-around revitalizing.
Avocado Oily Skin Masque
California Avocado Commission
Put the white of an egg, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and the mashed pulp of a half avocado into a blender. In seconds, you should have a lovely green mixture. Wash your face and neck thoroughly, then apply masque evenly on those areas. Relax for 20 minutes; remove with tepid water and a face cloth. Follow with cold astringent or skin tonic.
BASIL ACNE TONIC
Basil is known for its "soothing and toning" properties.
2 to 3 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 C. boiling water
Steep basil leaves in water for 10 to 20 minutes. Cool, then apply to face with a white cotton ball. Keep tonic refrigerated. Recommended shelf life: 90 days.
SPA INDEX HONEY OATMEAL FACIAL
1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey
Finely grind or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together honey and yogurt, and then add ground oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste consistency has been reached. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Can be used daily
PAPAYA PUMPKIN FACIAL
If you have visited spas and resorts in exotic locales such as the Pacific Rim, Bali, Hawaii, and Tahiti, you've probably seen a facialist select and mash fresh fruit in front of you for a fresh-on-the spot enzyme mask. It's easy to recreate this mask at home -- we've found a Balinese mask for you which will leave your face fresh and glowing.
2/3 cup fresh papaya, mashed
15 oz. can pure pumpkin
1 egg, beaten
1. Prepare the mask. Cut the papaya in half and scoop out the seeds. Scoop out the papaya fruit and mash it well to eliminate lumps in the mask. Beat the egg until it is frothy. Combine that with the papaya. Add the pumpkin to the egg/papaya mixture and whip together. You can also mix the ingredients in the blender or a food processor for an extra smooth mask.
2. Prepare your face. Wash with your daily cleanser and remove all residual makeup on your skin. Rinse with warm water. It's very important to have clean skin to ensure you get maximum benefits from the facial.
3. Apply the Mask. Cover your entire face, being careful to avoid the immediate eye area. If you have sensitive skin, test the mixture on your hand before spreading it on your face. You'll feel some tingling as the enzymes in the pumpkin go to work immediately -- gently exfoliating your top layer of skin. It works like a scrub without being abrasive to your skin. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes.
4. Rinse Off Mask. After you've relaxed for ten minutes it's time to rinse. The mask is fairly thick -- head for the kitchen sink.
5. Apply Toner & Moisturizer.
END OF SUMMER ALMOND BODY SCRUB
As the end of the summer season approaches, many of us are sporting that attractive tell-tale sign of fun in the sun: Peeling skin. Spa Index has an excellent recipe for an Almond Body Scrub to gently and thoroughly exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells. Body scrubs feel wonderful and relieve the itch of flaking skin.
鈥?2/3 cup ground almonds
鈥?1/3 cup oatmeal
鈥?1/2 teaspoon of herbs (lavender, chamomile, etc) (optional)
鈥?Plain yogurt, milk, or buttermilk, sufficient to make a paste
鈥?Essential Oils for scent (optional)
Combine the dry ingredients in a blender or food processor until they are reduced to a coarse meal. Keep this "scrub base" in a glass jar with a screw top in your refrigerator until ready to use. When you want to use the scrub base, scoop out 1/4 cup into a small bowl, and stir in enough of the liquid ingredients (vary it by what you have on hand -- yogurt and milk are best, but water works) to make a paste. Yogurt and milk are natural exfoliates known as alpha hydroxy acids, and they will slough off dead skin cells even without the scrub. Scoop up the paste with your hands or a washcloth, and rub over your body to exfoliate peeling skin. Rinse thoroughly.
1 teaspoon honey
陆 cup coconut milk
1 sprig of rosemary
2 ounces of olive oil
录 cup Epsom salt
陆 cup cornmeal
In a small bowl mix ingredients, then pour into large salad bowl filled with hot water. Soak feet for a few minutes, then reach hand into mixture and exfoliate rough spots. Repeat for each guest.
Yogurt-Honey Skin Cleanser
Save face (and neck) with this soothing and moisturizing treatment.
Unless you spend the summer at the movies, your skin is bound to suffer. Sun, sweat, and wind can leave the skin on your face irritated, greasy, parched鈥攊n other words, a mess. To the rescue: this Yogurt-Honey Cleanser created by Linda Collins of Salon Blue in Carle Place, New York. "The lactic acid in yogurt softens and soothes the skin," Collins says, "while the honey cleanses and moisturizes it."
What you need:
1 cup plain yogurt
2 陆 tablespoons of unflavored honey
teaspoon lemon juice (for oily skin)
Cotton pads (optional)
Warm water
How to get started:
鈥?In a bowl, mix together the yogurt and honey. (For oily skin, add teaspoon lemon juice to help absorb excess oil.) You might want to patch-test the mixture first, behind one ear. Wait one hour, watching for any irritation.
鈥?With clean hands or cotton pads, apply the mask liberally to your freshly washed face and neck (even your d茅colletage), and leave on for 5 minutes.
鈥?Rinse well with warm water, lightly pat dry, and follow with your favorite moisturizer. Repeat one or two times a week. Get a cheap parafin bath from a home store, about $30. It's fun to dip your hands and feet. You could also do each other's nails and do facial masks. You can get them at any drug store for around $1 each |
