By Marnie Kunz, NASM-certified trainer

If you need some self-care time or want to do a little DIY beauty, you can take an at-home spa day. While the idea of lounging in an upscale spa while being pampered with facials, massages, and other treatments may be tempting, this can get expensive and time-consuming. Some DIY at-home spa time is the perfect solution if you’re on a budget or prefer to do your own beauty rituals. Plus, if you don’t have time for hours-long spa treatments, you can do some nourishing beauty treatments without leaving the comfort of your home.

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What Is an At-Home Spa Day?

An at-home spa day is what it sounds like - a spa-like experience that you set up in your home. It can be as simple as applying a face mask or as elaborate as aromatherapy and a bath with face and hair masks and skincare rituals. Doing DIY spa activities is a form of self-care, which is a form of caring for your physical and mental health.

Benefits of Doing a Spa Day at Home

A home spa day is a great way to practice self-care without having to spend a lot of money going to spas or massage parlors. According to a national survey, 75% of Americans believe self-care activities can help reduce stress, with at-home spa rituals (40%), getting a manicure or pedicure (30%), exercising outdoors (28%), and working out in a gym (24%) listed as top stress-relieving activities. Survey respondents said the benefits of self-care include a boost in self-confidence (64%), increased productivity (67%), and a rise in happiness (71%).

Some benefits of doing self-care with a spa day include:

Saving money from doing beauty rituals at home instead of at spas
Reducing stress
Improved mental health and well-being
Having a mental break from social media
Rejuvenating your body and mind
Adaptability. When you do your own spa day, you can pick and choose the exact routines and products that work best for you and skip the ones that do nothing for you.

How to Prepare Your DIY Spa

There’s a wide range of options for your at-home spa day but a few key things to do include:

Make sure your space is clean and clutter-free. As someone who has tried to take a bath in a cluttered NYC bathroom, believe me, this is important. Having a clear space will help you relax better.
Choose your rituals. Decide how much time you have and what routines you want to do. Check out our 51 self-care Sunday ideas for inspiration if you need ideas.
Make sure you have the products you need. There’s nothing like sitting down to do a pedicure and realizing you have no nail polish remover to get rid of your old nail color. Plan ahead and stock up on your spa day supplies. Some items you may want include a face mask, hair mask, moisturizer, clean towels, an exfoliating brush, lotion, nail color, candles, and scented bath salts.
Unplug from your devices. Leave your phone in another room or turn it off so you can enjoy some tech-free time without people contacting you.
Set up your space. Assemble your towels, a plush robe, and care products so you have everything you need for your at-home spa day.
Add scents. Use candles, an essential oil diffuser, or scented bath salts to help you relax. Choose calming scents such as lavender, vanilla, or roses. For invigoration, opt for citrus scents, mint, or cinnamon.
Play soothing music to help you unwind. Make a playlist with your favorite slow tunes or play a nature soundtrack with peaceful ocean or rain sounds.
Use an away message or hang a Do Not Disturb sign to let everyone know that you will be unreachable during your at-home spa day.

At-Home Spa Ideas

The great thing about doing an at-home spa day is that you can completely customize your ritual. If you don’t have much time or are short on supplies, try a face mask while you take a bath, or add an extra moisturizer to your usual nighttime routine. On the other hand, if you have plenty of time or are in desperate need of a full self-care need, you can take a whole day and do a digital detox while you enjoy spa routines such as a bath, manicure and pedicure, exfoliation treatment, and extra moisturizing routines for hair and skin.

Here are some ideas for your at-home spa day:

Foot Care

Treat your feet with a mini foot massager. Complete the experience by doing a pedicure.
Give yourself a pedicure. Start with some foot spa treatments like a foot soak, exfoliation, and cream foot cream, and then do your pedicure to complete your DIY spa day.
Rub a rich foot cream on your feet and then put on slipper socks or cozy slippers to keep the moisture in.

Hand Treatment

Give your hands some love with exfoliating and a rich hand cream. Follow with a pedicure by cutting and filing your nails, pushing back your cuticles, applying a base coat, color, and then a top coat.
Apply a rich hydrating lotion to your hands to banish dryness.

Aromatherapy

Light a scented soy candle to soothe your senses.

Face Treatments

Try an eye gel or eye mask to hydrate and rejuvenate tired eyes.
Do a facial. Apply a face mask and follow it with a nourishing face cream.

Body Spa

Use an exfoliating body scrub in the shower to banish dead skin cells. Followed it with a rich moisturizing body lotion.
Take a bath and soak in scented bath salts for total body rejuvenation. You can also create your own soothing bath with coconut oil, epsom salts, and essential oils.
Use fresh ingredients. Try DIY solutions such as cucumber slices over your eyes to soothe them, lavender Epsom salts for a relaxing bath to soothe sore muscles, or a mix of castor oil and jojoba oil for a hair-boosting serum.
Add some healthy snacks to your spa day for an extra mood and energy boost.

Hair Care

Try a deep hydrating shampoo and then use a hair mask to add extra moisture and shine to your locks.
Enjoy a scalp massage with a mini scalp massage tool.

Mental Escape

Read a good book and lose yourself in another world.

Note when you do an at-home spa day, you don’t need to spend a lot of money or go out and buy lots of supplies. Start small and add high-quality items to your routine over time. Add a moisturizing option to your skin care routine, try a new under eye cream for eye puffiness, or make your own bath with natural ingredients you have at home for a soothing at-home spa experience.

I know how overwhelming - and expensive! - the world of beauty products can be so don’t feel like you have to go out and buy a bunch of spa materials to get started. Focus on your self-care and things that help you relax the most, and you’ll emerge feeling less stressed and more ready to take on the world.

Take care of yourself, and feel free to comment with your top DIY spa ritual.😊

Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified personal trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she’s not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.

How to Take an At-Home Spa Day