If you’re feeling a little stressed and need to take some time for yourself then why not have a DIY pamper sesh with some of these homemade body treatment recipes we found. From body scrubs to hair masks and your very own refreshing bath salts for the ultimate soaking experience. Each of these recipes only contains 3 – 4 ingredients that can be sourced from your kitchen and in your garden. Treating yourself was never easier because who said getting pampered meant having to leave the house!?
Cucumber & mint body scrub
This body scrub will hydrate and soothe any inflammation. The sugar will help slough away any dead skin cells and the coconut oil will leave your skin looking glowing and fresh.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup chopped cucumber
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons raw virgin coconut oil, melted
In a small bowl or mortar and pestle, mash cucumber and mint into a pulp. Squeeze the liquid out into a second bowl and discard the pulp. Add the sugar and melted coconut oil to the liquid and mix until fully mixed in then apply your mixture to clean, damp skin rubbing in circular motions to exfoliate. You can keep this mixture in the fridge for up to a week but you will need to bring the scrub to room temperature each time you use it as the coconut oil will have hardened.
Lavender face mist
This calming, aromatherapy mask will leave your skin smelling fresh and looking toned.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 teaspoons dried organic lavender buds
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
Pour boiling water over the lavender buds then cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the lavender and then discard. Let the steeped lavender water come to room temperature, then mix in the apple cider vinegar. Pour the mixture into an empty and cleaned out spray bottle and spritz it on to refresh the skin. Use on clean skin, after washing and before moisturizing. This mixture will last for 3 months if kept in a cool place out of the sun.
Apple cider vinegar hair mask
This homemade hair mask will do wonders for your hair. Apple cider vinegar cleanses the scalp and removes excess oil, honey balances the skin and nourishes the hair shaft and a touch of olive oil will restore moisture to the hair.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
½ – 1 teaspoon olive oil
Place vinegar and honey in a small bowl. Add oil depending on hair type. (Use less for fine, oily hair types, more for thicker or dryer hair and if you have very oily hair, maybe give the oil a miss) Mix until smooth. Apply to damp hair from the ends to the scalp, comb right through the hair. Pull hair back and let the mask work its magic for 10-15 minutes, you could even wrap a hot towel around your hair. Rinse out completely. No shampoo or conditioner is necessary, but if any oily residue remains, shampoo to remove.
Rose & oatmeal milk bath
Oats are nature’s magic potion for reducing skin irritation and can be used in scrubs, masks to calm redness, itching and rashes. Rose petals are also said to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients:
1 cup oats
1 cup dried rose petals
Combine the oats and rose petals in a high-speed blender or food processor; process the mixture into a fine flour. Transfer to an airtight container or bag then add a sprinkle with the running water and soak up the luxurious mixture into your skin. This recipe makes about 2 cups of the mixture and will last for about 6 months if kept in a cool, dark spot.
Orange & Green Tea bath salt
This bath salt mix is super easy to make and has a beautifully refreshing scent. Epsom salts are great for soothing aching muscles, relaxing the nervous system and detoxifying the body. The natural oils in the orange will help to moisturise the skin and the green tea has lots of antioxidants and is said to tighten skin and give you a glow.
Ingredients:
An orange
Green Tea
Epsom Salts
Method: Grab an orange, squeeze the juice into a bowl then add the juice into 1 cup of Epsom salts. Stir the mixture until the salts are fully saturated and if there is too much juice just add some more salt. Grab 1-2 packets of green tea bags and cut them open, empty the contents into the mixture and give it another good stir. Pour the salts into a jar to dry out and keep the jar in a cool place, like your fridge.
Images by Adobe Stock.