I talk a lot about the importance of self-care here, and I would be lying if I said I was succeeding in prioritizing it right now amongst all the craziness. This time has been fraught with so much uncertainty and worry, so I put almost all self-care on the back burner while I tried to get my family adjusted to this new normal of self-distancing, homeschooling, their new brother, and not having their dad living in the same house as us.

Last night after I put the big kids to bed and before Mateo was due for a feed, I started thinking about what types of self-care I could do for myself at-home during my fabulous but infrequent periods of spare-time. Since I’m positive I’m not the only exhausted human out there who could use a spa day, I’m sharing my list of at-home spa treatments, along with step-by-step instructions, and supplies below! I hope you’ll join me in trying to re-prioritize your mental and physical health — even if it’s just doing your nails! Let me know how you fare in the comments below!

Set The Mood…

Before we get into our at-home spa day, we have to set the mood.

The fastest way to be transported out of your house and into a spa is through scent. I am a huge candle lover. I even bring them with me when I travel because I feel like it makes foreign spaces so much homier.

So the first step to your spa experience is going to be to light up your favorite candle!

How To Give Yourself a Facial At-Home…

Step 1: Cleanse Your Face: Twice

Before you start rubbing a whole bunch of products into your skin, you want to make sure that you prep it by getting it as clean as possible. Most estheticians recommend the double cleanse, which involves using a first cleanser and a second cleanser. First cleansers are usually balm or oil-based and work to break down sweat, bacteria, and/or sebum on the surface of the skin. Second cleansers are mostly water or cream-based and work to cleanse much deeper into your pores. 

To double cleanse, start by taking your first cleanser (I am loving this Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm by Elemis) and warm the balm in between your hands by rubbing them together quickly. Apply warm balm to the face, neck, and décolleté with light, circular movements, for about a minute, and then wipe it off with a warm, wet washcloth. 

Next, wet your hands and place a small amount of your water or cream-based cleanser in your hands (my favorite is the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex), and rub your hands together. Massage the product all over your face, neck, and décolleté the same way you did with the first cleanser, in gentle, circular movements. Rinse well and pat your face dry.

Step 2: Steam

Steaming is an important part of any facial. Firstly, it infuses the skin with moisture, and secondly, it opens up your pores to allow all the products that you’re going to apply later on to penetrate more deeply into your skin. Thankfully, the facial steamer is a product that’s accessible to the masses now, and I couldn’t be more here for it!

After double cleansing, steam your face with a facial steamer for five-to-ten minutes, max, and watch how much more leverage you get out of your serums and masks!

Step 3: Exfoliate

Now that you’ve opened up your pores, you’re ready to get all the dead skin cells off your face! This can be done by using either a chemical exfoliant or a physical exfoliant, and which you choose will depend entirely on whether or not you are prone to sensitive skin. Enzyme-based powders are safe enough for most skin types to use daily, so I always like to recommend these first, but if you’re well-versed in your own skin behavior and feel confident in using an AHA peel, go for it!

If you’re using an enzyme-based powder, wet your hands, take a pea-sized amount of the powder and rub your hands together vigorously until all the ‘sand’ is gone and you’re left with just foam. Apply to the face, neck, and décolleté in gentle, circular motions for a minute, and then rinse.

If you’re using a chemical peel, be sure to follow the directions on the exact peel you’re using as the length of time to leave them on will vary greatly depending on the peel.

Step 4: Mask

Now it’s time to target whatever your own personal skin concerns are! There are literally masks for every skin problem you can think of, so the sky is the limit. If you have skin with minimal problems, don’t try to fix what isn’t broken by using a mask that’s for someone with very dry or very oily skin  — trust me! Your skin has it’s own delicate balance so you want to only target the problem areas and leave the rest alone.

Here a few of my personal favorites:

Step 5: Moisturize + Gua Sha

Now it’s time to pump your skin with moisture and boost your blood circulation.

Start by layering on your favorite serums one by one. The rule of thumb for layering products is you always want to start with the product with the thinnest consistency, and work your way up to thickest.

After you’ve applied all your serums, grab your Gua Sha tools and start massaging! If you need some techniques, I published a Gua Sha tutorial and video a few months ago with my esthetician Jennifer Adell, who is the Gua Sha Kween!

Once you’ve sufficiently massaged your face, it’s time to top off your at-home facial with a rich, dense moisturizer to lock in all the good stuff!

How To Give Yourself A Manicure At Home…

Supplies…

• Nail Polish Remover
• Cotton Balls
• Nail File
• Acetone-Based Lacquer Remover (only if you have gel on your nails)
• Aluminum Foil (only if you have gel on your nails)
• Nail Clipper
• Nail Buffer
• Cuticle Pusher
• Cuticle Remover
• Cuticle Oil
• Hand Exfoliator
• Hand Cream
• Base Coat
• Nail Polish
• Top Coat

Step 1: Clean Your Nails

If you have normal nail polish on your nails, take some nail polish remover and some cotton balls and gently rub the polish off your nails.

Even if you don’t have polish on your nails currently, it’s always a good idea to run a cotton ball with nail polish remover over all your nails just to remove any oils or dirt.

If you have gel nail polish on your nails, you’ll need a nail file, a good acetone-based lacquer remover, cotton balls, and some aluminum foil. First, you have to buff your nails with a nail file, removing the shiny coating from the gel polish. Next, cut your aluminum foil into ten 4″ x 4″ pieces. Pour some of the acetone into a small bowl and then place ten cotton balls in the acetone until they are completely soaked. Take one cotton ball at a time and place one over one of your nails. Then take one of the tinfoil pieces you cut earlier and place it over the soaked cotton ball and wrap it around your entire finger. Repeat this for all your other nails and leave them on for 15 minutes.

Once the 15 minutes are up, remove the tin foil and the cotton balls, and, with a cuticle pusher, gently scrape the gel off the nail.

Step 2: Trim, File, Buff

Take your nail clipper and trim your nails to your desired length.

Next, take your nail file and gently file your nails, going only in one direction, until you achieve your desired shape.

Then, take your nail buffer and buff your nail all over — the top, the sides — everywhere. This removes your nails’ natural oils, which can ruin your manicure once you start to apply polish.

Step 3: Push Back + Trim Cuticles

Prep your cuticles with a good cuticle remover, which will help exfoliate your nail bed.

Then, take your cuticle pusher and push your nail beds back gently. Trim your cuticles (if needed) with a cuticle trimmer.

Step 4: Exfoliate Your Hands

I love a good hand exfoliator, and when I’m giving myself a manicure it’s an absolute must.

Rub a scrub all over your hands, wrists, and forearms, and then wash it off well. Pat your hands to dry.

Step 5: Moisturize

Apply a hydrating hand cream to your hands, and take special care around your cuticles.

Then, and this is an important step, wipe your nails down with some nail polish remover so there’s no residue before you start applying polish.

Step 6: Apply a Base Coat

Apply your base coat and let it dry for about 2 minutes.

Step 7: Apply Your Polish

Apply a thin coat of polish to your nails, and then let them dry for two minutes. Something that can make painting your nails easier is a polish handle.

After the first coat of polish has sat undisturbed for two minutes, apply a second coat.

Step 8: Apply Your Topcoat

Topcoat is what keeps your manicure from chipping, and it also gives it that salon-quality look.

Apply your topcoat to your nails two minutes after the second coat. If you’re in a hurry to use your hands, The Wait Is Over Quick-Dry Drops from Deborah Lippmann will dry your polish in 60 seconds! Brilliant!

How To Dry Brush…

I’ve mentioned dry brushing before, but I’ve never done a step by step about how it’s done!

Step 1: Grab Your Brush

Start at your feet and brush upward towards your heart in firm, short strokes. When you get to your stomach, brush in a clockwise direction, and continue in that direction up to your chest. When you get to your arms, start with your hands and work your way up towards your shoulders.

Step 2: Shower or Bath

Now that you’ve brushed your entire body, it’s time to hop in a nice hot shower or bath!

Step 3: Apply a Body Oil

Once you’ve come out of the shower or bath, now is time to apply some body oil to lock in how soft your skin feels!