At-Home Spa Treatments

Make over your bathroom with these DIY zen tips

There are plenty of ways to recreate splurgy spa therapies at home — and no, you don’t have to install a rock garden. For help, we went to Jan Cohen, the Northeast Account Executive of Borghese, the Italian brand known for luxe mud treatments. All their products are formulated with mineral-rich water from Tuscan springs, which helps to rehydrate skin and increase circulation. According to Cohen, using mud masks once or twice a week can give you the same benefits as a spa visit. Here’s how to get zen at home.

Set the Mood

• Find a Seat: The whole idea is to de-stress so you want someplace comfortable to sit where you won’t worry about getting mud everywhere. If you don’t have a tub, or don’t want to sit in it, grab a kitchen chair and cover it with a towel.
• Steam up Your Bathroom: Spas use steam to open your pores and keep skin hydrated. Run a hot shower for a few minutes to steam up the room.
• Light Candles:  Lit candles send a signal to our brain that it’s time to relax. A glass of wine is optional.
• Music: Skip the muzak and find something that’s relaxing to you. Set the volume low.

Ready, Set, Relax!

• Cleanse Skin: Use a gentle exfoliator in the shower to remove dead skin without irritating it. We love LaRocca’s Champagne and Shimmer Acai Sugar Polish.
• Apply a thick layer: Cohen says to “apply a quarter-inch of mud anywhere on your face and body with a spatula — like you’re icing a cake.”
• Extra Credit — Eye Pads: Cohen recommends trying botanical eye compresses, especially if you’re stressed or have extra dry skin.
• Sit for Five Minutes: Close your eyes and drift off or read a magazine or book. Set a quiet alarm to remind you when five minutes is up, then remove excess mud with your spatula and rinse off the rest with warm water.
• Lock in Moisture: Pat skin dry, then apply a serum and or a moisturizer to keep skin hydrated all day. We love Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Body Lipid Serum and Thymes Body Lotion.