At-Home Wellness Remedies and Beauty Treatments That Transport You Around the Globe
While we can’t travel to our favorite spas just yet, that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy treatments at home. Wellness leaders from around the globe, including Allison Inn & Spa in the Willamette Valley and Byron Bay’s Gaia Day Spa, are taking 'Pantry Apothecary' up a notch and sharing at-home spa treatments and wellness routines using items commonly found around the house.
Here, we share wellness treatment recommendations from experts at multiple properties, along with their key benefits. If you can, carve out some time for yourself this weekend and give one of these a try so you can transport yourself into the relaxing, serene world of one of these amazing destination spas!
Brightening and Exfoliating Skin Treatments
The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, OR
Located just 45 minutes from Portland, in the Willamette Valley, The Allison blends naturally into the lush beauty of the area featuring 77 luxury guest rooms and eight spacious suites, and a 15,000 square feet health and wellness haven complete with 12 treatment rooms, a fitness studio, an indoor swimming pool, and a whirlpool jacuzzi. Spa Director Tara Calton sheds light on the best at-home brightening and exfoliating skin treatments:
Rosemary Lemongrass Bath
Soak in the benefits of oats and rosemary (commonly grown in Oregon) by experiencing a moisturizing, anti-inflammatory bath.
4-5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 tsp of lemongrass (optional substitute for a cooling effect: 1 sprig of fresh mint)
1 cup of Dead Sea Salt
½ cup of raw oats (optional; best if finely granulated. A coffee bean grinder works!)
To release the essential oils from the from herb, simmer your rosemary and lemongrass for 5min, then steep them for another 10min.
Using a strainer, pour this aromatic herbal tea into any salt or milk bath of choice. If your goal to soothe some muscle cramps, use Pure Dead Sea salt. If simply looking for a comforting bath with nourishing skin benefits, add ½ cup of raw oats.
Edible Lip Scrub
Energy and immunity-boosting!
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon of coconut oil
1 teaspoon of honey
Mix together with a spatula and fill any free tins to use throughout the week.
Pinot Noir Wine Body Scrub
Using your favorite Pacific Northwest wine, make this scrub to exfoliate the skin and boost the immune system.
1 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
1/4 cup red wine, *preferably a PNW Pinot Noir
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
Mix together, pour into a jar, and enjoy in a shower or bath!
Rosemary-Infused Steam and Face Mask
This steam and face mask uses rosemary to clears pores and noticeably brightens the skin.
Refreshing Steam:
Carefully pour boiling water over several stems of fresh rosemary.
Place head over the bowl and cover with a towel for about 10 minutes, coming up for fresh air every few minutes.
Brightening Rosemary Mask:
2 tablespoon plain greek yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon rosemary-infused coconut oil, melted
Mix together and apply directly to face for about 30 minutes. Remove with a clean face towel.
Four-Step At-Home Spa Ritual
Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay, Australia
Surrender to the beauty and healing cultures of the internationally recognized, multi award-winning Gaia Retreat & Spa, nestled on 25 acres in the breathtaking Bundjalung Country hinterland of Byron Bay—the region known as the healing heartland of Australia. The retreat’s spa offers tips for a four-step spa ritual that you can recreate at home.
Step 1: Create a peaceful space.
Choose an area where you won’t be interrupted and put on calming music, clean-burning candles, and diffuse some stress-busting essential oils.
Step 2: Make a healthy drink.
Sip herbal tea or a beauty elixir. Try this tonic from Gaia, called Cherry Beauty: freshly squeezed lemon + Camu Camu berry powder + acerola cherry powder + vanilla bean + orange extract.
Step 3: Face masque.
Gently apply a masque to your freshly washed face and leave for 15-20 minutes. The Instant Glow Masque used at Gaia has antioxidant-rich emu apple, Kakadu plum, Amazonian buriti fruit, kale, and papaya enzymes.
Step 4: A facial massage.
Give yourself an easy facial massage with a restoring serum. Start at the forehead, give gentle temple pressure and use a soft touch around the eyes. Massage your tense jaw and remember to give your scalp a little attention too.
Coffee-Infused Body Scrub
Marigot Bay Resort in St. Lucia
Nestled in St Lucia’s Marigot Bay—described as “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” by novelist James A Michener—Marigot Bay Resort and Marina is a luxury, all-suite getaway in the heart of St. Lucia, embodying a Caribbean Chalet-type atmosphere, and 124 suites with extensive views of the bay and lush tropical gardens.
Spa Manager Elezer Charles shares her favorite at-home spa treatment that incorporates a common ingredient you can find in just about any home. Bonus: it’s guaranteed to give you a boost of energy when you need it the most.
This coffee-infused body scrub recipe will not only leave your skin smooth and soft, but it’s a great way to use up the mountain of coffee grounds accumulating while working from home. Benefits include the removal of dead skin cells and impurities, leaving skin looking rejuvenated, revitalized and glowing!
Suggested ingredients:
- Coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil
- Brown sugar or white sugar
- Epsom salt, Himalayan salt, sea salt, Dead Sea salt or kosher salt
- Variety of essential oils (if desired, lavender is great for inducing a state of calm)
- Coffee (used grounds work well), cocoa or oats
- Nutmeg, honey or cinnamon
Directions:
Use any sugar or salts of your choice.
Add 3 tablespoons of your desired ingredients to a mixing bowl (sugar or salt; coffee, cocoa, oats, etc.)
Add the carrier oil (coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil). Mix thoroughly.
If needed, add more sugar, salt, or other ingredients until you are satisfied with consistency.
Add essential oils of your choice for fragrance.
When you’re satisfied with the consistency and fragrance of your scrub, spoon it into a container.
How to use scrub:
Wet body all over, then use a scoop of scrub and apply from neck down to feet, scrubbing and exfoliating in circular motions. Be sure to pay close attention to areas where dead skin cells are more apparent like the elbows, knees, back and heels. When you have scrubbed your entire body, shower and towel-dry, then moisturize with a lotion of your choice.
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk