With winter drawing to a close and the hint of spring breathing its first buds of bloom, now is the time to introduce a ‘Bliss-out Therapeutic Evening’ into your week.

The beauty of these home-spa rituals is that they allow you to fully recharge and regain an inner sense of balance.

Here, Christchurch boutique skincare therapist and facialist, Clemency Alice, shares with FQ her practical tips to cleanse, re-harmonise and restore your mind and body.

Prepare a calming herb tea to induce relaxation. Try lemon verbena, lime blossom, marjoram, chamomile blossom or rose bud tea.

Create a body scrub by mixing together coconut oil with fine organic sugar and a sprinkle of crushed lavender flowers and rose petals. Massage a small amount into damp skin and then rinse it off.

Dry body brushing is the fast-track to healthier, younger-looking skin and it can be very meditative and calming. Doing this for only a few minutes as part of your bliss-out ritual (before showering or bathing) will miraculously transform your skin. It helps boost circulation, sloughs away dead skin cells, reduces cellulite, strengthens the immune system, aids digestion, improves the function of the nervous system and is detoxifying through stimulating your lymphatic system.

An aromatic bath helps soothe the senses and brings warmth and comfort. This practice can be enhanced by adding two tablespoons of sweet almond oil and a few drops your favourite essential oil to the bath water. Here are five types of aromatherapeutic essential oils that can be used as part of your bathing ritual:
Lavender oil (relaxing and calming)
Lemon oil (refreshes and restores)
Rosemary oil (warms and rejuvenates)
Sage oil (purifying and soothing)
Rose oil (harmonising and balancing)

After showering or bathing, spritz your face and body with a floral water (rose or lavender) then apply a hydrating, fragrant oil preparation by blending 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil with a few drops of your selected essence, and massaging onto your body while it is damp using mindful, gentle, circular movements.