At home spa

8 January 2014

By Fashion Quarterly

Give yourself an at home spa with these beauty sancturary-inspired products.

Sarah Simpson shows you how to give yourself the beauty sancturary treatment at home with these spa-inspired products.

1. Bio-Oil, $20. 2. Neutrogena Body Oil, $22. 3. MAC Care Blends Essential Oils, $46. 4. Clarins Splendours Shimmer Body Oil, $67.

OILS
Body oils are a great option for those who want a product absorbed quicker than a body cream. Apply to slightly damp or dry skin or add a few drops into a warm bath for a relaxing, moisturising soak.

1. Kevin Murphy Young Again Masque, $68. 2. Eleven 3 Minute Repair Rinse Out Treatment, $32. 3. Pantene 3 Minute Miracle 9 Day Treatment Program, $8. 4. Pureology Precious Oil Softening Hair Masque, $52.

HAIR TREATS
Strengthen your locks in preparation for sun, salt and chlorine with a weekly hair mask. After shampooing your hair, apply the mask and leave on for at least three minutes before rinsing.

1. QVS Loofah, $11. 2. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub, $35. 3. Weleda Birch Body Scrub, $20. 4. Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish, $44. — 1. QVS Loofah, $11. 2. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub, $35. 3. Weleda Birch Body Scrub, $20. 4. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish, $44.

BODY BUFF
The body buff is often forgotten but if smooth skin is what you are after, it’s a step worth taking. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and makes way for cleaner, fresher and smoother skin. For best results, hop into the shower, wet skin and then turn off the shower while you apply your exfoliant. Using either your hand or a loofah, rub the exfoliant onto your skin with a circular motion. Scrubbing too hard can damage the skin – let the granules in the exfoliant do the hard work for you. Once you have exfoliated your entire body, rinse off in the shower and carry on your regular regime.

1. Freeman Bare Foot Foot Soak, $17. 2. Mecca Cosmetica Moisturising Foot Socks, $61. 3. QVS Toe Bliss Seperators, $6. 4. Maybelline NY Color Show in Porcelain Party and Born With It, $8.50 each. 5. Butter London Handbag Holiday, $30.

PEDICURE
Skip the nail salon and give yourself a pedicure at home. Although manicures can be hard to master yourself, a pedicure is much easier and will make a big difference in readying your tootsies for summer.

STEP 1: Prepare your feet for your pedi with exfoliating and moisturising products.

STEP 2: Pop on some toe seperators, for a mess-free application.

STEP 3: Apply a base coat before applying your favourite colour, or you might feel like a classic French manicure.

STEP 4: To help make your pedicure last the distance, use a cuticle oil.

TREATMENTS
While parts of a spa experience can be replicated at home, full body treatments are often better left to the experts. If you’re after the ultimate body indulgence visit one of these sanctuaries:

Chuan Spa, Auckland, www.chuanspa.co.nz
Spring Spa, Auckland, www.springspa.com
Urban Sanctuary, Wellington, www.urban-sanctuary.co.nz
Nicola Quinn Beauty & Day Spa, Christchurch, www.quinnbeautyspa.co.nz