Luxury spa treat �?at home!

 

 

When it's time to pamper, a spa trip is the ultimate in luxurious 'me-time' but it's not always easy to arrange. So do it in style in the comfort of your own home!

A spa break is high on every woman's wish list, but most likely to remain on a 'to do' list until time or money (or both) allow. In the meantime, schedule yourself just an hour of me-time and follow our spa-style session at home.

Celebrity beauty therapist Nichola Joss (www.nicholajoss.com), who designed this four-step body routine, says it's especially beneficial for anyone suffering from water retention or cellulite. It's also guaranteed to make you feel relaxed, pampered and very smooth-skinned.

Step One: Exfoliate
With wet hands, use large circular movements to apply moisturising body scrub to dry skin. Put a little more water on your hands and start to massage using the pinch and roll method �?using the index finger and thumb to pinch the skin and roll upwards. Pay particular attention to the hips, thighs, buttocks and tummy.

Always work from the feet up and from the hands in, working towards the heart. When treating the abdominal area move in an anti-clockwise direction to work with the natural rhythm of the digestive system and colon. Massage for five to seven minutes until the product has almost disappeared, then shower off ensuring you get all traces of the scrub off.

Step Two: Bathe
Now apply a body treatment, such as an anti-cellulite mask or mud, firming treatment or - if you prefer - just lashings of a rich moisturiser. Apply the product using the same massage technique as above. Leave the product on for 10 minutes, during which time apply a deeply hydrating foot cream and face mask and wrap yourself in a dressing gown and relax. Candles and soft music will make it feel more spa like.

Next ease yourself into a warm bath for up to ten minutes. You could add some essential oils �?lavender, ylang ylang and chamomile are all relaxing choices. Take this moment to practice some deep breathing to de-stress both your mind and body. Take deep breaths in through your nose for four counts, hold for four and then breathe out through your mouth four counts, all the time focusing on your diaphragm as it moves up and down. Then mentally scan your body for tension points and work through your breathing to let any tension go. Shower off and dry.

Step Three: Treatment
Now apply a treatment product that will be left on the skin such as an anti-water retention gel or cellulite cream. Massage all over as before if you are trying to ease water retention or just around the trouble spots for cellulite.

Step Four: Moisturise
Once the treatment product is absorbed, use a moisturising or firming body milk or cream to finish.

Facial Rejuvenation
Body treatment complete, wash your hands thoroughly and, using a facial serum, oil or moisturiser, give yourself a five minute pressure point massage which will boost the skin's circulation.
Using your ring fingers, make small circular movements over the space between your brows above the bridge of your nose. Then move to your temples, the corners of your nose either side of the nostrils, the middle of your chin, the corners of your mouth and back up to the temples. Repeat three to five times.

Whilst this routine can be followed at any time, try it in the evening, followed by an early night to see truly restorative, spa-style benefits.