Ideas for Summer Pampering

No doubt, summer is the time for fun, and those who play hard, should rest hard as well! I wanted to share some summer pampering ideas, that will leave you with plenty of cash for that great beach or mountain trip! So let’s dig in!

1. Summer Soaks

Here are two chill summer soak ideas to help soothe sore muscles or ease that pesky sunburn after long, hot days!

Your Base: Epsom Salts

You know how much we love lounging on the beach, but the annoying souvenir we often take home is a sunburn. So, to answer the burning question on everyone’s lips: What can I do to continue to relax when I get home? Epsom salt, also called magnesium sulfate, a natural mineral, to the rescue!. When you drop it in warm water, your skin can soak up the magnesium. It’s a favorite among both beauty gurus and health professionals for its ability to relax sore muscles, help you sleep better, and alleviate stress.

Add the Herbals!

Once you have your Epsom salts (which you can purchase in a nice, large bag for just $3-6 at your local pharmacy), feel free to personalize your soak just the way you like it. Start with one to two cups of Epsom salts, then throw in some of these:

  • Essential Oils: Who doesn’t love sprucing up their bath with a fragrant essential oil? Just add about 10 drops of your favorite:
      • Lavender: If you’re looking for sunburn relief, lavender is a must. Its natural soothing powers and anti-inflammatory properties help calm the burn, redness, and swelling. Plus, its antimicrobial traits help heal the skin and ward off infections.
      • Eucalyptus: This oil is known for its amazing anti-inflammatory and pain-relief effects. When you apply it, it can help reduce muscle and joint pain, which is why athletes love it. It provides a cool sensation that feels great while helping to reduce inflammation and boost blood flow. Toss in a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your warm bath and watch your aching muscles feel the love! (Bonus! It’s also excellent for sunburns!)
  • Whole Herbs: Whether dried or fresh, herbs can add an extra kick to your bath. Add about 1/2 cup of fresh herbs or 3-4 teaspoons of dried herbs for each soak.
      • Calendula: great for sunburns, and many sunburn remedies include it. It’s known for reducing irritation and redness, helping to soothe your skin while working to repair it. You can toss it in your bath or brew a strong infusion (at least 15 minutes) and use it like a compress on your sunburn.
      • Rosemary: This herb isn’t just tasty; it has actual benefits! Rosemary can help ease pain related to joints and muscles. It’s anti-inflammatory and helps blood flow. Better circulation means your muscles can heal faster, reducing pain and helping you recover quicker.

Choose your faves, mix it up, and create a unique experience right at home!

2. Mask it up!

Easy skin care masks with clay can be made at home using ingredients like bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and honey. When experimenting with clay masks, it’s essential to consider your skin type. Creating a mask is easy – pick your clay and then choose your liquid to mix it with. For each 2 tablespoons of clay, use 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of liquid.

Pick Your Clay

Oily and Acne-Prone Skin:

    • Bentonite Clay: Highly absorbent, great for drawing out impurities and excess oil.
    • Green Clay: Absorbs excess oil, unclogs pores, and is known for its detoxifying properties.
    • Kaolin Clay: Can be beneficial in smaller amounts to help absorb excess oil.
    • Rhassoul Clay: Cleanses deeply and absorbs impurities, suitable for oily and acne-prone skin.
    • Sea Clay: Good for normal to oily skin, cleanses the skin and helps with oil absorption.

Normal to Combination Skin:

    • Pink Clay: Gentle and suitable for improving skin elasticity and cell renewal.
    • Kaolin Clay: Versatile and suitable for many skin types, including normal skin.
    • Rhassoul Clay: Suitable for combination skin due to its balancing properties.

Dry and Sensitive Skin:

    • Kaolin Clay: Gentle and suitable for sensitive skin, helps reduce redness and irritation.
    • Pink Clay: Gentle and moisturizing, it can help improve skin elasticity.
    • Rose Clay: Gentle and nourishing for dry and sensitive skin.

Mature Skin:

    • White Clay: Suitable for all skin types, including mature skin, helps with cell regeneration and elasticity.
    • Pink Clay: Improves skin elasticity and promotes cell renewal.

Mix it up!

For Oily/Acne-Prone Skin

    • Bentonite Clay and Apple Cider Vinegar Mask: Mix 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a small amount of water to form a paste. This mask helps absorb excess oil and draw out impurities.
    • French Green Clay and Tea Tree Mask – Mix 1.5 tablespoons of French green clay with 1.5 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon of rose water, and 2 drops of tea tree essential oil.
    • Activated Charcoal Mask – Combine 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal powder with 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay and enough aloe vera juice to form a paste.

For Dry Skin

    • Bentonite Clay and Honey Mask: Mix 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay with 2 tablespoons of raw honey, 2 tablespoons of avocado oil, and 5 drops each of sweet orange, cedarwood, and frankincense essential oils.
    • Oatmeal and Yogurt Mask: Combine 1 tablespoon of colloidal oatmeal with 1 tablespoon of yogurt, a few drops of rosehip seed oil, and a splash of water if needed. (This is my personal favorite!)
    • Avocado and Honey Mask: Combine mashed avocado with honey and lemon juice for a nourishing and hydrating treatment. This mask is excellent for moisturizing and brightening the skin.

For Combination Skin

    • Kaolin Clay and Rosewater Mask – Mix 1.5 tablespoons of kaolin clay with 1.5 tablespoons of cool filtered water, 5 drops of rosehip seed oil, and 2-3 drops of lemongrass or grapefruit essential oil.
    • Yogurt, Honey, and Clay Mask – Combine 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and water as needed.  This mask is gentle and moisturizing. (My second favorite!)
    • Apple cider vinegar clay mask – 2 tablespoons of white kaolin clay and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. This mask can balance skin tone, minimize the appearance of pores, and leave the skin feeling softer and smoother.  Excellent for individuals with acne-prone and oily skin. 

For Sensitive Skin

    • Bentonite Clay and Honey Mask (Soothing) – Combine bentonite clay with honey and aloe vera juice.
    • Yogurt, Honey, and Clay Mask – Combine 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey, and water as needed.  This mask is gentle and moisturizing. (My second favorite!)
    • Whole Milk and Clay Mask – add 2 tablespoons of clay (Rose) and 2 tablespoons of whole milk. Similar to yogurt, whole milk is a terrific addition to a mud mask because the lactic acid helps remove dead skin cells and excess oil. This mask is suitable for all skin types.

Be sure to test a small area first to ensure you don’t react. Leave the mask on for about 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and gently pat the skin dry with a towel. Follow with your favorite moisturizer. Tip: Clay masks are not just for the face! You can use them on dry patches on elbows, ankles, knees, and more!

3. The Eyes Have it!

Our eyes work hard all summer long, so why not give them a little pampering just like they do for you?

Cucumber Eye Mask

Cucumber slices are a classic spa essential, for good reason! They are known for their soothing and de-puffing magic. This recipe takes it to the next level!

Recipe: Grab a cold cucumber and grate it onto a paper towel placed on a plate. When you’re done, fold the paper towel to wrap up the cucumber and gently squeeze it. Lean back and place it on your closed eyes for some instant relaxation.

Tea Bags for Your Eyes

Ever thought that your tea could do more than taste good? While enjoying tea is great, using the tea bags can do wonders for your eyes and skin! If you’re looking to give your eyes a little extra love, look no further than your mug! Tea bags can help with many common eye issues. From reducing puffiness to soothing dry eyes, they will become your new best friend!

Cold Compress Bags:

  • Dark Circles Be Gone: Those dark circles under your eyes might be because of swollen blood vessels. A cold tea bag can help shrink those vessels and make those dark circles less noticeable.
  • Reducing Puffiness: A chilled tea bag can help diminish puffiness and light swelling under your eyes.
  • Ease Pink Eye: If you’re dealing with pink eye (conjunctivitis), a cool tea bag can help soothe the dryness and irritation.
  • Calming Red Eyes: Got bloodshot eyes from irritation? Cold tea bag compresses can cool them down.
  • Handling Minor Eye Injuries: If you’ve banged your eye, applying a cold tea bag for about 15 minutes can help with pain and swelling.

Warm Compress Bags

  • Clearing Up Eyelid Inflammation: Warm tea bag compresses can help alleviate inflamed eyelids. They can loosen up debris on your lashes and prevent oil glands from getting clogged.
  • Reducing a Stye: Styes, those pesky, painful lumps on your eyelid, can find relief from warm tea bag compresses, which help release pus and speed up the healing process.
  • Soothing Dry Eyes: If your eyes are feeling dry, it can be due to your tears not producing enough or evaporating too fast. Warm tea bags might help improve tear quality and release oil from the glands.

Types of Tea

The kind of tea you pick can bring different perks for your eyes and skin:

  • Black, Green, and White Teas: These teas are rich in antioxidants and caffeine, which are essential for protecting your skin from harmful free radicals. Additionally, caffeine boosts skin elasticity, lessens dark circles, and reduces puffiness. Green tea is especially great due to its high flavonoid level, making it a top pick for refreshing tired eyes.
  • Chamomile Tea: Commonly used to treat eye infections and conjunctivitis, chamomile tea contains flavonoids that can help reduce inflammation and soothe irritated eyes.
  • Rooibos Tea: If your eyes feel tired and sensitive, a warm cup of Rooibos can be just the trick. You can place Rooibos tea bags on your eyelids or even rinse your eyes gently with the tea. Additionally, Rooibos is hypoallergenic, making it a suitable choice for individuals with sensitive skin.

How to Do It

  1. Steep two tea bags in hot water of your choice.
  2. Gently squeeze out the extra liquid from the tea bags.
  3. If using them as warm compresses, let them cool a bit. For cold compresses, chill them in the fridge.
  4. Carefully place the bags over your closed eyes for up to 15 minutes.
  5. Repeat as needed.

Just be extremely careful when putting anything near your eyes, as your skin is sensitive. Steer clear of hot tea bags, and stop using them if you feel any irritation. Remember, tea bags aren’t for kids’ eyes. Tea bags are not only versatile but could add some nice benefits to your beauty routine. So, next time you brew a cup of tea, think about saving the bags for a refreshing eye treatment!

4. Tea Rinse for your Hair

Besides drinking tea, did you know that you can also take advantage of tea’s powerful antioxidants by doing a tea rinse on your hair? A tea rinse is an easy at-home treatment that anyone can do to help with their hair and scalp health, as well as appearance!

Several types of tea can be beneficial for maintaining healthy hair. Green tea, black tea, and rosemary tea are often recommended for promoting hair growth, improving hair strength, and enhancing hair shine. Hibiscus, nettle, and peppermint tea can also be beneficial for hair, with properties that can soothe the scalp and potentially stimulate hair growth.

  • Green Tea: Rich in antioxidants and caffeine, green tea can help stimulate hair follicles, promote growth, and potentially prevent hair loss.
  • Black Tea: Similar to green tea, black tea is rich in antioxidants and caffeine, which can help boost hair growth and add shine to darker hair colors.
  • Rosemary Tea: Rosemary tea is renowned for its ability to enhance blood circulation to the scalp, which can stimulate hair growth and potentially prevent hair loss.
  • Hibiscus Tea: Hibiscus tea is rich in amino acids, which can strengthen hair roots and add shine.
  • Nettle Tea: Nettle tea is a good source of minerals and vitamins that can nourish hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
  • Peppermint Tea: Peppermint tea can help soothe the scalp and promote hair growth by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles.

How to Use Tea Rinses for Hair

  1. Place 3–4 black tea bags in 2 cups (475 mL) of boiling water. Steep them for at least 1 hour, or until the water has cooled to room temperature.
  2. Next, funnel the tea into a clean spray bottle.
    When you’re ready to use the hair rinse, wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo first. You’ll want a clean scalp before applying the tea.
  3. With your hair damp, separate your hair into small sections and spray a liberal amount of tea onto your scalp. Massage it in gently.
    Once your entire head is covered, place a bathing cap over your hair (or wrap it in a towel) and wait 30–60 minutes.
  4. Rinse your hair with cold or lukewarm water and finish by using a deep conditioner to seal in hydration.
  5. If you’re using black tea to enhance your hair color, apply it from root to tip. If you’re using it for hair growth, be sure to focus mostly on your scalp.
  6. Green tea is excellent for treating dandruff and stimulating hair growth, while black tea is often recommended for addressing hair loss and shedding.

It’s also best to wear old clothes, such as an old t-shirt, as the tea may stain them.

This summer, play hard and pamper hard! And stop in at the Emporium to stock up on your favorites!