Supermarket Spa Special

Creating your own spa experience at home, using only natural products found in your local supermarket. Yes, it can be done.  It’s easy, it’s cheap and you might already have some of these products at home. So grab a cart and follow me!

Step 1: Wash your face.
The first step is to start with a fresh and clean face. You could grab your favourite soap or try this oil cleansing method.
Grab some olive oil or sunflower oil and a washing cloth or small guest towel. Take about a tablespoon of oil, massage it onto your face. Dip your washing cloth or guest towel in hot water, be careful not to burn yourself by using water that is too hot. Place the washing cloth/guest towel on your face and keep it on there until it’s cool. You can wash of any remains of oil with the washing cloth. Your skin will already feel clean and fresh.

Step 2 : Scrub
Some people prefer steaming before scrubbing as part of their beauty routine. I prefer not to. If you’re not careful steam can cause burns, and the whole “opening pores” thing isn’t true I’m afraid. Steam and things such as tonics with alcohol only cause your skin to swell, which causes your pores to appear smaller. Unfortunate for some, we have to live with the pore size we have.

You can scrub your face using this recipe: Sugar & oatmeal scrub/peeling . All you need is some sugar, oatmeal and olive oil. Apply the scrub onto wet skin and gently massage your face with it. Wash off with water, pat your face dry.

Step 3: Face Mask
There are several mask you could make with items from your supermarket, depending on your needs. A lot fruits and veggies can be used in some way to make mask. Here are just some examples.

Fruity masks
Mash some pineapple until it becomes a fine textured mixture. Carefully spread the mixture on your face and leave it on there for 15 min. Pineapple has natural exfoliating powers.

Mash half a banana and mix it with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of honey. Leave it on for 15 min and then wash it off. This mask is great for sensitive and dry skin

Take some strawberries and mash them together with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of honey. I suggest you first add the lemon juice and honey and then mash some strawberries until you feel like the portion is large enough (since strawberries can vary a lot in size, it's hard to tell exactly how many to use)

Avocado Mask

Mash half an avocado and mix it with one tablespoon of olive oil. Spread the mixture onto your face and leave on for 15 min. This mask is great for dry skin

Honey and Yoghurt
A mask for the sensitive skin. It will soothe your skin and soften it. Honey has antibacterial properties and yogurt is. Mix one table spoon of yogurt (full fat yogurt, not diet of low fat) with one tablespoon of honey. Leave it on for 15 min and wash it off.

Chocolate
Chocolate is yummy for both the inside and outside of your body. You can use the previous honey and yogurt recipe and add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to get some chocolate power.

You can also use some real chocolate for a face mask. For this mask you'll need about 2-3 parts of dark chocolate bar (depending on the size of the bar itself)  Melt it au bain marie and add about half a cup of full fat milk. Allow the mixture to cool a little so you don't get burned, and spread it onto your face. Leave on until it hardens and then wash it off.

Step 4: Toner
Take some fresh cucumber juice and a cotton pad, dip it in there and run it all across your face as a final step in your spa treatment.  You can also brew some strong green tea and use that as a toner.

You can put on your favourite day cream, as a last step,  if you want to. Enjoy your supermarket beauty.