It’s really important to take some time to slow down and pamper yourself. Treat yourself to the gift of relaxation and unwind instantly with these celebrity favorite DIY de-stressors:
1- Soak In a Hot Chocolate Bath
Want something decadent that could also double a fun couple’s activity? Skip the chocolate martini and try this chocolate bath!
What you’ll need:
- 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup of full fat milk
- 1/2 cup unscented bubble bath
What to do:
Draw a warm bath and add the cocoa, milk, and bubble bath to the water. The warmth will soothe your soul while the natural exfoliating properties of the cocoa powder and milk will soothe your skin.
2- Relieve Your Aching Gams
After a day of mall prowling, your legs actually ache like you just did a hardcore spin class. So your tired gams don’t stage their own mini-protest, try rubbing them down with this recipe:
What you’ll need:
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- Juice of one lemon
What to do:
In a small bowl combine all of the above ingredients but don’t mix too much to completely dissolve the salt. Bring this mixture into the shower, dampen your legs, and put a generous amount on a damp washcloth. Proceed to exfoliate your legs. The salt will get rid of dead skin while the citric acid in the lemon along with the alkaline of the baking soda will mix to re-adjust the PH balance of your skin during these cold months. The result will be silky smooth legs that feel great from a nice leg massage.
3- Smell Pretty Even If You’re Short on Time
You know that feeling of being on the run-run-run! Between work, the kids, grocery shopping and racing back to your car that’s parked in the boonies, you inevitably start to perspire. You want to jump in a shower or tub, but there’s no time because you have to be at festive gathering down the street in five minutes. Since you don’t want to smell like you just left the gym, here’s a quick, natural fix to smell fresh:
What you’ll need:
- Black tea (that you might be keeping in a small jug in the fridge)
- A washcloth
What to do:
If you have time, you can brew black tea and cool it. Or better yet, keep it on hand so it’s ready to go. Dunk a washcloth into the tea and swipe each armpit, lingering for a bit 2 minutes on each pit. The tannic acid in the tea will seriously reduce your sweat while getting rid of any smell. Dry. Use your favorite deodorant—or not. You’ll smell sweet for the evening.
