Whether it's due to social distancing or ballin' on a budget, we all could use some more DIY at home activity ideas which is why I'm thrilled to share 11 cheap and easy at home spa hacks you'll want to try asap! You can do these during the day or at night. Feel free to mix them up to do with your kids, with your husband, with your girlfriends, or alone! These are my tried and true tips for turning your bathroom and bedroom into a spa like wellness retreat. Even better? They are all cost effective and easyyy! Seriously, they are way cheaper than going to your favorite upscale spa!
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11 Cheap & Easy At Home Spa Hacks To Try Tonight:
Soak it in.
Nothing says relaxation like soaking in a relaxing bath! Make your bath even more spa like by adding flower petals, cut citruses, coconut oil, or even a few drops of your favorite essential oil. This is my favorite bath salt which also has some essential oils already in it!
To make the room really feel like a spa set the mood! Dim the lights or just use candles. Use a fluffy robe. Lay out a white towel or white bath mat. Roll up a towel to go behind your neck. Set out a pitcher of cucumber water or even a vase of eucalyptus! Whatever allows you to really feel tranquil. Ohhh and let's not forget some spa music!!
Rejuvenate your face.
A face mask doesn't need to be expensive! In fact, you can whip up a rejuvenating face mask with ingredients from your kitchen! Look at the ingredients you have on hand and search for a face mask. Some of my favorite ones include ground oats (just through them in a blender to make them a fine power), honey, a little lemon juice, and some tea tree oil!
Chances are your fridge and pantry are stocked with the perfect DIY face mask ingredients full of enriching vitamins, minerals, and moisturizers! Wayyy better for you than chemical filled store bought masks!
Bomb it!
Many of us enjoy a good bath and will spend a lot of money on finding the best bath bombs to enhance this experience. Thankfully, we can create our own fizzing baths with ingredients found around the house or the local pharmacy. If you have access to epsom salts, baking soda, cornstarch, and citric acid (for the fizz) you can be crafting the ultimate bathing experience in no time.
Get “egg”cited!
Eggs aren’t just for breakfast anymore! Egg whites can be used to treat oily skin or create a toner. You can use the yolks mixed with a little olive oil to create a deep conditioning hair treatment which you can leave on for 20 minutes (*ahem* perfect leave-in during your bathtime soak!?).
No manicure? No problem.
Manicures take time, you're around a lot of people and fumes, and it's just not always realistic to get to the salon. If you're skipping the formal mani, opt to soak your hands for five minutes in warm water, moisturize with your favorite lotion or skin polish, use this kit to push down and trim those cuticles, and then slap on a coat of clear nail polish, and your hands will look as if you just spent two hours at the nail salon.
Buff your skin.
This is a two-for one at home spa hack: stock up on pumice stones and dry brushes.
Not only will they automatically set the tone of your bathroom as the perfect spa-like decor. But they also have amazing benefits for your skin! Dry brushing in circular motions boosts blood flow, removes toxins, and can even reduce the appearance of cellulite!
Pumice stones are great for after your bath (or any foot soak) to get the dry hard skin off. Our skin is our largest organ, so let's show it some TLC!
Add a little heat.
After your dry brushing and bath, it's time to moisturize! A fun tip is to warm your moisturizer or use a warm oil to really up ooze relaxation into every pore! Rub your moisturizer between your hands, or let the jar soak in warm water before applying.
Get steamy!
This is a great at home spa hack you can do any night of the week! Just run your shower as hot as possible (with all the doors closed) for a few extra minutes before getting in to create a steam room effect. This works best in small bathrooms.
If you want to uplevel this, you could tie a bouquet of eucalyptus around your shower head to really bring in the natural spa energy. Or you can soak a hand towel in water, spray it with lavender, and chill it in the fridge beforehand. Once you're ready to go into your faux-steam room, grab your chilled towel and place it over your face while you relax in the steam!
Use tennis balls for a DIY massage.
Kinks and sore muscles can dampen our moods and ruin our days. If your back or shoulders are screaming and making a racket, try laying down on your back and rolling out the knots by using tennis balls. Simply place the balls in target locations on your back, prop your head up with a pillow, and work out those painful areas by rolling over the balls. You will score some relief and love the way you feel afterwards.
Don't forget your eyes.
We strain our eyes daily and they need a little TLC every now and then. You can pamper your peepers with a traditional slice of cucumber, soaked green tea bags, or slices of potatoes. The tea’s caffeine will help constrict the appearance of blood vessels and the antioxidants will reduce inflammation. Potatoes and cucumbers are also a natural way to reduce puffiness and swelling.
Declutter & cleanse
Okay this is more of an at home spa tip rather than a hack; but make sure your space is clean!
One reason we breathe a sigh of relief when we walk into a spa is due to the fact that everything is calm. Take some time to regularly keep your bathroom decluttered. Set up matching towels. Install calming lights. By having this foundation in place, you have all of the makings for a fantastic spa night at home!
What is one way you relax or pamper yourself at home?
Want more self care? Download TCM's guide to positive self talk
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SAVE FOR LATER:
Originally published 4/21/17: updated 03/19/2020
Such nice tips, thank you! As I dance teacher my body often aches and needs a break. At home spa treatments are my way to go. Have a great day!
Love from Austria!
You too!
Loved all of these! I plan on doing a pedicure this weekend, as a matter of fact. I prefer to go to the nail salon to get it done, but I’m broke, and I honestly think I do a pretty good job 🙂
Oh have fun!
Cool tips, I didn’t know that there are tea bags available specially for eyes!
Thanks, but no, it’s just regular tea bags! They are great for your eyes!
I’m just a weirdo who overthinks about what it takes to do a spa day on my own but it seems so simple lol I have huge bags under my eyes so I need to pick up eye masks!
Wow, these are great tips! I need to try them soon, they sound really relaxing!
Pinned this! I love a good steamy shower with essential oils – cause I don’t have the patience for a bath.
I’ve never used a bath bomb, can you believe it?? I’m all about a candlelit shower and a good at-home pampering experience, so I can’t wait to try these ideas.
LOVE candlelit showers! – and yes I totally can! I just had mine for the first time ever like 3 weeks ago!
Those bath bombs are soooo cute and these are seriously such great ideas! I can’t wait to try some of them.
Oh man. I’m a huge DIY spa lover. I like to lay there in my candle lit bathroom, in bath bombed water, with coconut oil on my hair and an African black soap mask on my face. Pure bliss.
Loving all these tips! I want to drop everything that I’m doing today and have a spa day 🙂
omg this is my kinda post!! I love doing at home spa nights they are they best!!
whaaaat tennis ball massage?? these are seriously life changing. bless you for sharing ?
I love taking an epsom salt bath with lavender essential oils and surprisingly – apple cider vinegar! It sounds like it would smell terrible (which it doesn’t but it does lessen) HOWEVER – how I feel after is amazing! It’s a great detox.
such great hacks for all spa essentials! I love bathbombs, I will have to try making one!
I must say I am not a fan of baths but the others sound amazing! I really like to light a candle to help me relax. If the scent if something soft like lavender it really helps me take a deep breath and slow down. I also, like to take a racquetball and lean against the wall. That really gets those pesky knots out of my back and neck. Love this post!
Thanks for these tips! I’m always looking for ways I can pamper myself without having to spend a lot of money going to a spa and these are all great options 🙂
Such great tips! I love having a spa day at home. So relaxing!
I tried to make a bath bomb one time. It was slightly fail-ish! Im all about the at home pedi and mani though!
Love a good at-home pampering session! Going to try a few of these next time!
I love these ideas – Personally I love a long and hot shower with some time for a good buttery moisturizer and a face mask!
What fun tips! I always try to treat myself a few times a week to a spa-like experience. So relaxing!
Love these tips! I pamper myself at home with giving myself manicures!
I took epsom baths regularly while I was pregnant but I’ve gotten out of the habit.
I love at home spa days1 Bath bombs are my favorite.
These are great ideas! I will have to treat myself to some pampering!
Need to put my pumice in the shower to use on my feet at the end of my shower…great idea
Love the bath bombs! I was just thinking I needed one of these tonight.
I love these ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Love these tips!! I always remember to get the eyes because eyes, more than any other body part, needs serious TLC!
These are great ideas. Think I will take some me time in the bathroom this weekend.
These are such great ideas! I would have never thought of them and I need some spa pampering at home haha!
Great tips! I love to use aromatherapy to spa-up my shower time!
Love these ideas! Now its just finding, no dedicating the time to take better care of ourselves. 🙂
I LOVE using eggs for hair treatments. I do it nearly every week! I will need to try all the others – thanks for sharing!
I made bath bombs at christmas for gifts and they turned out so good! I need to make more but for me this time!
I keep reading things about DIY bath bombs. I might have to give them a try!
I am so doing this today! Tea bags – my favourite trick! I also like dry brushing to properly exfoliate my body 😉
Just use Vitamins a,b,c,d,and e on my face…all from GNC.
I’ll definitely be trying your manicure hack this week!
I’ve never thought about putting lavender on a washcloth, but I might try that tonight. Thanks for the idea.
I love pampering with eye and face masks, so easy and relaxing!
I really enjoy my spa days! Bath bombs are my favorite! I need to try these masks you have suggested!
Love a good spa day!! I’ll have to try some of the hacks!
Great suggestions! It’s always good to know a few at home spa tricks!
I LOVE taking a nice, relaxing bath, but I have never had a bath bomb. I would love to change that soon.
I’m glad i need that cake bomb in my life!
Love all of these tips! Manicure & pedicures are my favorite at home spa hacks!
All of these suggestions sound heavenly! Definitely trying some of these this weekend.
All of these tips sound amazing! Definitely trying some of these this weekend!
Great suggestions! There is nothing better than a home Spa day or evening, especially on the cheap!
That cake bomb thing looks SO GOOD OMG.
Now I want a bath.
And cake.
How ingenious! Pinning for later when its time for a treat!
Spa nights at home are the best, and this list is so comprehensive! Definitely going to try adding a few new things to my routine.
I love a good spa night! There are so many great items on this list! I love that cake bath bomb with sprinkles 🙂 Bath bombs are SO relaxing!
Carly | www,thecarlycollective.com
My favorite has got to be the first option of soaking in a bath, but it would be nice to have several of these together. These are all great ideas!
Right? You could soak in the bath while doing the hair treatment!
These are great ideas! I really love the ‘bomb it’ idea!
Love a good spa night at home! I definitely need to try making my own bath bombs though!
Let me know how it goes!!
Love this! Never had a spa night, but that cake bomb has me thinking I should plan one soon!
Haha doooo it!!! It’s really so relaxing and good for you!