10 DIY Spa Ideas To Promote Self Care

Whether it’s a stress-relieving massage, an uplifting facial or a little foot pampering bliss, a relaxing spa treatment has to be the ultimate in self-care. For many of us, a spa-day spoil the ultimate way to pamper ourselves so much so that it has now become part of our regular wellness routines – which in today’s world is something we could all use...

1. Scrub From Head To Toe

For starters, a stimulating and rejuvenating all-over scrub is one at home spa treat all our bodies can do with. Body scrubs don’t just make your skin look and feel fantastic, but have other benefits too.

Besides removing the buildup of old dead cells which dull and clog up your skin, the rubbing action itself helps drain and detox your lymph nodes and boosts the circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the skin to give you a healthier glow. Exfoliation also speeds up skin cell renewal and helps other skin products penetrate deeper, so makes everything work better all round.

Grab some salt scrub infused with skin-loving lavender, mix with a little coconut oil, and then gently rub in circular motions from head to toe, paying special attention to any rough spots. Finish off with a luxurious lavender body lotion for a deep drink of moisture for your skin. 

2. Have An Invigorating Aromatherapy Shower

If you aren’t much of a bath person, you can actually create a wonderful at home spa-like experience in your shower. Adding the brisk, refreshing scent of eucalyptus is guaranteed to give you an instant boost of energy, clear your mind, and ease away all that stress…

Hanging a fresh sprig of eucalyptus leaves in your shower is an Insta-popular trend that not only creates a brilliant spa vibe in your bathroom, but the heat also releases the fresh healing scent that’s perfect for when you need a quick pick-me-up.

Otherwise, just scatter a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on your shower wall (away from the water spray) and let it do its magic. End your shower by turning the water onto cold for 30 seconds to kick your circulation into gear and for a big burst of endorphins (the happy hormones).

Finish off with a luxuriously rich and reviving body lotion, and you’ll quickly find that any anxiety will soon be a thing of the past. Literally like smelling a breath of fresh air… 

3. Flood Your Face With Steam

What with the daily assault of dust, pollution and makeup, steaming your face is a great way to get rid of all that grime and clean the gunk out of your pores.

For a spa-like steam treatment at home, simply fill a bowl with hot water and add a few drops of essential oils. Choose mix of lavender and tea tee oil for oily, acne prone skin, or lavender and rosehip essential oils for a dry skin. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the bowl for a few minutes to allow the steam to softly penetrate and decongest your skin, leaving it nicely plump and hydrated.

4. Refresh Tired And Tattered Feet

Often the most sadly neglected part of our bodies, your feet deserve a much-needed pampering spa day treat from time to time - especially if they are prone to drying and cracking - and even more so after a strenuous bout of exercise.

Start off with a soothing foot soak. Toss a handful of lavender bath salts into a bowl of warm water and let your feet bliss out while you catch up on some Netflix. Once the water chills, move onto a soothing foot mask for a little bit of heat and healing at the same time. Then lather your favorite foot balm all over your feet to mask in the moisture!

5. Soothe Sore And Achy Muscles

Whether you are suffering from sore muscles post workout or even in need of some pain relief from stiff joints or back pain, the healing power of eucalyptus essential oil can help make everything better. Consider this a shortcut to a mini spa aromatherapy massage plus a little bit of heat therapy to help ease away all toes aches and pains.

6. Give Your Hands Some Extra TLC

When your hands are as dry as the Mojave Desert and your cuticles are looking a touch shabby, it’s time for some intensive at home spa therapy to bring them back to life.

Hands also love the soothing moisturizing heat treatment you did for your feet. using circular motions to apply it your hands and nails to soothe and repair. You can also squeeze in a quick bonus massage as you work the cream into your hands.

7. Soothe Sore, Tired, Dry Or Puffy Eyes

You’ve heard of the chilled cucumber slice remedy to help refresh and soothe your eyes, right? But did you know that using essential oils together with a hot or cold compress can give you the same – and often better – result?

Many essential oils are natural anti-inflammatories and so can act a bit like headache pills for your eyes. Just toss a lavender spa mask into the freezer, light some candles, put on some relaxing music and lie back with the mask covering your eyes for about 10 minutes. It will not only soothe and cool tired, sore eyes, but also help knock back any puffiness you have, shrink under eye bags and reduce dark circles.

8. Deep Condition Your Hair

You don’t need to splash out to get a perfect head of hair. Just borrow a popular deep conditioning spa hair treatment to get those lustrous shiny locks you’ve always wanted.

Heat up some nourishing coconut or argan oil, add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil and mix well. Gently massage into the scalp, working the blend through the hair to the ends, wrap it in a shower cap for about 30 minutes, and rinse off.

9. Take Time For A Relaxing Bath

Instead of rushing through a two-minute shower, find a little me-time to soak in the bath uninterrupted. Step up the ambience with lots of candles, calming music and some bubbly for the ultimate end-of-home-spa-day escape.

Copy Cleopatra’s famous beauty trick by indulging in a nourishing milk bath. The lactic acid in milk softens your skin, and can also help soothe eczema and psoriasis. Add a few cups of whole milk to warm bath water, mix in some drops of lavender oil, and float a few rose petals on top for a pretty spa finishing touch.

10. Prioritize Healthy Sleep

Now that you’re feeling all pampered and relaxed, don’t spoil all your good work by landing up tossing and turning all night. Sleep is arguably the best ever thing you can do for good health, and to make it as high-quality as possible, it’s best to take a little time to unwind before you go to bed.

The value of a regular bedtime ritual should never be underestimated. Set aside a couple of chill-out hours for a relaxing bath, burn a few calming candles, spritz your bed linen with lavender spray and then slip into bed with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book. This also means powering off your mobile to give your brain a chance to unwind.

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The Easiest Marble Nail Art For Summer

 

 

Check out this fun, summer marble nail art look! Super simple and bold with color using OPI Summer Make The Rules Nail Polish.

7 Tips To Improve Circulation in the Foot

Poor circulation in the feet can be uncomfortable and make life more challenging for those afflicted. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can battle poor circulation in your feet and get yourself feeling better and healthier.

Poor circulation has many causes, including excess plaque, blood clotting, or constricted blood vessels. You may need to see a professional if you have any concerns about the poor circulation in your feet. Some medications may be able to help with poor circulation.

Get Proper Exercise

Moving your body is one of the easiest and fastest ways to ensure that your feet get better circulation. The muscular system gets maintained through regular exercise, and without proper and consistent movement, muscles won’t get the amount of oxygen needed for them to be strong.

Even a small amount of daily exercise can help improve circulation in your feet. Try doing mild aerobic exercise for 15 minutes daily to help prevent poor circulation and keep your feet in the best health.

Exercise can also help maintain proper health in other ways, including preventing cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and obesity. Only half an hour three to four times a week can give you plenty of health benefits without taking up too much time.

Use Compression Socks

Athletes use compression wear to help keep their bodies healthy during and after exercise. There are plenty of benefits of compression wear, especially socks, but the most advantageous reason to wear compression socks is to prevent deep venous thrombosis.

Compression socks can also prevent deep soreness and boost recovery after intense exercise. Although the benefits of compression socks are most notable for athletes, these benefits are still apparent in those who don’t exercise as much.

Compression wear is good for overall circulation and helps reduce the pain you may feel from swollen feet or feet with poor circulation. Wear compression socks for the day and remove them during your sleep cycle for the best results.

Massage Foot Tissue

Give your feet nightly massages to help prevent poor circulation. You walk on your feet every day, and those with poor circulation may find their feet getting swollen or turning red or purple. Gently massaging your feet every night before bed can help prevent plaque buildup and other factors contributing to poor circulation.

Consider using a massaging tool to help you achieve a foot massage without exhausting yourself.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Adopt a healthy diet to help prevent poor circulation. Artificial ingredients and foods can hurt you. Excess sugars and other aspects of a poor diet can impact your body’s circulation and make it challenging to battle.

However, a diet rich in vegetables and fruits can combat poor circulation. Pomegranates, onions, and dark leafy greens are some of the best foods to battle poor circulation and keep your body in good health. 

Choose foods abundant in vitamin B to reduce inflammation and boost the ability of your blood vessels to function.

Keep Legs Elevated

Sometimes, gravity can help you battle inflammation and poor circulation. After a long day, lean back and elevate your legs on an ottoman or pillow. Pairing this elevation with a gentle foot massage can help improve your circulation.

Keep your legs above heart level, if possible. Elevating your legs is best when you have enough space to lean back and lay down. Use pillows or blankets to prop your legs and keep your feet high.

Keep your feet elevated for up to 30 minutes every night to help improve circulation and help your body heal from any strenuous exercise or movement from work. Additionally, you can add an ice pack to the soles of your feet to help boost healing and prevent swelling.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure can indicate something wrong, such as poor circulation. Blood pressure is the measurement that tells you how much pressure your blood pushes against your arteries as your heart continues to beat. Too high, and you may experience light-headedness, fainting spells, and anxiety.

If you feel stressed or have poor circulation, your blood pressure may be high and lead to negative outcomes. Keeping a healthy blood pressure can be simple and is done through maintaining a healthy diet and daily exercise.

Your blood pressure should be lower than 120/80. Monitor your blood pressure weekly if you don’t have a history of high blood pressure. Record your blood pressure daily if you have a history of high blood pressure, and bring your log to your primary care physician.

Manage Stress

Stress is difficult to manage and has some of the worst impacts on the human body. Stress can cause cardiovascular distress, diabetes, and skin conditions. Along with hive outbreaks and rashes, it can spark asthma attacks and cause depressive and anxious symptoms.

Stress is sometimes responsible for high blood pressure, which can negatively impact your body’s circulation. Overall, stress can be the culprit behind many poor health conditions and make it harder for you to attain good health.

Managing stress can be a tough process, but it can be done with a combination of prescription medications and therapy services. Seek help from a professional counselor and a doctor to form a healthcare plan that works to manage the stress in your life.

Poor circulation can be a scary part of your health, but there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that the circulation in your feet is improved. Whether it’s getting proper exercise, keeping your legs elevated, or giving yourself a foot massage daily, there is something that can help you make sure that the circulation in your feet sees improvement.

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Ingrown Toenail

If you trim your toenails too short, particularly on the sides of your big toes, you may set the stage for an ingrown toenail. Like many people, when you trim your toenails, you may taper the corners so that the nail curves with the shape of your toe. But this technique may encourage your toenail to grow into the skin of your toe. The sides of the nail curl down and dig into your skin. An ingrown toenail may also happen if you wear shoes that are too tight or too short.

Symptoms

When you first have an ingrown toenail, it may be hard, swollen and tender. Later, it may get red and infected, and feel very sore. Ingrown toenails are a common, painful condition—particularly among teenagers. Any of your toenails can become ingrown, but the problem more often affects the big toe. An ingrown nail occurs when the skin on one or both sides of a nail grows over the edges of the nail, or when the nail itself grows into the skin. Redness, pain and swelling at the corner of the nail may result and infection may soon follow. Sometimes a small amount of pus can be seen draining from the area.

Ingrown nails may develop for many reasons. Some cases are congenital—the nail is just too large for the toe. Trauma, such as stubbing the toe or having the toe stepped on, may also cause an ingrown nail. However, the most common cause is tight shoe wear or improper grooming and trimming of the nail.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Ingrown toenails should be treated as soon as they are recognized. If they are recognized early (before infection sets in), home care may prevent the need for further treatment:

• Soak the foot in warm water 3-4 times daily.
• Keep the foot dry during the rest of the day.
• Wear comfortable shoes with adequate room for the toes. Consider wearing sandals until the condition clears up.
• You may take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
• If there is no improvement in 2-3 days, or if the condition worsens, call your doctor.
• You may need to gently lift the edge of the ingrown toenail from its embedded position and insert some cotton or waxed dental floss between the nail and your skin. Change this packing every day.

Unless the problem is congenital, the best way to prevent ingrown toenails is to protect the feet from trauma and to wear shoes and hosiery (socks) with adequate room for the toes. Nails should be cut straight across with a clean, sharp nail trimmer without tapering or rounding the corners. Trim the nails no shorter than the edge of the toe. Keep the feet clean and dry at all times.

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Is There A Specific Type Of Collagen That Is Best For Nails?

Nails are one of the most important parts of the body. Some women, in particular, are vain about their nails, and it is essential to their overall beauty. Smooth, long nails convey health along with great hair and skin. Beautiful, well-manicured nails make a woman doubly attractive. Aside from putting on cuticle hardeners and nail polish, how does one get strong, beautiful nails naturally? Collagen is the essence that makes nails naturally strong and healthy. Collagen can take your nails from weak and brittle to sexy, strong, and sharp. 

The following reveals how specific types of collagen can help nails become strong:

Collagen is a type of protein

Collagen can be found in gelatin and is there to help improve the health of the hair skin and nails. However, there are different collagen types with its own specific purpose, and different combinations of them each makes its own specific effects on the body. There is collagen that is better taken together and better taken apart for full efficacy. Collagen is the most plentiful material in the body. It makes up parts of the body and is second in abundance only to water 

Collagen types have different purposes

Different collagen has different proteins that serve a specific purpose in the body. Collagen that is classified under type 1 and 3 can be taken together and is the collagen responsible for nail growth and maintenance. Collagen 2 type cartilage, on the other hand, should be taken apart from collagen 1 and 3 to ensure its adequate absorption. Collagen 2 is responsible for the fluids and function in the knees and joints.

Amino Acids and Collagen

There are over 19 amino acids present in Collagen Types 1 and 3. Each amino acid is essential to the function and maintenance of the body. These are produced by fibroblasts and osteoblasts. A huge percentage of the collagen in the body is type 1 and 3 collagen. 

Collagen Peptides

Collagen is becoming a forerunner in beauty and health, and more people are diving into the wonders that collagen can do for their appearance. There are many different types of collagen, and this collagen is usually based on the area of the body from which the collagen is sourced. 

The most common collagen is types 1, 2, and 3. These three collagen types are often found in supplements. These proteins can be absorbed in the body if you take bone-infused foods, such as eating cartilage off the bone, consuming fishbone, eating organ meats, or drinking bone broth. However, a good way to get your collagen supply is by taking in a whole food collagen supplement. 

Type 1 Collagen

The most numerous collagen type in the body is the collagen type 1, and if you are thinking of preserving the beauty of your skin hair or nails, look for the collagen 1 type. Collagen 1 is prevalent in connective tissues, and a decrease of it can cause sagging skin, fine lines, brittle nails, and thinning hair. Collagen 1 isn’t just for beauty though it is also vital for tendons, organs, and bones. Collagen 1 tends to decline after age 25, so it should be a vital component in your diet if you want to maintain health and wellness as you age. 

The effects of Type 1 and 3 Collagen on the body:

• Diminishes fine lines on the face
• Minimizes wrinkles
• Promotes elasticity in the skin
• Supports the health of bones
• Heals weakened and cracked nail beds
• Thickens fine hair and slows down hair loss
• Improves circulation in the body
• Promotes glycine production and build lean muscle and burns fat while sleeping
• Increase skin hydration
• Increase skin suppleness
• Decrease micro furrows

 Why Supplement with Collagen?

Collagen drops by age 25 and collagen fibers tend to break down and no longer regenerate after reaching a certain age. Research indicates that collage production is vastly reduced by age 40 and thereafter decreases by age 60. The supply of naturally occurring collagen in the body cannot meet the demands. It is possible to get collagen through the diet, but some may find eating meat products unappealing, and thus they may fail to get what their body requires. Getting supplements through fish is viable though . To answer the question of what is marine collagen: it is collagen sourced in fish and turned into supplement form. Obtaining collagen through supplements is the best way to get a collagen-rich diet, especially if you want to bring back the beauty of your skin, hair, and nails.

Collagen is essential for a beautiful appearance. A good appearance is suggestive of good health, and collagen works not only for the parts you cherish but also parts of the body that needs to function well, such as bones, tendons, and muscles. Great nails are indicative that you have a good collagen supply in your body, and you have good overall health as well in other parts of your body. So if you’re looking for a specific type of collagen that is best for nails, then Type 1 Collagen is your best bet!

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5 Ways To Do A French Tip

 Here is a video of 5 different ways you can apply a french tip to your nails! 

What Is A Hangnail And How Do You Prevent Them Altogether

Long, short, oval or stiletto, like your hands, your fingernails can tell people a lot about who you are and what you do with them. They can give others clues into your unique personality and even any dirty little habits you may keep like biting or picking at your nails and skin.

Nail biting and picking at your nails and cuticles, the soft nail bed surrounding it, can be a costly habit that can lead to small pieces of torn skin at the root of your fingernails—and yes, sometimes even your toenails.

The small pieces of skin that form are called hangnails. Although its name implies that you have a piece of nail hanging off, this is a misnomer. A hangnail is actually a piece of cuticle skin. While these can be a nuisance from time to time, hangnails can also lead to an infection called paronychia.

“Paronychia is inflammation that involves the tissue (skin) on the side or at the base of the fingernail,” said Samia Kadri, a Banner Health family nurse practitioner. “It’s common for hangnails to become infected due to the bacteria and germs our hands come in contact with daily.”

What causes hangnails?

Hangnails are a sign that the skin around your fingernails is lacking oil. Anything that causes dry skin, like frequently washing your hands (which we should always do!), dry, winter weather and harsh chemicals, like hand sanitizer or cleaning products, can deplete oil in your skin and contribute to hangnail growth.

“Manicuring or cutting the nail too short, nail biting and picking at or cutting your cuticle can also lead to hangnails and infections,” Kadri said. “This causes a weaker nail bed, which triggers hangnail growth.”

If you suck your thumb, are prone to ingrown nails, have diabetes or are immunocompromised, you may also be at risk for developing hangnails.

How can I prevent hangnails?

Now that you know the causes and how to treat a hangnail, let’s talk about how you can avoid them altogether.

Here are some tips:

• Resist the urge to pick at your cuticles and bite your nails.
• Don’t cut your cuticles, even when you have them cut by a nail tech. Instead, soak the cuticles with warm water and gently push them back with a tool designed for this purpose.
• Moisturize your hands and cuticles daily.
• Avoid using harsh soaps and chemicals like acetone.
• Wear gloves when house cleaning, washing dishes and gardening.
• Put on gloves when going outside in cold weather.
• Drink lots of water and eat a well-balanced diet.

Hangnails can be a real pain, but they can also be prevented by keeping your skin moisturized and making simple lifestyle changes.

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