Tag: at home spa treatment

HOW TO DIY THE PERFECT AT-HOME PEDICURE IN 10 EASY STEPS

Published on by Crystal Lee1 Comment

As tempting as it is to dish out money for a salon pedicure (with the soaking, foot scrubbing, massage — the works) it’s not always doable, especially when you already splurged on makeup in the beginning of the week and are left to question your self-control. So if you currently find yourself in a similar position and are in desperate need of a pedi, we’re here to prove that it’s possible to achieve salon-quality results pedicure in the comfort of your own home — for a lot less money.

STEP 1: Let Your Nail Polish Remover Do Its Thing

Completely remove any nail polish that’s still on your toenails using nail polish remover and a cotton pad. If you don’t have any leftover polish, you should still run nail polish remover over your nail to remove any excess oil.

Primp Tip: If you’re left with any weird stains or a yellow tinge (you’ll usually see this after removing darker colors, like red or black), rub cuticle oil over the surface of your nails to lighten any residue.

STEP 2: Soak Your Feet Like You’re at the Spa

Okay, before you start soaking, your first job—and this is important—is to go around your house and gather every candle you can find. Oh, and get yourself a glass of wine while you’re at it. The trick to making an at-home pedicure feel like a spa experience instead of, you know, rubbing your own feet in your too-small-for-comfort apartment is setting the ~mood~ at your makeshift pedicure station.

Once the ambiance is right, you’re ready to soak your feet—which softens tough skin and cuticles (and is downright relaxing). Lennon suggests using a basin (aka a really big bowl) if you have one, but your bathtub is also a sound option. Fill ’er up with warm water and add a liberal scoop of skin-soothing bath salts (Lennon recommends Côte Re-Treat Himalayan Pink Salt Soak, but you can also try my favorite Kneipp Mineral Bath Salts or just use a cup of kosher salt). Let your feet soak for a few minutes before moving to the next step. This is a great opportunity to multitask and try out that new face mask.

STEP 3: Get Rid of Dead Skin

After drying off your feet, use a foot file to remove any dead skin from callused (hard) areas. Parts to pay attention to are the balls of your feet, the sides of your feet and your heels. Scrape these areas until they feel smooth, but don’t overdo it. Try a pumice stone or foot file to gently smooth the skin. Then, switch your feet and repeat.

STEP 4: File and Shape Your Nails

Use a nail trimmer to achieve the length and shape you want (we recommend trimming nails straight across). Follow by filing the corners of your nails and buffing to make them smooth. According to Hadley, a big mistake people make at this point in the process is cutting their cuticles. “Trimming or cutting cuticles during a manicure or pedicure is purely cosmetic and sometimes it doesn’t benefit the nail in any way,” she explains. “The cuticle is a barrier to protect your surrounding skin and protect against infection.”

STEP 5: Apply Cuticle Oil

Apply cuticle oil to the base of your nail. Cuticle oil doesn’t just keep your feet soft and moisturized, but it also keeps your polish from chipping.

STEP 6: Moisturize

Take both feet out of the tub and dry them off with a towel. With a foot cream or body lotion, begin massaging your toes, feet, and calves until, well, you wanna stop. Moisturize your feet with an unscented lotion. “Scented lotions with synthetic fragrances can cause your nail polish to crack.”

STEP 7: Prep Your Toes

Use toe separators (you can buy a 12-pack for cheap online) to make painting your toes easier and avoid making a mess.

If you don’t have toe separators, Lennon suggests tearing off a piece of paper towel, rolling or twisting it into a rope, and weaving it through your toes to prevent the polish from smudging.

STEP 8: Apply Your Base Coat

Then, apply a thin layer of base coat on each nail. Follow with two thin coats of your color of choice, letting the paint dry for a few minutes between each coat.

STEP 9: Finally, Do the Damn Thing

Paint on your base coat and wait at least two minutes to ensure it’s dry. Don’t forget your base coat because it gives your nail polish something to sink into besides your actual nails.

STEP 10: Finish With a Quick-Drying Top Coat

Finish with a top coat so your nails maintain high shine and luster. Because nail polish takes about 12 hours to harden.

Primp Tip: Recommends sticking your finished toenails into cold water for a few minutes to make your nail polish harden faster and help it solidify.

Tell me: Do you do your own nails?


Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Published on by Crystal Lee2 Comments

I know many people think Valentine’s Day is a cheesy Hallmark holiday and I always hear the, “I should be loved everyday, not just one day” and I totally agree! Your love with someone should be celebrated everyday, but what about if you are single or away from your loved one? My mom and I always get each other something for Valentine’s Day, it been a tradition since I was 10 years old. This year, not only am I going to keep that tradition alive but I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a day to indulge in bubble baths, face masks, and any other beautifying that I needed! Why not spend a day pampering yourself, you sooooo deserve it!!

Here’s my Vday Agenda:

  • First of all, you MUST take a “Me” day! Decide to take it and do everything that makes you happy!
  • Spend an hour getting ready (more if possible) look super glamorous, wear something that makes you feel fabulous + your favorite perfume
  • Go out with your BFF/girlfriends for a healthy/delicious lunch and make sure you pass by the mall when you finish!
  • Buy yourself a gift! I don’t care what anyone thinks, I love buying myself gifts around holidays or when I’ve achieved a goal!
  • Hit the Spa! Make sure you get a massage or take a relaxing bath and take your time, read a book, enjoy your down time!
  • Try an at home treatment that you’ve been wanting to try!
  • Watching a movie, funny romantic movie always make me happy! I love The Proposal, Bridget Jone’s Dairy, 13 going on 30, Hitch, 50 First Dates, 27 Dresses, Pretty Woman, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Nobody’s Fool, Just Wright, Poetic Justice, Love Jones, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar, The Wood, Beyond the Lights, Last Holiday, Coming to America, About Last Night, Phat Girlz, Jason’s Lyric, Moonlight, She’s Gotta Have It and any movie that celebrates love but still has some humor.
  • Remember to set the mood before you sleep! I spray the entire room with chamomile, I make sure the temperature is perfect, then I love to fall asleep to thunderstorms! If you have the iPhone, there’s an App called Rain Rain Sleep Sounds that let’s you mix the perfect sleep tone.

I love you guys sooo much!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!

Rose Honey Brown Sugar Lip Scrub

Published on by Crystal Lee5 Comments

Hi loves!! If your lips tend to go through the motions with the seasons and have been dry lately then DIY Rose Honey Brown Sugar Lip Scrub is for you. Let’s get right to it …

Morning everyone! Erin here!! A little kitchen beauty sesh kinda makes the perfect Sunday morning activity! Just me?! I whipped up this yummy (yes, I tasted it just to check, or as my mom used to say, to make sure it wasn’t poison, lol) rose honey brown sugar lip scrub on a Sunday morning while watching Food Network and I had to share it with you!

Let’s break down the ingredients:

  • Brown sugar – acts as a gentle exfoliator because of its grainy texture
  • Honey – honey is a natural humectant so it’s actually adding moisture
  • Olive oil – adds moisture to bind the ingredients
  • Rose essential oil – because IMO, anything rose is a big YES

So why would you want to exfoliate your lips? A few obvious reasons – it gets rid of dry skin, and makes your lips softer. A reason not so obvious? It helps your nourishing lip products penetrate better! If you’re gonna spend on those, let’s makes sure they are the most effective they can be, right?!

Rose Honey Lip Scrub Recipe

  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup olive or coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 10 drops rose essential oil

I personally LOVE the smell of rose, but if you’re not so into it, customize this scrub with mint or lavender oil instead of rose, or maybe adding lemon zest would be your jam?

The most amazing thing about this scrub (besides the soft lips!) is that it can double as a body scrub if you whip up a double batch! I added some dried rose petals into the body scrub just because it’s pretty and a little more luxurious, then put it in a bigger tin for the shower. Incorporate the lip scrub into your nightly routine – leave it by the sink and use it before you put on your nighttime lip product and hop into bed… and by all means, friends don’t let friends have sandpaper lips, so pass on a jar to your bestie, okay?!

xo

5 Tips For Creating A Spa Atmosphere At Home

Published on by Crystal Lee2 Comments

After a busy, grueling week, it’s nice to come home to an oasis to relieve tension and feel restored. As it’s not realistic, or budget-friendly, to go to a spa every day, it’s a great idea to create your own spa-like setting within the comforts of your home.

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Use Essential Oils

An essential oil diffuser can create a variety of different atmospheres and appeal to the senses, to really give you that “zen” setting. Lavender is for relaxation, and basil oil has an uplifting effect on the mind and promotes alertness. Peppermint oil relaxes muscles, eases tension and can help relieve sinus congestion, and rose oil is used to relieve anxiety and depression.

Get Steamy

Steam inhalation is a wonderful addition to an at-home spa and the heat is shown to improve circulation, which can also improve the skin’s appearance, naturally.

Plus, steam loosens dead skin cells, revealing new cells and resulting in a youthful glow. Inhale steam from a steam machine or let the shower run so the bathroom gets super steamy, and simply sit and relax for a few minutes.

Use Dim Lighting

Low, dimmed lights help your body relax and really set the mood. “Scientific studies have proven that low lights actually allow your body to rest better as they reset your pineal gland,” explains Veronica Parker, a certified Yoga Teacher, Energy Healer, and Meditation Coach.

You can also use candles for light. “Place 2-4 candles of your favorite scent around. The candle flame and the scent will enhance your state of relaxation,” she says. “My favorite scents are lavender, lemon balm and sandalwood,” she suggests

Take a Bath

After a long day, come home to a warm bath to restore tired muscles. “Prepare a warm bubble bath with Epsom salts. The salts will inspire you to untangle your muscles, release inflammation and induce a deeper state of relaxation.

Play Music

Either listen to relaxing music or ocean sounds (what resembles “spa music” you typically hear when at a spa) or try a guided meditation to release stress. Download and listen to a guided meditation while you are soaking in the bath. Focusing on your breathing is key to help you let go of stress and your day’s activity. Alternatively, you can listen to soft music to unwind.