It’s hot. It’s humid. So how are the hottest spas around the country cooling people off? Try home versions of some swanky spa treatments to cool off and pamper yourself.
- Peppermint Conditioner: add a drop of peppermint essential oil to a dollop of your usual conditioner. (You might want to mix this up before you get into the shower! Use a little bathroom cup and leave it where you can reach it from the tub.) Massage the peppermint conditioner into your hair and scalp. Rinse with lukewarm water — the peppermint will make everything feel cooler.
- Aloe Body Wrap: in the blender, mix a quarter cup of aloe vera gel with a quarter cup of shredded cucumber and a quarter cup of chopped mint leaves. You can add essential oils like lavender and chamomile if you like. Let the mix sit in the fridge for half an hour, then apply the cool goo to your hot spots: feet, ankles, legs, wrists, arms, and neck. Wrap the gel in plastic wrap and sit for fifteen minutes to let this super-hydrating mix soak in.
- Frosty Foot Scrub: Soak your feet for ten minutes in a tub of lukewarm water. Grab a handful of coarse grain sea salts and add a few drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil and scrub, exfoliating feet and lower legs.
- Cold Stone Massage: Place small, smooth garden stones into a bowl of ice for a few minutes. Use them to gently massage tired feet and legs, tight shoulders, or an achy back.
Looking for a cool, refreshing facial? Try these:
- Rinse your face in chilled green tea.
- Place chilled cucumber slices over your eyes.
- Make a facial mask from one cup of aloe vera gel, a quarter cup of plain yogurt, and a few drops of honey. Apply and relax for ten minutes, then rinse with cool water.