Home Spa
Does someone you love need a little pampering? Give them the ultimate in relaxation with our Home Spa Gift Theme at a fraction of the cost of going to a spa. With just a little attention to detail, maybe some candles and music to set the mood, any home bathroom can become a retreat from the cares and stresses of the world.
Bath salts and bubble bath are a perfect way to turn an ordinary tub into a luxurious and relaxing home spa experience. Help your loved ones sink into a hot, sudsy bath and soak away their aches and pains. Rich oils and scents enliven the senses and relax mind and body.
A creamy bar soap can make even a shower more pleasurable. Handmade soaps are usually made with organic or natural ingredients and often include moisturizing oils like olive, jojoba and shea butter. Essential oils add pure fragrance which lingers after bathing to spice up the day.
Choose a soothing body lotion to moisturize and soothe skin after leaving the tub. Available fragrance-free or in whole variety of lovely scents, the right one will leave you silky smooth and help you carry the relaxation of your bath time into the rest of your life. Many of the same luscious ingredients found in good bar soaps also show up in lotion, like shea butter or aloe vera, helping to keep skin soft and younger looking.
Candles set the mood for everything from romance to relaxation. Turn off the bright lights and let the flicker of the flame provide a soft glow. Choose a favorite color or scent. Try soy candles, which are especially clean burning and fragrant. Pour a glass of wine or even a cosmopolitan, something to take the edge off and settle in for an hour or so free from work, family, or other responsibilities.
Bath accessories like loofah sponges and wooden back brushes help stimulate the skin...and the senses. Who doesn't like a good back scratch? With a long-handled brush, you can scrub your own back. A loofah or bath gloves help exfoliate old dead skin, leaving a healthy clean glow behind. Lather up with a scented bar soap and renew yourself! Don't forget a bath pillow to cushion your head as you settle info a good soak.
Don't forget to top everything off with a plush bathrobe to wrap up in and cozy slippers for bare feet. Available in multiple styles, from silk to terrycloth to fleece, choose a robe that is right for the season and the person. Match the bathrobe with the candles and the body lotion, for a nice set. How about dusty rose robe with a pink rose candle and rose water body lotion or maybe a light green robe with a green candle and aloe vera bath salts?
Essential oils and aromatherapy are a great way to get more bang for your buck and customize your home spa experience. Buy an unscented body lotion and add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to create a unique blend. Add a few drops to a diffuser and heat gently with a tealight to permeate the room with rich fragrance. Choose different scents for different moods, lavender for relaxation and gentle sleep or ginger/mint to refresh body and spirit. Make sure to read instructions carefully though – some oils are too strong for direct contact with skin or shouldn't be taken internally!
Don't want to put it all together yourself? Choose a gift basket that comes with a full range of home spa options, like a loofah, tealight candles, body lotion, and bath salts or balls. Or get a set of bath balls with different scents for different moods. Some gift baskets come with robes, slippers, bath pillows or even a custom shelf on which to store all these luxury home spa items!
For best effect, choose a scent and get all the accessories to match. For example, lavender bubble bath, hand-milled lavender soap and body lotion, a lavender candle, and a soft purple bathrobe. The Home Spa Gift Theme is great for thrifty gift givers because a little goes a long way. For under $20, you can get a scented candle and bath salts. There's lots of room to pick and choose just the right combination to bring the spa home.
TIP: GiftStashers, create a registry called Home Spa Gift Theme and save choices there until you're ready to buy.