The DIY beauty treatments that are safe to do at home
This story is part of the May 18 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories.
I'm sure many of us could describe our daily beauty routine in one word: rushed. But carving out time to indulge in anything from dry body-brushing to applying a hair mask (for the full suggested time) can make life feel calmer and more luxurious without costing the earth.
Before showering, dry body-brushing boosts the lymphatic system, helping to remove toxins and increase bloodflow while sweeping away any flaky patches of skin. Use a long-handled body brush, such as The Body Shop Cactus Body Brush ($24), for maximum reach. Begin at your feet and work your way up your legs using long, circular motions, always moving in the direction of your heart. Then tackle your torso, back and arms using the same rhythmic movements.
Luxuriate in your skincare routine using a gua sha tool, such as Salt by Hendrix's Rose Quartz Face Sculpting Tool ($30), to massage the face, neck and décolletage. This improves skin texture and tone and reduces puffiness by improving bloodflow. Use sweeping, outwards movements to massage in serums and oils (tip: anything with good slippage helps the tool to glide). Use the gua sha along the contours of your face, starting from the centre of your forehead and working out to your temples. Next, concentrate on the mid-face and cheekbones, sweeping out to the hairline. Last, sweep up the chin and neck from the collarbone.
Masking is a great weekly addition to your skincare and haircare regimens. For hair, apply masks from the ends and work towards the scalp – we love Quai Fine to Medium Hair Treatment Masque ($69). Finish by massaging your scalp with Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager ($30) to increase bloodflow to the scalp while lifting sebum and product build-up. Wrap hair in a warm, damp towel and leave for 15 to 30 minutes.
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A great face mask for oily skin is Caudalie Instant Detox Mask ($54), which helps combat excess oil and breakouts. Papaya enzymes help brighten skin and pink clay and coffee target blackheads. Try coordinating both face and hair masks with a relaxing bath, complete with your favourite oil or bath salts.
Finally, try a homemade foot-soak. In a large bowl, combine half a cup of Epsom salts, a quarter-cup of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of tea-tree oil for its antifungal and antibacterial properties. Add warm water and soak away. For a finishing touch, consider Baby Foot Original Exfoliating Foot Peel ($33), which works to remove the outermost layers of dry skin to reveal – you guessed it – baby-soft feet. It might sound disgusting but, trust me, it's so satisfying.
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