POV: It has been a long week at work, you’re in desperate need of some TLC, but a Spa day is a big commitment and you have weekend plans already. This is where a home spa day is just the thing you need! Get your kit together, we’ve got some top Taiga inspired tips for you 🙂

SPA BATH 101

The key to a good spa bath is all about relaxation, moisturising and aromatherapy. You want that perfect combination of oils and scents to destress and leave your body feeling nourished and refreshed. Here are some ways you can make your relaxing bath extra special:

• Natural bath salts (such as sea salt)
• Dried flowers (chamomile, rose, lavender)
• Dried Herbs (rosemary, comfrey, hyssop)
• Skin oils (cedar nut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil)
• Essential Oils (cedar, lavender, frankincense, ylangylang)

Of course our favourite tool is ANASTA Spa (read on to find out why), but you can use also use other oils if you prefer.

Why we love ANASTA Spa

Maybe we are a little biased, but we have also experienced the magic of this product ourselves. Not only is ANASTA Spa the perfect addition to a hot relaxing bath, it has unique healing properties that are specific to its ingredients. It contains Siberian cedar oil as well as MEGRE Elixir (cedar cone oil).

The Elixir pulls toxins and other dirt from the cells, allowing the skin to breathe better. It helps with flabbiness and loss of elasticity and skin redness or rashes will begin to subside after the first or second application.

Bath Salts

Bath salts are an amazing way to help the body detox and refresh itself. Many spiritual practices use salt for cleansing properties, notice how when you swim in the salty water of the ocean you immediately feel refreshed and renewed? This is because the ocean water has a cleansing effect on the body. Although nothing can replicate the effects of the ocean, good quality salts added to our spa bath can assist in detoxifying and cleansing the body. It may also help with irritated skin, soothe achey joints and muscles and stimulate circulation.

NB: Take precautions bathing in salt water if you have an open wound or with skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis or acne. Always be sure to consult your healthcare provider.

Herbs and Flowers

Do you collect dried herbs and flowers? If you have some left over from a previous season, why not add them to your bath for added therapeutic benefits from Nature. You can make your own blends according to your preferences.

Essential Oils

This is a great way to enhance the scents of your Spa bath and you can choose according to what scents evoke a relaxing feeling for you. Our favourite is a Taiga inspired blend with cedar essential oil. Add this to some cedar nut oil, or a carrier oil of your choice and float away with the scents of your favourite plants and flowers.

NB: Always be sure to add essential oils to a carrier oil and take note of individual sensitivities. Essential oils are very powerful, only a few drops are needed (we usually start with 3 drops).

What’s next

Now that you’ve got your ultra relaxing bath covered, here are a few extras to help you get into the spa mood.

Face masks

Next up on the list of crucial aspects of a Spa day is: face masks. Our skin is the first organ of our body that is exposed to toxins – especially if we live in the city. A face mask is a great way to get some deep cleansing into the skin that is most exposed. We only use natural, here’s our recipe:

Ingredients:

• Cedar protein powder (amount to your preference)
• Water (amount according to the consistency you would like)
• Some cedar oil if you have dry skin

Instructions:

• Add the cedar powder and mix it with warm water (and oil if needed) to an optimal consistency for you (start with a small amount of water and work your way up to the desired consistency).
• Apply this mixture to your face as you would a normal face mask, keep it on for 10-15 minutes.
• You can add other ingredients – a little cedar oil, coffee grounds, cocoa powder or cedar absorbent. Experiment! The effect is amazing regardless of what you add.

Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is a common practice when you visit the Spa, have you tried it? It is said to assist in increasing blood flow and stimulating the production of collagen which helps to increase the elasticity and strength of the skin. This makes it a great addition to your toning and lifting toolkit.

Start at your feet and work your way up towards your chest, brushing your skin at a pressure that is comfortable to you (you don’t want to hurt yourself or open the skin). Try this before jumping into the bath.

Candles

Last, but equally important, is candles. A Spa experience is not the same without the ambience created by candle light. Beeswax candles with natural scents are best to avoid chemical exposure through artificial fragrances. Set them around your bath to create a relaxing atmosphere while you soak in the bath with your cedar face mask.

For the products mentioned in the blog post, see below. Enjoy!