New Year, New “Me Time”

Let’s be honest…how often do you enjoy “me time?” If your family is anything like mine, the answer is kind of embarrassing. Between work, after school activities, chores, and errands it seems like there’s not much time left in a day for anything but sleep (if you’re lucky).

As someone who needs adequate recharge time in order to function properly, this busy-sleep-busy-sleep cycle can wreak havoc on both my physical and mental health. If I’m not careful, I get BURNED OUT and then even the smallest of tasks become overwhelming.

Unfortunately, it’s not realistic for me to scamper off to the day spa for some much needed pampering (I’m lucky if I get to use the bathroom unaccompanied!). However, carving out an hour after the kids are in bed is doable.

Since going to the day spa is out of the question, I decided to bring the spa to me. I light a candle or two, turn on some relaxing music, and whip up a batch of my favorite masks and scrubs. They are easy, cheap, natural, and made with items you might already have in your cabinet!

But before I dive head first into oils and extracts, let’s take a look at how this nighttime self care routine actually started!

How It Started

A couple of years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution that I was going to focus on self care. After mulling it over, I decided that focusing on one form of care just wasn’t enough for me.

I ended up with a total of SIX self care categories for the year 2021. The list included physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and last but not least…sensory.

Some of you may be asking yourself “What the heck is sensory self care?” The answer is simple. Sensory self care happens when you expose yourself to new things in each sensory input category. This includes sight, smell, sounds, taste, touch, vestibular, and proprioceptive (more on the last two in a future post).

I can honestly say, focusing on sensory self care was the highlight of 2021. Throughout the year, I discovered just how important your sensory systems are to feeling “present” and “grounded” in a world defined by distractions (five star experience…highly recommend).

I tried new foods, rode carnival rides, bought noise cancelling headphones, and you guessed it…experimented with spa DIYs.

The Burning Face Mask

Where are my fellow acne sufferers at? Acne and acne scars are the reason I NEVER leave my house without a solid makeup foundation. There’s nothing worse than feeling like a 30-something pubescent teenager. This is the reason why I LOVE this mask! Although it doesn’t always help with active acne (especially if yours are cystic like mine), it’s great for exfoliating dead skin and reducing redness and scar appearance.

Directions

Mix two tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon cinnamon, and one teaspoon nutmeg. The goal is to apply it evenly (not too close to your eyes) and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then gently exfoliate as you rinse. If the burning gets too intense, rinse before 20 mins.

I recommend wearing this face mask while you’re in the tub. The heat from your skin might cause the honey to drip like Mrs. Doubtfire’s frosting mask (one lump or two?)!

The Lime Sugar Face Scrub

This is a great burning mask alternative! If your skin is too sensitive to endure the cinnamon-nutmeg combo, give this mask a try!

The lime juice in this recipe helps reduce the look of redness and scars. It also aids in the removal of dead skin BEFORE the sugar gets a chance to scrub it away. In my opinion, this mask is more effective on active acne since the lime juice helps dry it up while the honey acts like a natural antibiotic.

Directions

Put 1/4 cup of granulated sugar in a bowl. Mix in 1 teaspoon lime juice and 1 tablespoon of honey until well combined. If the mask is too runny, add more sugar. You want a wet sand consistency. If the mix is too dry, add in more lime. Apply it to evenly to your face and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Gently exfoliate as you rinse.

The Lemon Body Scrub

Though this mask looks a lot like the lime sugar face scrub, don’t be fooled! This scrub is meant for your entire body and it’s actually my FAVORITE! This scrub has been my number one tool in fighting my son’s eczema and plantar dermatitis. The olive oil helps moisturize without feeling overly greasy while the sugar and lemon juice work together to remove old, dead skin. It’s a match made in heaven!

Directions

This is a recipe I don’t measure out. I pour about a half a cup of granulated sugar into a bowl. I add JUST enough olive oil (not canola oil or other substitute) to make a dry, sandy consistency. Then, I squirt enough lemon juice in to bring the mixture to a wet sand consistency. Mix well and use to scrub all over your body. I avoid the face because olive oil will cause my acne to worsen, but that may not be the case for you.

If you have eczema or cracked/split skin, this scrub should NOT hurt! If it hurts, you have added too much lemon juice and need to dilute with more sugar and oil. When my son is in the height of an eczema breakout, we will use this scrub daily until it’s gone. Works wonders!

The Coffee Hair Mask

WARNING! This hair mask is a messy masterpiece. But when I say “messy” I mean MESSY (but worth it!)! I highly recommend you apply this mask while you’re standing in the shower. The coffee granules will go everywhere if not contained. However, those pesky pieces are the reason why this mask is so magical. Coffee helps promote hair growth while exfoliating your scalp and hair at the same time.

Directions

Melt about 1/4 cup coconut oil in the microwave until just melted. Be careful it’s not too hot or you’ll burn your head! Add 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds to the oil and mix well. Carefully apply it evenly all over your head, massaging it in as you go. Once your whole head is covered, put on a shower cap and let sit for 1-2 hours. Remove cap and shower as normal.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an adult, it’s that there will NEVER be enough time in a day…even if the day is infinite. If you don’t make “me time” a top priority, your day will quickly fill with other responsibilities.

I’ll be honest with you, if you’re already to the point of burn out, a few scrubs won’t be a cure-all solution. However, don’t lost heart. If you consistently budget time for yourself, you might be surprised how much it adds up. Small deposits often may leave you richer than a large deposit less often. What do you have to lose?

It’s my hope that these easy, inexpensive spa DIYs will inspire you to be intentional about making self care a habit. I promise you, you will not regret it! Investing in your health (whether mental or emotional) only produces profit! Now, go exfoliate and make 2023 your best year yet!