Spa On A Budget

So it's only two days until my wedding, and I wanted to write a little blurb about how to have a relaxing spa day (or couple of hours) on a budget. Since our ceremony is first thing in the morning, I'm planning on taking an hour or so today, and an hour or so tomorrow to get my spa on! 

Face

Instead of paying the big bucks and having a facial at a professional spa, I'm doing a simple at-home facial, using a single-use package I picked up from the drugstore. Before applying my mask, I used St Ives Green Tea Exfoliating Scrub, to unclog my pores and buff away any dead skin cells. After rinsing, I applied my stress-relief mask and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Using cool water, I rinsed off my mask and applied a simple witch hazel toner. To finish, I applied Nivea eye cream and CeraVe moisturizer.

Mid-range suggestion: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask ($39.00) or GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment ($76.00). Both available at Sephora. 

Hair

Last night, when I got home from work, I used some AG leave-in conditioner on my hair and let it sit overnight. Since I have fairly thin hair, I didn't apply the conditioner treatment to my roots, and instead focused on my ends. This morning, I used Herbal Essences Mint cleansing shampoo & conditioner to make sure I didn't have any leave-in conditioner residue on my hair. My plan for tomorrow is to use my Kevin Murphy purple toning shampoo, followed by my Kérastase Chroma Riche hair mask, so that my hair will be soft and shiny for Friday!

Mid-range suggestion: Living Proof Restore Hair Mask ($52.00). Available at Sephora.

Body

Before getting in the shower to rinse off this morning, I applied a home-made body scrub (honey, brown sugar, and olive oil) to exfoliate my skin. Since I'm using a self-tanner, I made sure to focus on scrubbing my elbows, knees, and ankles. Once I rinsed off, I applied my Jergens Natural Glow self-tanner and let it dry a bit before getting fully dressed. 

Mid-range suggestion: Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish ($45.00) and Tarte Braziliance Face & Body Self Tanner ($47.00). Both available at Sephora.

Nails 

So, I have to admit that I will be getting my nails done professionally tomorrow morning. I had originally planned to do them myself, but decided that ultimately, I really wanted to have at least one pampering service done for the big day. After all, I'm getting married and that's not something that happens every day! If I were to have done my nails on a budget, I would have used my sugar scrub to exfoliate, followed by coconut oil as lotion, and I would have applied my nail polish myself. 

I personally think that it is incredibly important to set aside time to relax and recharge. Treating yourself to a few spa hours every now and again is great, but it doesn't mean you should have to shell out hundreds of dollars either! That's why I love all the creative budget spa ideas out there! Of course, splurging a bit here and there is fine too, but if you're having a facial every week, the cost can add up really quickly! Thank goodness for DIY scrubs and affordable spa products at the local drugstore! 

Hair Care (Budget Edition)

Not everybody can afford shampoo and conditioner that costs more than an hour (or more) of minimum wage pay. Thankfully, there are a variety of budget-friendly options available at the drugstore. Navigating the plethora of options however, can definitely be tricky, so it’s important to keep in mind a few general rules. 

1. Know your hair type and it’s specific needs

This is by far the most important piece of advice to consider, and surprisingly not common knowledge. If you’re unsure about the type of hair that you have or what it’s specific needs may be (lackluster, damaged, dry..), I would advise going to see a professional to have your hair assessed. You can go in for a consultation at most respectable salons for free and they will break it all down for you.

2. Keep to your budget

This one is kind of a no-brainer, but you’re going to have to remind yourself to stay on budget. If you’re anything like me, this can actually be a tough one because generally speaking, the prettier the packaging, the bigger the price tag.

3. Read the label

I know this can seem like a waste of time, but it’s important to know what you’re putting on your hair. If you have color treated hair for instance, you’re going to want to look for shampoo that specifically says “sulfate-free” to avoid stripping your color. You’re also going to want to be careful to avoid products that contain heavy waxes, which coat the hair over time.  Because most drugstore brand shampoos use fairly heavy duty detergents, the conditioners are designed to mask that by containing waxes to coat the hair.

*Major offenders: TRESemmé and Pantene

**I used to use the L’Oréal EverCrème Sulfate-Free conditioner until I found out that it coated my hair with such a thick layer of wax that my hair stylist could visibly scrape it off and show me. Just goes to show that even though a product might be “sulfate-free”, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s “wax-free”.

4. Be prepared to go through a few bottles before you find the right one

Finding the right budget friendly shampoo and conditioner can certainly be a process. In many ways, it ends up coming down to trial and error. You might try something, really love it for a few washes, but end up hating it by the end of the bottle. 

My favorite shampoo and conditioner on a budget is the Herbel Essences Smooth Collection. It smells like roses and comes in pretty pink packaging. It’s been around for awhile, and it’s definitely a classic. Dove is another brand that makes affordable, ethical, quality products, so that’s a pretty safe bet in my books. In the mid-range category, Live Clean and Klorane also makes really great, natural-based products. Finally, if all else fails, go for baby shampoo! If it’s gentle enough for a baby, it’s gentle enough for you too!