Trend | Spa at home

Lock yourself in the bathroom, sort out a playlist that involves soothing ballads and panpipes, assemble your spa toolkit, pile up your hair, grab a robe and some fluffy towels and get ready for some serious DIY pampering…

Start your spa at home with a dry brushing session. It’s best to use a pair of bodybrushes which are gently stroked from feet to thighs, and up the arms and over the torso in long, light strokes. Not only will this help exfoliate dead skin cells, but it also boosts a sluggish lymph system and helps reduce the appearance of cellulite if done daily. It’ll also help wake you up if done before your morning shower. Pravera.com have a good selection.

If you prefer to use an exfoliator, try Optiat’s Pick Me Up Coffee Scrub which smells of lemongrass. The range is made from recycled coffee grounds which help tone the skin and make an effective use of a waste product, with no nasty microbeads. You can get it at optiat.co.uk

Next it’s time for a long bath. Opt for your favourite bubbles or make a soothing oatmeal soak. Blitz a couple of handfuls of porridge oats in a blender, then pour into a muslin bag or an old sock and place it under the tap as you fill the bath. Add a few drops of an essential oil, such as neroli or mandarin, to perfume your bath. The oatmeal will soften skin, sooth inflammation and is also useful for skin problems such as eczema. A glass of wine and a book don’t hurt if you need to unwind.

If you’re feeling brave, you could try a Kneipp shower, where the temperature of the water alternates between hot and cold to invigorate and tone the skin, as well as boosting circulation. Just how hot and how cold you go is up to you!

Once you’re dry, try Image Skincare’s great Body Spa Cell.U.Lift crème. Repeated use promises to tighten and lift the skin thanks to an Enzyme Polypeptide Complex said to strengthen collagen fibres and reduce lipid cell volumes. It’s available from imageskincare.co.uk

Time for a bit of a facial. Start with your normal cleanser, then apply the mask of your choice, depending on your skin’s needs. There are plenty of great sheet masks from Korean brands on the market just now. If you’d prefer to make your own, try blitzing three strawberries with 25g of lemon juice, then adding a small carton of natural Greek yoghurt and 25g of honey. Freeze for 10 minutes, then apply and wash off after 10 minutes. Moisturise as usual.

Treat your eyes to some TLC with Foreo’s amazing eye massager. It might look like something perplexing from Anne Summers, but it magically reduces puffiness, lines and wrinkles with a gentle tapping massage motion. Use it twice a day after a light application of your favourite eye cream for best results. Available from foreo.com

Finish off with a pedicure and a manicure. Keep in mind that for a truly relaxing spa at home, you’ll need to persuade someone else to tidy everything up for you.