It’s day 53 of our sheltering in place chapter and I finally polished my toenails. Is this a positive sign? I hope so! At least my toes are looking more vibrant. Overall, a bit of the mental fog is lifting and we are feeling more optimistic with May on the horizon. For now, we will continue to stay home and stay safe.

How are you doing during this stressful time? Now that you have likely had much more time at home are you changing up your self-care routines? As we already know, deep-breathing, exercise, healthy eating and proper rest are essential for self-care and stress reduction. I've also found that spa time at home is important for wellbeing.

Though there is less need to dress up on days like these, it doesn’t mean self-care should take a back seat. I’ll admit, I have had a few days where a shower felt like too much trouble, but I find I definitely feel better (physically and emotionally) when I take the time to care for my skin, hair, and nails.

I’m digging in my drawers for facial scrubs, masks, and serums that are half-used or forgotten. By the way, doesn’t it feel good to go through the items that have not been frontline and either use or dump them? It’s cost-effective, green and, honestly, my drawers have never looked better. Now that we have the luxury of time, I want to share a few of my must-haves for a spa day at home.

My necessities for a self-care home spa experience:

*Plush bamboo towels (2 matching sets in white for easy care laundering)

*A comfy, absorbent spa robe

*A fragrant candle like Jo Malone’s Basil and Neroli

*Facial Masque-Caudalie is a favorite that I picked up in Paris

*Body wash - Le Labo - Bergamote 22

*Skin serums and moisturizers from Peter Thomas Roth

*My Clarisonic Mia (a lifechanger for my skin)

*Living Proof Haircare

*Body Buffer by Kai

*My DIY beauty elixir (see below)

*Cucumber and lemon water in a carafe

*Soothing, calming music (Spa channel on Satellite or anything 'Chill or downtemp' on spotify)

I’m planning to purchase this BeautyFIX box on sale that does not require a subscription right now. $24.99 for products worth over $100.00 and should come in handy since I’m no longer shopping in stores.

It’s nice to let our skin breathe (sans makeup except for business zooms) but moisture is key. I’ve recently renewed my appreciation for a household product that is a miracle in a jar. Read this post on My DIY Beauty Elixir for Thirsty Skin that I wrote a couple of years back.

I found these great tips for Self-Care from Virtuoso:

How to have the ultimate Self-Care Day