July 30, 2023
Categories: Lifestyle & Wellness, Skin Care
When life gets stressful, carving out time for self-care matters more than ever. Managing stress helps your mind and can also improve your physical health. To help you feel better, here are seven small treatments you can do at home. Try one a day or mix and match to boost your overall well-being:
– Fruit-Infused Water & Herbal Tea
– Hand Massage
– Aromatherapy Shower
– Body Scrub
– Mask & Milk Bath
– Dry Brushing
– Meditation
Fruit-Infused Water & Herbal Tea
Making fruit-infused water or a cup of herbal tea invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment. Both are full of benefits for body and mind. Sip them morning and night to stay hydrated and refreshed.
Detox Water
“Detox” water is made by steeping fresh fruits, veggies, or herbs—often overnight. It won’t literally detox your body, but it will help you stay hydrated (and tastes great). Try these combos:
– Cucumber + Mint
– Strawberry + Basil
– Grapefruit + Rosemary
– Berry + Green Tea
Herbal Tea
Herbal teas have been used for centuries and are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They can ease stress, calm your mind, support brain health, and boost immunity. Two favorite blends:
– Chamomile + Lavender (calming and relaxing)
– Peppermint + Lemon (helps focus and mental clarity)
Hand Massage
Short on time for a full-body massage? A five-minute hand massage can do wonders. It eases tension from typing and phone use, soothes the nervous system, and improves circulation. Try this at home:
1. Warm a few drops of body oil or lotion between your palms. (Try Stone Crop Body Oil, made with stone crop and arnica.)
2. With your palm up, press the tip of each finger firmly.
3. Use your opposite thumb to make gentle circular motions around your palm, especially between the thumb and wrist and at the base of your fingers.
4. Knead the center of your palm slowly.
5. Slide your thumb down your palm in long strokes, moving from the base of your fingers to the wrist, focusing between the tendons.
6. Flip your hand and repeat the long strokes on the back of your hand.
7. With your palm up, rub each finger in small counter-clockwise motions from base to tip.
8. Switch hands and repeat.
Aromatherapy Shower
Add a calming element to your shower with essential oils. Inhaling these scents can stimulate the brain’s limbic system, which influences emotions and memory. To create an aromatherapy shower:
1. Spray a few drops of your favorite essential oil blend onto a washcloth.
2. Tuck the cloth into a corner of the shower.
3. Let the water run for 5–10 minutes so the steam picks up the scent.
4. Step into the steam and take deep breaths to relax.
Try these oils for different effects:
– Relaxing: neroli, jasmine, ylang ylang
– Stimulating: citrus oils, rosemary, eucalyptus
– Balancing: lavender, clary sage, bergamot
Body Scrub
A body scrub gently removes dead skin cells using salt or sugar, smooths rough areas, and helps clear out impurities. For a luxurious option, try Stone Crop Revitalizing Body Scrub, which blends hydrating sugar with invigorating salt. Benefits include:
– Better circulation and faster skin cell turnover
– Removal of dead skin
– Softer, smoother skin
– Clearing out impurities and congestion
– Helping free ingrown hairs and smooth razor bumps
Mask & Milk Bath
If baths are your thing, try a milk bath like Cleopatra. Milk is rich in fats, proteins, lactic acid, vitamins, and minerals that help soothe and soften dry, itchy skin.
To make a milk bath:
1. Add 1–2 cups of milk to a full tub of warm water.
2. Mix in your favorite body oil (we like Apricot Body Oil).
3. Add extras like rose petals, herbs, honey, or oats.
4. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then soak and relax.
For extra pampering, apply a face mask. Our Radish Seed Refining Peel uses nettle, whole grain oat, and willow bark to refresh skin and smooth fine lines. Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin, leave 3–5 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is an easy at-home treatment that can boost circulation, help remove dead skin, and reduce the look of cellulite. How to do it:
1. Stand in the shower (but don’t turn the water on).
2. Use a body brush with stiff natural bristles.
3. Brush in long, sweeping strokes, starting at your feet and moving upward toward your heart.
4. Brush each area several times, overlapping strokes.
5. Rinse off dead skin and debris.
6. Follow with a toning body cream to keep working on problem areas. Stone Crop Contouring Body Cream, with microalgae and coffee extracts, helps smooth and reduce the look of cellulite. Massage it into clean skin and leave it on.
Meditation
Meditation helps train your mind to focus, stay present, and become more aware. Regular practice can:
– Calm the mind and body
– Lower cortisol and reduce stress
– Increase feelings of positivity
– Improve communication and decision-making
– Boost memory and focus
Try this five-minute mindful breathing exercise:
1. Sit comfortably.
2. Close your eyes and relax.
3. Slowly inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
4. Fill your lungs and expand your diaphragm.
5. Focus on the feeling of breath entering and leaving your body.
6. Continue for five minutes, returning your attention to the breath whenever your mind wanders.
What wellness rituals do you do at home? Share them in the comments and join the conversation on social media.