A professional spa treatment at a wellness hotel is a luxury that many people indulge in on vacation. But you don’t always have the time or money to treat yourself. So here’s how you can relax at home with a sustainable DIY spa day and do something good for your skin and health. Including tips from the sustainable Green PearlsⓇ wellness hotels who shared their recipes with us.

Tips for a successful spa day at home

Before you begin your spa day, there are a few things you should be aware of and prepare for in order to get the most out of your spa experience:

• Do all your chores (laundry, dishes, etc.) in advance so that nothing distracts you from your rest. If you can’t: close the kitchen door, put the laundry basket in a room you rarely enter, and give yourself permission to ignore these “chores. The laundry won’t get worse if you leave it until tomorrow.
• Plan ahead and make sure you won’t be disturbed. Take a day off when the children are in school or daycare, tell your partner and/or roommates that you do not want to be disturbed.
• Create a pleasant atmosphere with passive lighting and candles, and perhaps set the room temperature a little higher to make it more relaxing.
• Make a cozy corner with pillows and blankets
• Relax further with herbal tea and a good book

DIY instructions and recipes for face masks, body scrubs, and herbal stamps

Have you noticed that all eyes are on South Korea right now when it comes to skin care? The trend is called “K-beauty” and is extremely popular on social media and in stores. Korean skin care often includes rice as an ingredient.

K-Beauty Rice-Mask DIY

Here’s how to make a very simple DIY Korean rice mask that’s currently going viral on TikTok:

Ingredients:

• 1 small cup of rice (e.g. jasmine rice)
• 3 small cups of water

Preparation and use:

• Wash the rice 3 times
• Boil with the water (without salt)
• Puree the cooked rice in a blender (add more water depending on the desired consistency)
• Allow to cool and apply to face.
• Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes
• Rinse off

The DIY rice mask will last about one to two weeks in the refrigerator.

However, the K-beauty trend threatens to get out of hand. For example, there is the “10-Step Korean Skincare Routine,” which requires you to buy ten different products, each costing over 50 Euros (depending on the brand, of course). We’d rather use the DIY mask J

DIY beauty from Thailand – Recipes from the Mala Spa in Phuket

Keemala is one of the most unique resorts in Thailand. Located on the island of Phuket, it consists of several villas (all with private pools) surrounded by a natural tropical forest. They also offer a variety of massages and spa treatments (if you are interested, you can find the Mala Spa’s 16-page spa menu here).

For a spa day at home, Keemala sent us the following recipes:

#1 Soothing and hydrating mask

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
• ½ teaspoon honey
• squeeze of lemon juice

Preparation and use:

• Mix all the ingredients together.
• Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes
• Rinse with warm water

#2 Keemala DIY body scrub for clear skin

Ingredients:

• Sea salt (alternative: sugar)
• Coconut oil
• A few drops of essential oil (lavender or eucalyptus)

Preparation and use:

• Gently massage onto wet skin in the shower.
• Rinse off

#3 Magnesium sulfate foot bath (Espom Salt)

Ingredients:

• Foot bath tub of warm water
• ½ cup magnesium sulfate-also known as Epsom or Espuma salt (available at pharmacies or well-stocked drugstores)
• A few drops of essential oil (your favorite scent)

Preparation and use:

• Add Espuma salt and oil to the warm water
• Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes

“ The foot bath helps you relax and softens the skin of your fee” – Keemala

The footbath is also a great base for other foot treatments in your day spa, such as callus removal and pedicures. Afterwards, apply a thick layer of cream to your feet (see below for skin care brand tips).

DIY: Herb stamps for a wellness day at home

Maslina Resort is located directly on the coast of the Croatian island of Hvar in the Adriatic Sea. The hotel stands for “Mindful Luxury” and focuses on comfort in harmony with nature. Naturally, the spa facilities are designed with sustainability and mindfulness in mind. The Garden to Skin service applies oils and herbs from the hotel garden directly to the skin.

For your spa day at home, the spa team recommends relaxing herbal pouches.

Ingredients:

• Fresh medicinal herbs from your own garden or purchased. Rosemary, thyme, lavender and ginger are the perfect blend for relaxation and boosting the immune system.

Preparation:

• Cut a soft cloth (such as an old shirt) into squares about 6 inches square.
• Wash the herbs, remove the twigs, and place the leaves in the center of the cloth square.
• Then form a bundle and tie with string to make small herb stamps.
• Bring water to a boil and place the herbal pouches in a steamer basket over the hot water. The pouches themselves should remain dry.

Alternative: You can also lightly moisten the stamps and microwave them for about 2 minutes until they are very warm.

How to use:

• Have a friend or partner place the herbal pouches along your spine, applying gentle pressure, and relax.

Sustainable products to buy for your home spa

Consider using skin care products for your at-home day spa. Many of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotel partners produce their own natural cosmetics, which you can purchase at the properties or online.

#1 BergSea cosmetics from the Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol

The Hotel Weihrerhof is located at 1,200 meters above sea level on the Ritten in South Tyrol, directly on the Wolfgruben Lake. The lake is considered one of the cleanest in Italy, and the water from the mountain lake is the basis for the cosmetic line. Other natural ingredients from the region, such as hay and Swiss stone pine, are used as well. The range includes products such as natural soap, body milk, shower gel and foot cream at fair prices.

👉 Here you can find the BergSea online store

#2 Italian natural cosmetics from ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges

The ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges consist of several sustainably managed properties from northern Italy (ADLER Lodge RITTEN) to the south of the country (ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA). The owner’s family ensures that each property reflects its location, for example by building with local materials and using local foods in the kitchen.

The different regions of Italy are also reflected in the luxury natural cosmetics line: grapes from Tuscany, mountain flowers from South Tyrol and citrus fruits from Sicily. Whether you are looking for care, detoxification or regeneration, there is something for every skin type!

“ Our cosmetics line is our contribution to a holistic, nature-loving life.” – ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges

👉 Here you will find the ADLER Online Shop.

#3 Vegan cosmetics from CERVO Mountain Resort

CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt, Switzerland, has a special style and fragrance. It combines Swiss mountain culture with a modern nomadic lifestyle at the highest level, for which the resort has already received several architectural awards.

The Mountain Ashram Spa is also very special, combining a variety of cultures in its treatments.

“ Guests can purchase our wellness products and try some of the spa treatments at home” – CERVO Mountain Resort

One such example is the Mountain Ashram Detox Body Scrub with pine needles and sage. It refines the skin and increases circulation (through massage).

How to use:

• Massage the body scrub into wet skin in the shower.
• Start at the feet and massage in circular motions towards the heart.
• Massage for about 5 minutes.
• Rinse with warm water

👉 Click here to visit the CERVO Online Store

#4 Energy products and cosmetics according to Viktor Philippi at Gerbehof Natural Resort

The family of the Gerbehof Nature Resort practices the bioenergetic method of Philippi. This includes “bioenergetic motivation” and “stress reduction motivation”. For the latter, for example, you can book stress-relieving massages at the resort using special massage stamps and stones (onyx stones, black basalt, white jade stones).

“ We sell energy products (CDs and crystals) by V. Philippi and provide instructions on how to use them at home as a biomotivation to further strengthen your own health.” – Naturresort Gerbehof

Recommended amenity brands from sustainable hotels

Hotels that do not manufacture natural cosmetics purchase those they believe in for their spa or as room amenities.

Note: I am providing links to cosmetic brands and their stores as a service to you – neither we nor the hotels receive commissions or other benefits.

#5 The Lifestylehotel SAND on the Baltic Sea coast opts for “Björk & Berries”

When you stay at the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea, you will find sustainable amenities in your room in the form of products from the Swedish company “Björk & Berries”.

“ Nordic, sustainable, refillable and stylish,” says host Marion Muller.

👉 Find Björk & Berries here

#6 Ayurvedic treatments and natural cosmetics at Biohotel Grafenast

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol is a wonderful place for a relaxing vacation in nature and hiking and pampers its guests (after their outdoor adventures) with spa and wellness treatments. Ayurveda plays an important role here.

To extend your spa experience, you can purchase the various cosmetic products used by Biohotel Adler at the on-site shop. These include the Argan d’or brand.

👉 Click here for Argan d’or natural cosmetics

#7 TEAM DR. JOSEPH natural cosmetic products at our Green PearlsⓇ partners

Many of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotels and vacation homes rely on certified natural cosmetics from Team Dr. Joseph. The South Tyrolean brand is

• vegan
• cruelty-free
• and uses (almost) plastic-free and sustainable product packaging.

The production takes place in South Tyrol and all ingredients come from the region. No wonder our local partners like OLM Nature Escape and My Arbor swear by it. In Germany, you can find the products at the romantic hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu and at STURM in the Rhön.

“ The Dr. Joseph and all other brands we use are available in our shop. Guests can also contact Markus, our certified massage therapist, for personalized advice.” – OLM Nature Escape

Tip for proper use

Among other things, Team Dr. Joseph lists their “Balancing Toner” as a “bestseller”.

Application:

• As you can see in this video, the toner is not applied with a cotton pad, but with your hands. Gently tap your décolleté, neck, and face. According to the manufacturer, tapping increases the effect.

After a day at the Green DIY Spa, it’s best to unwind in a relaxing way. Watch a movie to carry the relaxation into the evening.

Do you have any other tips? Please share them in the comments!

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