I am so excited to collaborate with Follain, my go-to natural skincare/beauty shop, each month to chat about wellness, healthy skin care & beauty tips, and much more. If you are a follower of the @ohidesignblog instagram or are a reader here, you’ve probably read about my love for natural skincare and how much I enjoy my frequent trips to Follain. If you’ve never visited one of their locations, let me just paint a picture of the experience for you. The moment you walk through the door it smells like the best spa of your life (think: lavender, lemongrass, etc.), the interior design is beautiful and very instagram-worthy, and the Follain team is incredibly knowledgeable & kind. That being said, this is the PERFECT collaboration and I’m excited to bring more beauty + wellness to the blog. Alright, alright on to the post!
Although February is coming to a close, we are going to begin the series by talking about a subject I am very passionate about – loving yourself. You know the saying…you can’t take care of others unless you take care of yourself first? Well, that is the name of the game in our household. In the past, I noticed when I wasn’t taking care of myself, how it directly affected those around me. It wasn’t too long after having Evie that I realized I have to schedule “me time”.
For me, it means having an at-home spa night, going to get a pedicure, taking a solo walk around Boston, dinner & drinks with friends, date night with Cody, or perhaps a new outfit. I do these things so that I can come home to Evie and Cody refreshed and motivated to be my best self and the best mom to Evie that I can be. I know you may be thinking, duh Jessica, do things you like to do. But, it’s crazy how much of our time and efforts are given to other people & other commitments which in turn leaves us too exhausted to care for ourselves. Gotta put your oxygen mask on first! Can I get an amen?!
I wanted to share the steps + ingredients to an at-home spa night (#jessicastyle) as this is something I have always enjoyed, even since I was a little girl hosting slumber parties. I used to do my friends’ eyebrows, paint our nails, and we would put on face masks then create our own music videos. Ultimate girl party! Not much has changed really, other than the music videos (unless my best friend Misha is in town).
Step One:
Create a spa-like atmosphere. my spa-night always includes a glass of red wine or a cup of tea (perhaps both), a clean bathroom (this is an important step or else you will feel stressed without even realizing it), a good read, a candle/incense, and some good tunes in the background. Also, extra points if you make “spa water” – you know, water infused with fruit.
Step Two:
I always wash my face and exfoliate to remove dead skin cells.
Step Three:
After I have a clean face, I apply a face mask before getting in the bath.
Step Four:
Relax in a warm bath with essential oils and/or bath salts. I can’t wait to try out the Farmaesthetic’s Bath Elixir – it relieves achy muscles, relaxes the mind & opens congestion.
Step Five:
I love to exfoliate my body so that my skin feels like new after the bath. I currently use Organic Bath’s Stress Less Scrub (lavender for the win).
Step Six:
When I am finished soaking in the bath, then I typically take a quick shower to remove the face mask and wash my hair but that step isn’t necessary. Then I rehydrate my skin with face serum, moisturizer, body oil & lotion. Basically, I’m ready to be put in the oven after my spa nights. HA!
I hope this guide to an at-home spa night inspires you to make time for yourself this week! If you need an excuse to get away, just say Jessica made me do it. 😉
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“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Sam Levenson
This post was created in collaboration with Follain, all thoughts & opinions are, as always, my own. Thank you for supporting brands that we are passionate about!