How to Properly Pamper Yourself Leading Up to First Day of School
If you're anything like us, you have mixed feelings about heading back to school. While it'll be great to see everyone again, long gone are the days of sleeping in, hanging out at the beach and lounging in your PJs for more than 24 hours at a time.
In order to prepare yourself for the first day back at school, a pamper sesh is a must. Below, we've created the ultimate guide on how to treat yo' self.
Set the Mood:
Plug in your speaker and listen to a chill playlist on Spotify (find an instrumental one, like THIS). Next, turn off the lights and light up some candles instead. Look for candles with relaxing scents such as lavender, jasmine and juniper, like Mer-Sea's Sun Kissed Candle ($48). The ambiance will settle your nerves and prepare your body for a night of pampering.
Take a Bath:
Baths are an ancient tradition for a reason. Simply put—they're awesome. Fill your tub to the brim and add a generous amount of soap, like Bath and Body Work's Aromatherapy Lavender and Cedarwood Foam Bath ($13.50). You'll be covered in bubbles from head to toe.
(via Bath and Body Works)
While you're in the tub, grab your fave scrub and exfoliate your body. We like Frank Body's Superfood Scrub ($18.95) because it nourishes your skin with hydrating ingredients including spirulina and avocado.
Give Yourself an At-Home Facial:
Once you've stepped out of your steam-filled bathroom (a great pre-facial ritual), it's time to focus on your face. Because your pores will be wide open from the steam, start out with a nose strip, using Biore's Deep Cleansing Pore Strips ($5.88).
Next, apply a charcoal face mask of your choice. We recommend C'est Moi's Purifying Charcoal Clay Facial Mask ($10) because it smoothes, gently exfoliates and minimizes the appearances of your pores (which will look non-existent when paired with the strips).
Once you've done your strip and mask, hydrate your face. The Better Skin Co.'s Mirakle Cream ($34) will leave you feeling and looking refreshed, soothed and luminous.
(via The Better Skin Co.)
Finish off your facial with an oil and a hydrating spray. For the oil, stick to something with multiple benefits, like Bold & Bare's just-released Bare Elixir ($62). This small but mighty serum will take care of hydrating, smoothing and balancing your skin. Lastly, spritz yourself with a facial mist, like Mario Badescu's Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea ($7).
Moisturize Your Body:
With exfoliation and a mini-facial out of the way, all that's left is moisturizing your body. Look for a product with calming ingredients to make you feel ready to take on the next day. We love Lush's Sleepy Body Lotion ($9.95), made with lavender water.
Catch Some Zzz's:
Get into your comfiest pair of pajamas and hit the hay. Try to aim for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep—you won't look or feel tired for your first day back on campus.
Need a little humor to get you in the mood to go back to school? HERE'S the differences between a freshman and senior's first day back.