Three celebrated resort spas share their secrets for bringing the spa home.
Spa at L’Auberge, Sedona, Arizona
L’Apothecary Clear Mind Scrub
This Spring, the Spa at L’Auberge de Sedona will debut L’Apothecary, a place for guests to concoct and design their own bath salts, body scrubs, oils and masques from elements found in Sedona, including rosemary, clay, piñon pine, juniper and more. Meantime, we got a taste of what you’ll experience with this thoroughly relaxing home spa concoction. Use certified organic herbs and oils wherever possible.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon hulled cardamom
- 1 teaspoon dried juniper berries
- 8 ounces cane sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons safflower oil
- 1-2 tablespoons sunflower oil
Directions:
Grind herbs and berries together with a mortar and pestle. Allow your mind to become quiet. Breathe in the delightful herbal smells. Add this mixture to the cane sugar and gently stir. Notice the textures and colors. Slowly blend both oils into the sugar/herbal mixture.
In the shower, rinse the entire body to cleanse and prepare for your scrub. Apply scrub and gently rub into your skin to exfoliate. Breathe deeply while applying scrub and allow the fresh herbal aroma to fill your senses. Rinse the scrub to reveal smooth, clean skin and a clearer mind! More on Spa at L’Auberge.
Laniwai Spa at Aulani, Ko Olina, Hawai’i
Mango Scrub Exfoliation
Create a personalized body polish at Pulu Bar, an outdoor mixology station at Laniwai – A Disney Spa. “Pulu” means “to make soft, soak, moisten, saturate.” And at Pulu Bar, guests mix up a luxurious scrub to make their skin silky smooth—complimentary with any full-service spa treatment. With the help of a knowledgeable spa assistant, guests build their body polish from local, natural ingredients. Until you get a chance to go, here’s a fresh concoction that conjures up an exotic escape in your own home.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce sugar
- ½ ounce oil mix of organic coconut oil or safflower oil
- ¼ teaspoon tapioca starch
- ¼ teaspoon orange peel
- 1 pinch mango powder
- 1 pinch turmeric
- 2 pinches red sandalwood powder
- A few drops of finely blended mango juice or chunks
Directions:
Hand blend thoroughly until all clumps are removed. Apply to skin in circular massaging motions and breathe in deeply to release stress. More on Laniwai.
Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms, Phoenix
Farm to Tub Salt Scrub
Just steps from the lush Alvadora Spa, the Royal Palms’ celebrated restaurant, T. Cook’s, has recently undergone a major transformation. The new Mix Up Bar features hand-crafted, garden-to-glass beverage menu, live entertainment and inventive small plates in a contemporary setting. Become your own mixologist with this simple yet elegant homemade treat. Use ingredients that are 100 percent organic or natural where possible.
Ingredients:
- ½ to 1 cup of Epsom salt
- ½ cup safflower oil
- Essential oils of your choice
- Mason jar
Directions:
In a small mixing bowl, mix salt and oil. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Natural food stores have a wide selection of the most commonly used. Stay away from anything that states “scented” or “fragranced.” You can choose an oil fitting to the season, such as a citrus essential oil in the summer, or eucalyptus during the winter months. Mix together and spoon into a mason jar. Display your mason jar near your tub/shower area. Your scrub can be used as a body scrub or in your bathtub as a soak. Add a little raffia to the top with a handmade note, and voila, you have yourself a homemade gift! More about Alvadora Spa.
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