Whatever my Sunday consists
of; preferably a lie in, listening to my favourite Bollywood radio show,
enjoying a roast dinner with friends, rummaging through car boot sales or more
often or not, working: the evenings have a theme to them…they always end in a
relaxing candlelit bath. The ritual is not new, when I was growing up we didn’t
have a shower, we just had a bath tub and to save money we only had baths once
a week (bucket and jug wash downs in the week.) I know it sounds like I grew up
in the 1940s’ but for some reason my parents waited until I had
left for university before they installed luxuries like a shower and washing
machine.
Anyway I have terrifying
memories of Sunday nights; home work complete, spelling tests done, uniform
laid out and my mum scrubbing at my skin until the dead skin cells peeled off
(people pay for this kind of treatment at exotic hammams) and shampoo foaming
in my eyes.
These days the routine is much more civilised. There’s no
ironing for a start – I never iron my clothes, but thankfully in 2011 most
fabrics don’t need it and I’m not the smart cotton shirt wearing type. I get
home from the gym at 7pm, spend a couple of hours getting my flat in order for
the week, tidying up, washing up, putting the rubbish and recycling out and
preparing dinner so that come 9 o’clock I can leave the stresses and strains of
the week behind me and look forward to a clean, new start.
We’re not talking a quick in
and out and towel dry, but a blissful indulgent hour of ‘me time’ with the door
tightly locked and no distracting noises or glare of artificial lights.
And is what I have planned
for tonight!
My giant rubber duckie and
me will be bathing with a polar bear bath fizzer, the delicious Kenneth Turner candles I recently got, two new 'after-bath' products I’ve been testing
recently; Elemis Spa Home Pro-Collagen Body Cream and Celestial Spa Authentic
Clarity Cooling Foot Cream and not forgetting my faithful burger bath sponge.
To put it into context I
collect burger memorabilia. Here is some of the collection: my hambag, CD case,
two portable mirror and a burger bento box.
Yes you read that correctly
and here it is in its full glory. It was a present from my brother in law. I
knew he was going on a work trip to China (where they are made) so I put in a request but he returned
home empty handed claiming that while quirky, kitsch plastic things are made in
China you can’t buy them there. Then later in the year whilst working in Costa
Rica he found one!
No one wants wobbly
bits but we haven’t all got time to get them toned through exercise and even if
we did, a little help is always welcomed. Body firming creams are a much nicer
way to de-wobble then getting sweaty (well I think so and I’m a gym
bunny but would still much rather swap the hard work it entails for a massage!)
With it’s silky soufflé
texture and magnolia colouring it reminds me of a yummy vanilla dessert,
thankfully without the calories. It feels softening from the first application
and has anti-ageing properties too so it's extra moisturising and makes your skin look fresher. It has certainly
smoothed out my thighs and made the skin tone look more even (I’m convinced I
am not imagining this….I apply cream daily so I can spot a change easily!)
Because of its price tag (it contains some pretty impressive exotic oils and
marine extracts), it’s not one I use too liberally, it’s a definite ‘one of the
Sunday bath list’ but if you can’t get along to a real spa the next best thing
is to own some products that are spa treatment quality and this is one of them!
Next the Celestial Spa Authentic foot cream (£18.50). Because my Sunday bath takes place post-gym, my
feet are generally feeling knackered and this is the perfect remedy. I’m not
big on foot lotions, the runniness just doesn’t work with the thick skin on
feet, but this is a product that’s very different.
There
are two ranges in the collection, Comfort and Clarity which contain different
mineral and gem combinations. The Clarity Cooling Foot Treatment contains
Gemstone Malachite, a protective Gem that helps to detoxify and cleanse the
skin of impurities.
It has the consistency of
clay, a bit like a clay face mask but is extremely soft, melting into the skins
with ease. It has a surprise fragrance too, it doesn’t look like it, but it has
a citrus aroma that’s uplifting and refreshing thanks to essential oils of
Bergamot and Orange Flower, Sicilian Lemon, Sandalwood and Galbanum. I’ve been
using the cream for over three weeks now, not just after my Sunday bath but
after every trip to the gym, before bed and it’s a real pleasure. After
cleaning them my feet feel irritable and dry then once this pampering cream
goes on they are the happiest feet in the world! I am not looking forward to it
running out!
My top 10 recommendations
for the ultimate Sunday bath
Before I start my
preparations for tonight’s regime, here’s some tips to help you get started on
yours:
* Plenty of hot water: If you live in a shared
house where hot water runs out, then give it a chance to refill before running
the water, there’s nothing more disappointing than dipping your toes in to find
it’s cold.
* Candles: Light these around your bath room and
turn out the main light. You’ll instantly feel like you are in a private spa
cabin.
* Music: Ipods loaded with your favourite music
plugged into battery operated speakers are ideal.
* Pampering products: On my Sunday bath I use
different beauty products to the ones I use during the week. For general
showers I have ordinary face wash and shower gel but when it comes to my Sunday
bath I use a more expensive shower cream, take time to rub in a nice body scrub
and even use a face mask…it’s what makes the ‘Sunday bath’ more special.
* Glass of water to hand: When the doors are
closed behind you it can sometime get a bit steamy
and you don’t actually want to fall asleep so sip on water whilst in the bath
to keep you revived.
* Rubber duckie: No explanation needed, a bath
is not the same without a duck swimming past!
* Bubbles: Whether they are created by the bath
foam or you blow them from a bottle, every bath should be full of popping
bubbles.
* No clocks allowed: Never set your alarm or
take a watch with you and if you do have a bathroom clock cover it up! As soon
as you think about the time you will loose the relaxing vibe and there is no
room for stress when you’re bathing.
* Clean fluffy dressing gown on standby: After a
bath the last thing you want to do it put on restricting clothes (especially a
bra!) so wrap yourself up in a dressing gown instead just as you would if you
were on a spa retreat
* After-bath goodies: Once you’re dry it’s time
to massage in some lovely body cream, lotion or oil to keep your skin moisturised.
If you’ve got someone to help you with this stage, even better…but if not,
don’t worry. You’ll be feeling fresh, content and happy, ready to contend with
whatever next week has to bring.
Happy bathing!
Elemis products are
available from www.timetospa.co.uk in spas and salons and selected John Lewis, Debenhams and
Harvey Nichols stores.
To view the full Celestial Spa Authentic brochure of products
and treatments go to www.celestialspa.co.uk/brochure or buy them online at
http://shop.nirvanaspa.co.uk
