10 DIY Wellness Treatments You Can Do At Home & 10 You Should Leave To The Professionals
10 DIY Wellness Treatments You Can Do At Home & 10 You Should Leave To The Professionals
Self Care To Splurge And Save On
Don't be fooled by influencers showing off state-of-the-art gadgets for wellness treatments you've never even heard of. Not only are they trying to breed insecurity so they can sell you something, but some DIY wellness treatments can be potentially damaging! Luckily, there are plenty that you can do safely at home.
1. Face Masks
Face masks are one of the easiest wellness treatments around. Depending on the ingredients, face masks can improve your skin's texture, clear pores, and calm inflammation. If you want to be extra health-conscious, ditch the single-use sheet mask, after all, we only get one planet!
2. Gua Sha
Gua sha is a practice in traditional Chinese medicine that went mainstream a few years ago. Gua sha involves scraping a jade tool across the skin to stimulate blood flow and lymphatic drainage. While the face is the most popular place to gua sha, you can apply the practice to any part of your body with varying amounts of pressure.
3. Hair Glossing
Hair gloss treatments look wonderful, but they wear off in about a month, and they aren't cheap. Luckily, there are a ton of salon-quality alternatives that you can apply yourself. Just be careful if you use one with pigment, you don't want it to be patchy.
4. Foot Soak
Few parts of your body deserve as much TLC as your feet. You can DIY a foot soak with ingredients you probably have in your cupboards. To lock in moisture, put on thick socks immediately after moisturizing.
5. Aromatherapy
There are a bunch of different ways you can use aromatherapy at home. You can use an essential oil diffuser to create a relaxing environment. Or, you can put a few drops in hot water and let the steam open your pores up.
6. Body Scrubs
Sugar and salt scrubs generally aren't too abrasive and are easy to make. Scrubs exfoliate your skin of dead cells while putting moisture back into the skin. If you're making your own body scrub you want a sandy consistency.
7. Epsom Salt Baths
One of the easiest ways to ease aches and pains is to take an Epsom salt bath. The combination of warm—not hot—water with magnesium can reduce inflammation, relax stiff muscles, and encourage better sleep. To get the most out of your bath, dim the lights and apply a warm compress to your eyes.
8. Eat Healthy
A healthy diet isn't so much a wellness treatment as it is general good advice. While you can't necessarily "eat your skincare" like influencers would have you believe, a healthy diet will have your body feeling limber and energized. Of course, sometimes the best self-care is also a big bowl of ice cream!
9. Get Good Sleep
Similar to our last point, this isn't technically a "treatment". However, getting a good night's sleep is one of the most restorative thing you can do for your body. Tips for improved sleep hygiene will have you waking up refreshed and eager to take on the day.
10. Nature Walks
Never underestimate the power of a nature walk. Not only do you get the benefits of fresh air and exercise—light exercise such as a gentle walk is always better than no exercise—but you also get to explore the beauty of nature. One of the best things you can do for yourself is unplug and be present in the natural world.
Now that we've covered some treatments you can do yourself, let's look at a few you should leave to the professionals.
1. Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a controversial procedure which involves shaving the peach fuzz and dead skin from your face. Allegedly, this exfoliates and helps products last longer. However, that peach fuzz is supposed to be there and you could seriously damage your skin!
2. Microneedling
Microneedling is as scary as it sounds. Tiny needles create more collagen by triggering your skin's healing response, reducing acne scars and fine lines. While minimally invasive, anything involving needles should be lead to the professionals.
3. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels remove the top layers of your skin to reveal smoother and more elastic skin underneath. These can be helpful for treating hyperpigmentation, scarring, or fine lines. Done improperly, chemical peels can do more harm than good, burning and scarring your skin.
4. Waxing
Like the peach fuzz on your face, your body has hair for a reason. Waxing your legs is fine, but for more sensitive areas you definitely want to see a professional. One wrong move and you have a really messy injury.
5. Pore Extractions
If you're prone to pimples or blackheads, the best thing you can do for them is apply a pore strip or pimple patch. We know how tempting it is seeing a nice juicy pimple just waiting to pop. Unfortunately, popping can spread bacteria throughout your skin.
6. Tooth Whitening
Your teeth are extremely sensitive, and at-home whitening treatments may not cut it as there is a limit on how much hydrogen peroxide these products can contain. Additionally, DIY treatments can leave your teeth looking uneven and discolored. A dentist can provide you with more effective treatment.
7. Lash Lifts
Just like with needles and bikini areas, you really don't want to roll the dice with your eyeballs. Lash lifts involve glue and chemicals right next to your eyeballs. One wrong move and it's over.
Hayley Kim Studios on Unsplash
8. Microcurrent Therapy
Microcurrent devices provide an immediate alternative to Botox by lifting and lightening the skin. However, at-home usage can cause muscle fatigue or irritation. Additionally, these devices are not cheap, so you aren't necessarily saving money by skipping over the salon.
9. Massage
Hear us out. There's no harm in asking a loved one for a back rub, especially if it's in a spot you can't reach. However, you'll get more effective results by seeing a professional who actually knows what they're doing.
10. IV Therapy
IV therapy has been popular for the mega-wealthy as a means of replenishing vitamin and mineral levels after a wild night out. While we don't think anyone has tried this at home, it's better safe than sorry. Always have a professional stick needles in you.
