How To Have An At Home Spa Day

Creating an at home spa day is the perfect way to celebrate children’s or adult’s birthdays alike, especially when you’re stuck at home. We have lots of ideas including DIY face and hair masks, bath bomb making, mocktail recipes and some general relaxation and pampering inspiration.

For my daughter’s 9th birthday she requested a grown up pamper party for her and her friends. Sadly we found ourselves in another lockdown due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, so that wasn’t possible. However, I was determined to still make the day special for her, and once again had to think outside the box.

At the beginning of the pandemic I organised a pirate themed lockdown birthday for my son. Isla wanted something more grown up than that, so I set about organising a fabulous at home spa day for her and her sister. They had a blast and even her little brother wanted to join in too.

We made bath bombs and homemade face and hair masks, enjoyed afternoon tea and mocktails, relaxed and had fun and of course ate lots of birthday cake!

If you would like some ideas to host your own at home spa day including recipes, then read on or pin it for later!

Pin How to Have an At Home Spa Day for Later!

Making Bath Bombs

Making bath bombs is a great little craft project that we have done before. What child doesn’t love a bath bomb? They are really simple to make, but do require adult supervision due to the caustic nature of some of the ingredients on their own.

We used a kit that I already had. However, as they are so simple to make, you could just buy the raw ingredients. The basic principle is 2 parts sodium bicarbonate to 1 part citric acid. You can add additional ingredients such fragrance or essential oils, dried lavender or rose petals and coloured dyes or pigment powder. Then you need to add a little water at a time until the mixture clumps together, then compress into a mould.

The plastic moulds we used came with the kit, but again I’m sure you can find these separately. Silicone moulds would work easily as well.

To make 2 bath bombs we used:

• 2x 50ml scoops of sodium bicarbonate
• 1x 50ml scoop of citric acid
• 6 drops of fragrance (we used lavender oil)
• 2 drops of dye

We mixed the ingredients in a bag so the kids didn’t get it on their hands. You can mix the ingredients with your hand in a bowl but be sure to wear plastic gloves when doing so. Once all the ingredients are mixed together you add 1/4 tsp of water at a time and keep mixing until it resembles wet sand and holds it shape when pinched together. You then compress the mixture into your mould, pushing down hard. Wait for a minute or two and then turn the bath bombs out on a sheet of card or paper.

Homemade Face and Hair Masks

I created a homemade face and hair mask work shop. All the recipes use natural edible ingredients, so they are suitable for children. (Obviously you need to be aware of any allergies and sensitivities your child or other children attending have).

I set up a station with all the ingredients laid out, with measuring spoons and bowls. I printed the recipes out and laminated them into little recipe books with easy to follow instructions for the children. The kids loved making up their own products, and I was surprised to see Oliver wanting to get involved too.

Just a few words of advice- if using banana you might want to mash it yourself, or use a blender- lumps of banana are not easy to wash out of hair! If using oats- give it a few minutes after you’ve made the mask before applying for it to thicken. Lastly if your coconut oil and or honey is to thick, warm the mixture gently makes it more liquid.

Face Mask Recipe

• 2 tbsp Natural Yoghurt
• 1/4 Banana
• 1/2 tbsp Honey
• 2 tbsp rolled oats

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl making sure the banana is well mashed. Let it sit for a few minutes before applying to damp skin. I found it easiest to apply with a pastry brush. Avoid the eye area and relax for at least 15 minutes. You can apply cucumber slices to your eyes whilst you are relaxing. When done wipe off with a damp flannel.

Hair Mask REcipes

Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

• 1/2 Banana
• 1 tbsp Coconut oil
• 1 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp Coconut milk

Mash the banana well and use a blender if necessary, then mix all the ingredients in a bowl. If the mixture is too lumpy heat gently before applying to damp hair. Once applied wrap hair in cling film and then in a towel and leave to work for about 30 minutes. Then rinse and shampoo as normal.

Soothing Hair Mask

• 1 1/2 tbsp Oats
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp Natural yoghurt

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Leave to stand for a few minutes to allow the mixture to thicken slightly before applying to damp hair. Once applied wrap hair in cling film and then in a towel and leave to work for about 30 minutes. Then rinse and shampoo as normal.

Other At Home Spa Day Ideas

When the hair and face masks were applied, the kids relaxed on the sofa with cucumber on their eyes, and feet soaking in a bowl of warm water and their previously made bath bombs, listening to chilled out music.

We had planned to do more, but honsetly completley ran out of time!

Other ideas for at home spa include:

• Foot scrub and massage
• Hand scrub and massage
• Head massage with hot oils (melted coconut oil or warm olive oil)
• Orbeze foot baths
• Mini manicures
• Mini pedicures
• Glitter and press on tatoos
• Glitter make up
• Baths with bath bombs glitter and glow sticks

Food and Drink

I decided that lunch would be a grown up afternoon tea. Kindly provided by my Mother in law it consisted of finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiche, scones and of course cake!

We also had some mocktails served in sugar rimmed glasses with lemon slices to make the kids feel like they were at a luxourious spa. You can use soda or sparkling water with the mocktails.

Mocktail REcipes

Watermelon Cooler

• 1/2 Watermelon
• Juice of 3 lemons
• 100g caster sugar
• 500ml sparkling water or soda

Blend the watermelon, lemon juice and sugar together. Pass through a sieve before adding the sparkling water. Serve over crushed ice.

Elderflower and Apple Sparkler

• 2 1/2 tbsp Elderflower cordial
• 500ml Cloudy apple juice
• 500ml sparkling water or soda

Mix all the ingredients together and serve with ice and a slice of lemon or lime.

At Home Spa Day Birthday Cake

No birthday would be complete without a birthday cake, and I was set the task of creating an at home spa day themed birthday cake.

I love baking, but I have always said sugar paste decorations are a skill I have yet to master. Not my best effort, but Isla loved it and it tasted good so that’s all that matters really.

I hope this has given you lots of ideas and inspiration if you are planning your own at home spa day to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Kerry x