Happy long weekend friends! Although to be honest, the past couple of weekends have felt like a long weekend anyway because of all the staying in. I thought I’d share some recent zero waste self-care things I’ve been loving and what better time than a long weekend of staying in, to give yourself a little pamper! So kick off your shoes, light a candle, grab a hot drink and let’s get into some cozy zero waste self-care ideas.
Body Scrubs
There are tons of DIY body scrubs out there that you can quickly whip up and use the next time you’re in the shower or having a bath. Body scrubs are an extremely relaxing thing to do and is great for your skin. It helps to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and super soft! Here is a simple recipe you can create using some products you might already have in your home.
DIY Sweet Sugar Body Scrub
In a clean bowl, add 1/2 cup of sugar (I like to use brown sugar or raw turbinado sugar). Gradually add in 2-3 tbsp of sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Slowly add in the oil and mix the two ingredients together until you reach a consistency that resembles wet sand. Scoop the scrub into an air-tight container. I love to upcycle jars for purposes just like this! I had an old coconut oil moisturizer that I recently finished using up so I cleaned out the container using hot, soapy water and it’s the perfect storage solution for this scrub.
I’ve written about reusing coffee grounds in a body scrub in a previous post which you can check out here if you’re interested in another recipe! If you like, you can try switching out the coconut oil used in that recipe for sweet almond oil.
How to use:
To use this scrub in the shower, scoop a small amount with your hands and gently apply the scrub onto your skin in light, circular motions. Rinse off the scrub with water and pat dry with a towel. Be sure to follow up with a luxurious body butter — see below!
Safety Razor
After exfoliating, now is the perfect time to shave if you wish. I wanted to highlight this safety razor that I’ve been using for the past couple of months from Canadian brand, Well Kept. Honestly, it was a little intimidating for me at the beginning, but after some practice and learning some tips and tricks to using a safety razor, I’ve really enjoyed this sustainable swap I’ve made. I’ve found that using a safety razor has slowed down my self-care process when I’m in the shower just simply because I have to be more careful. The simple act of shaving has become a reminder to slow down.
Do you use a safety razor and if so, do you have any tips for beginners?
Body Butter
I had to mention this body butter again because it is SO good! I have the driest skin ever and it is just so moisturizing and has such a lovely, whipped texture that makes it really enjoyable to use. If you use this body butter followed after the above mentioned sugar scrub, let me tell you, your skin will feel like a baby’s bottom.
DIY Whipped Body Butter
I’ve made an entire video on how to make this whipped body butter which you can find here. Here’s the TLDR version of that video. Melt 1/2 cup of shea butter, 1/4 cup of coconut oil, and 1/4 cup of sweet almond oil over a double boiler until completely liquid. Let the oils harden in the fridge. Whip up the oils with a whisk or electric hand mixer until you’ve reached a light, airy whipped icing consistency. Scoop into a clean air-tight container and there you have it!
How to use:
This body butter is best used after showering because your pores are open and ready to absorb the moisturizer. Apply a light layer of body butter all over your skin. Let the oils melt into your skin.
Clay Mask
I think after all that pampering in the shower, it’s time to work a little magic on our faces — cue the face mask. My personal favourite is doing a clay mask, but really any kind of mask is so soothing and relaxing for your skin. I’ve been using clay masks from Canadian brand, Eluo for the past year and have seen amazing results in my skin. I also thoroughly enjoy the slow, intentional process of mixing up my clay mask and applying it to my skin. Let me tell you, I’m not the only one in my house that enjoys doing a clay mask!
What are your favourite kinds of masks to do?
Get Brewin’
To complete this self-care evening, why not brew a comforting hot drink to enjoy. In the evenings I usually opt for tea and prefer to use loose leaf teas when I can, to reduce on packaging and also because a lot of tea bags are actually made of plastic and can’t be composted. So opt for loose leaf when you can! Other hot drinks I love are coffee (usually in the morning), matcha latte, or the occasional hot chocolate. Whatever your drink of choice, get brewing and enjoy a quiet moment.
Now that I’m at the end of this post, I’m feeling extremely relaxed and ready to grab a hot cup of chamomile tea and snuggle up on the couch for an evening in.
My evening plans? Maybe read a book or catch some reruns on Netflix!
This post is not sponsored and but mentions some gifted items. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!