After a long workday, we find ourselves back at home already preparing for the next day without taking a moment to just relax. But if you've got ten minutes to wipe off your mascara and lipstick, then you have more than enough time to unwind with an evening beauty routine.
Whether it's an aromatherapy bath or soothing hand or foot massage, here are seven beauty treatments to help you ease into a good night's sleep:
- Give yourself a good dry body brushing. This relaxing form of exfoliation helps to stimulate circulation, detox the lymphatic system, shed dead skin cells and reduce cellulite.
- Relax in a warm bath. Light a few candles, add a few drops of an essential oil like jasmine, chamomile or rosemary into the bath and soak away the day's stress. (And if your home is sans tub, just drop one of these bath bombs onto the shower floor.)
- Restore damaged strands using a hot oil hair treatment. Heat up a small amount of extra virgin olive oil in a microwaveable safe bowl or cup for a few seconds. Pour it onto your hair, massage the oil gently into the scalp, then top it off with a shower cap or towel to lock in the moisture. Rinse out after 15 minutes.
- Apply a soothing facial mask. You may look like Jason or Mrs. Doubtfire, but if you've only got time to for one nighttime beauty ritual this should be it. The cooling, tingling sensation that face masks provide is only just the beginning of their many beauty benefits.
- Soothe dry, cracked heels with moisturizer and warm socks. You may not spend an entire workday running around in four-inch stilettos (or maybe you do), but that doesn't mean your feet aren't in need of some relief. Once you've slipped into your PJs, apply a foot lotion that contains tea tree or peppermint oil and cover with fuzzy socks.
- Relieve stress and tension with a hand massage. Show your hands some TLC by rubbing on a moisturizing hand cream and working the product from the wrists, into your palms and down to the fingertips.
- Spritz pillow with calming scents. Before you hit the sheets, lightly mist your cushions with lavender or ylang ylang to drift into a blissful slumber. (Plus, your hair will smell like a sweet bouquet.)
http://25.media.tumblr.com/0b68990cae051a5fc35ed4fca6a2abef/tumblr_mk2n5..." alt="">
http://newnownext.mtvnimages.com/2013/03/tumblr_mfb3dpZ4kb1qgcra2o1_500.gif" alt="">
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mefcn6riT61rvkhiuo1_400.gif" alt="">
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltekpvjVwB1qkile0.gif" alt="">
Too stressed to sleep? Here's some tips:
Want more HuffPost Style beauty content? Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostBeauty. (For everything else check out our main HuffPost Style Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram @HuffPostStyle.)
---
Do you have a beauty story idea or tip? Email us at beautytips@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)