A DIY spa night is the cheapest luxury there is. With an hour, a bathtub or a shower, and a few things from the kitchen cupboard, you can give yourself most of what a day spa offers: quiet, warmth, a good scent, softer skin and a reason to slow down.
This is our step-by-step version: how to prepare, how to put together your own spa kit so the next one takes five minutes to set up, and a sequence for the evening itself.
Prepare the space
The difference between a bath and a spa night is mostly preparation. Twenty minutes before you start:
- Tidy the bathroom and clear the edge of the tub.
- Fold a fresh towel on the bath mat and hang a robe within reach.
- Put slippers by the door and a glass of water where you’ll see it.
- Set a bath pillow on the tub edge and a tray across it.
- Start a diffuser or light candles in holders, and dim the main light.
- Choose a playlist or audiobook and put your phone on do-not-disturb.
Make your own spa kit
A spa kit is simply the things you use for a spa night, kept together in one basket so you can start in minutes. Ours would have:
- For the face: a gentle cleanser, two or three sheet masks or a jar of clay mask, a headband, and a soft face cloth. A facial steamer if you’d like to treat yourself.
- For the bath: a jar of bath salts or a few bath bombs, and a homemade sugar scrub (recipe below).
- For comfort: a bath pillow and a bathtub tray.
- For afterwards: a rich body lotion or oil, lip balm, and a robe.
Keep the basket in a cupboard, restock it after each use, and it doubles as a lovely gift when filled for someone else.
Two kitchen-cupboard recipes
Sugar scrub. Mix half a cup of sugar with a quarter cup of almond, olive or melted coconut oil. Add a teaspoon of honey if you like. Use it on elbows, knees and feet, not your face, and rinse well. Store it in a clean jar for up to a couple of weeks.
Simple soak. Stir a cup of Epsom salt into a warm bath. If you want scent and your skin tolerates it, mix a few drops of lavender essential oil into a tablespoon of carrier oil or full-fat milk first, so the oil disperses instead of floating on top.
The evening, step by step
- Cleanse your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser.
- Steam or warm cloth (5 minutes). Lean over a steamer, or hold a warm, damp face cloth to your skin.
- Mask (10 to 15 minutes). Apply a face mask, then run the bath while it works.
- Soak (20 to 30 minutes). Add your salts or a bath bomb, lie back on the pillow, and read or listen to something.
- Scrub. Sit up and use the sugar scrub on rough spots, then rinse.
- Rinse the mask with warm water and pat dry.
- Moisturise while damp, face and body, then lip balm.
- Wind down. Robe, herbal tea, and bed. Skip screens for the last half hour if you can.
The starter kit
Three pieces that turn an ordinary evening into a spa night, at a modest total. Works with a shower or a tub.
| Piece | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scent | InnoGear ultrasonic diffuser | The most-reviewed diffuser on Amazon: simple, quiet, inexpensive. All diffusers |
| Bath and body | Body & Earth lavender gift set | Bubble bath, bath salts, shower gel, lotion and a candle in an easy-to-like lavender. All gift sets |
| Face | EZBASICS nano-ionic facial steamer | A first facial steamer that heats fast and shuts off when dry. All steamers |
More ideas: our 14 ideas for an at-home spa experience, the solo spa night guide, and the complete spa night kit by budget.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for a DIY spa night?
A warm bath or shower, a face mask, something to scrub with (homemade sugar scrub works), a moisturiser, a towel and a robe. Candles or a diffuser and music set the mood.
How do I make a spa kit at home?
Gather a cleanser, face masks, a headband, bath salts or bath bombs, a scrub, a body lotion and a lip balm in one basket. Add a bath pillow and tray if you have a tub.
Can I add essential oils straight to the bath?
It is better to mix a few drops into a tablespoon of carrier oil or milk first, so the oil disperses instead of sitting on the water and on your skin. Skip them if you have sensitive skin or are pregnant.
