Welcome to Gemma's virtual spa

By Gemma Rimmington

Grab yourself a glass of something fizzy, pop on your robe and let's have a spa day...

With the doors closed on salons and spas across the globe, the prospect of missing out on our much loved beauty treatments and spa days is disappointing. There is a lot to be said for how beautifying can genuinely lift our mental health and boost our confidence and now it feels more of a luxury than ever before. For those of us who are now effectively "unemployed" during Covid19, the days can feel really tough. The mental whirlwind of feeling frustrated, emotionally drained and stressed with financial worries, caring for loved ones and keeping everyone safe can make even brushing your teeth before midday a task. Then on the flip of the coin, we have our amazing key workers going out every day, risking their own health and that of their families at home. Pampering is likely to be low on the list of their priorities.  The need for self-care has never been more important than right now.

The need to feel human, normal and even a bit special! We shouldn't feel guilty for wanting some pamper time and if anything, we should allow a little me-time to keep our spirits and confidence up through this crisis.

So you might not be able to go out for your beauty treatments but I can certainly bring them to you. So, here is my round-up of my top products for the ultimate DIY home spa during quarantine.

BEAUTY LAUNDERETTE - Deluxe Bath Soak. Perfect for all skin types, dermatologist approved plus vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. The floral complex of Hibiscus and Cherry Blossom fragrance will make you feel like you are floating in a country garden amongst the flowers. It smells delicious.
£12.00 - available from www.beautylaunderette.com  and Superdrug

BEAUTY LAUNDERETTE - Buff, Bubble and Shine exfoliate and wash sponge. Use the sponge side to massage and cleanse your skin and the other side to buff away your blues (and dead skin cells). This will leave your skin feeling brand new. £4.50 - available from www.beautylaunderette.com  and Superdrug

AFRICAN EXTRACTS ROOIBOS - Exfoliating Face Scrub with Bio-Active Rooibos. Get the glow back in your face with this award-winning gentle face scrub. This refreshing foaming cleanser gently removes impurities from your skin and ingredients include Vitamin B5, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and bio-active rooibos. The rooibos plant is known for its healing and soothing properties and it also contains ground apricot seeds which remove the dry, layers of aged skin through light massage motion, it has a light, fresh fragrance and is suitable for sensitive skin.  £7.99 - available from www.africanextracts.co.uk

MASQUEBAR - Gold Hydro Gel Eye Mask. Are your eyes are feeling fatigued? These 20 minute eye patches are perfect for giving eyes some TLC during a nice bubble bath or a nap on the sofa. The hydrolized collagen and coconut extract help to improve skin elasticity and it will hydrate the skin back to life. Any remaining essence from the patches can be rubbed into your skin.  £3.00 - available from www.prettylittlething.com

OLVERUM - The Body Oil. I have previously tried the bath oil and it was incredible. Not the cheapest option for a fragrant bath, but the scent was just divine and turned bath time into a real treat so I was super excited to try the body oil. If you’re missing the smell of your favourite spa you’ll definitely get your kicks from this product. Although this is an oil, it soaks straight in to skin without leaving a greasy residue. Its ingredients are deeply nourishing and is infused with skin superfoods and anti-oxidants including Omega 3,6 and 9 and raspberry seed oil. The delicious mix of aromatherapeutic oils include lavender flower oil (to de-stress), sandalwood and frankincense oil (to soothe) and bergamot and geranium flower oil (to reinvigorate).  £40.00 for 100ml - available from www.olverum.com

TINTS OF NATURE - Hydrate Treatment. If your hair is feeling lack-lustre and dry then give this hydrating hair mask a try. Packed with natural ingredients such as almond oil, chamomile and wheat proteins, they will restore your hair back to a glossy mane like Beyoncé. Vegan friendly and cruelty free.  £9.99 - available from www.tintsofnature.com

AQUIS - Hair Turban Lisse Luxe Teal. Ok, I'll admit it... I did look at this and wonder why I would pay £30 for a hair turban when I have managed all this time just wrapping my hair in a towel when I get out of the shower. However, this is not a towel - it has real benefits when it comes to looking after your tresses. Firstly, it feels super soft, I mean seriously soft. Also, the fabric is crafted using Aquitex which absorbs the water from your hair, drying it quicker without the risk of damage from rubbing, heat or friction. There are various types of hair towels/turbans in the range and they have become very popular with those who are prone to frizzy hair (it helps to maintain curl definition due to its anti-frizz effect). If you are conscious of using environmentally-friendly products then this ticks all of the boxes.  £30.00 - available from www.lookfantastic.com

BIO MIRACLE SKIN THERAPY - Fusion Berry Blast Juice Natural Mask. If you are looking for a skin pick-me-up then this cotton sheet mask is a 20 minute fix for achieving a glowing complexion. This mask is drenched with essence and the blueberries, red wine and egg plant combination was surprisingly dreamy on the fragrance front. The mask ingredients contain plant stem cells, collagen and vitamin E to moisturise and firm the skin and Hyaluronic Acid to help improve the appearance of skin - to look more youthful. Bargain price too!  £3.00 - available from www.beautybargainsuk.com

WOODS OF WINDSOR - Lavender Nourishing Hand Cream. Hand cream is definitely high on the lock-down beauty priority list with all of the handwashing we are doing at the moment. With a mixture of shea butter, vitamin E and B5, your hands will be feeling super soft and moisturised and the light lavender fragrance is very soothing (the classic lavender fragrance combines aromatic notes of chamomile, patchouli and musk). As hands are one of the first places signs of aging show, a hand cream is a must-have product to use always, not just during lock down.  £9.99 - available from www.woodsofwindsor.co.uk or instore at Daniel's of Windsor Department Store.

ANGELA LANGFORD - Angel Eyes Nourishing Eye Oil. If you are looking for an eye product to add to your skincare regime then this delicious eye oil with a roller ball applicator is a great addition. Argan, rosehip and cooling cucumber are blended together to soothe and smooth the delicate skin around your eyes. This oil is filled to the brim with hydrating and nourishing ingredients to help reduce dark circles under the eyes and skin pigmentations. The fragrance is glorious and very calming.  £19.50 - available from www.angelalangford.com

SENSICA - Sensifirm Body Contouring and Cellulite Reduction device. With our honeymoons and trips away being cancelled or postponed a few of us are breathing a sigh of relief that we won't have to squeeze ourselves into a bikini this summer but our British weather so far has come up trumps in the sunny stakes, so that's not to say we won't still have to get more skin out than usual. Dig out those hot pants girls... the garden is the new holiday destination! I was so excited to give the Sensifirm a try. So many women have cellulite and it can be tough to combat given that it can be related to genes, age, diet and hormones. The Sensifirm device is painless and non-invasive and actually very easy to use. When I was getting ready to try this, I imagined a contraction similar to those toning pads strapped to my abs that send you through the roof every time it emits an electronic pulse. If you tried them, I know you understand and you are probably laughing with me. The Sensifirm was gentle on the various settings and can really make a difference to the appearance of your skin in just 10 minutes of use every week. It has been clinically proven to firm and tighten skin and is suitable for all skin types and complexions. It's compact too so does not require a lot of storage space. This is a really cute and effective home-spa gadget.  £299.99 (currently on special offer £229.99) - available at www.sensica.com

So there we have it... everything you need to enjoy your own home spa during lockdown.  But don’t forget, this time will pass and we will all be able to go back to our favourite salons, spas and support our local businesses again and you will still have a bathroom cabinet stashed with your own goodies for in between your appointments and spa days.