Whether you have the time and money to treat yourself to a spa this summer or are saving your pennies for a fabulous fall wardrobe, you can still pamper yourself like you’ve checked into a luxury retreat. All you need to do is get into the kitchen and whip up a few recipes.

No, I don’t mean a nice, big, moist chocolate cake slathered in deep chocolate icing, although that certainly falls under the realm of pampering in my book (minus the wellness factor). I’m talking about do-it-yourself spa treatments, which will help soothe sun-battered skin and weary minds.

These following tasty little skincare treats arrived in my in-box from The Well at Miramonte Resort, which is a SoCal dessert oasis just outside of Palm Springs that looks like this:

Oooohhh…

Ahhhhhh…..

Try them to treat yourself to something that won’t give you a guilt complex later.

Cooling Summer Skin Saver

1 cup Aloe Vera Gel
8 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
20 drops of Vitamin E

Apply this solution to the skin after exposure to the sun.

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Lemon Massage Oil

6 oz Grape Seed Oil
1 oz Wheat Germ
1 oz Avocado
10 drops Vitamin E
20 drops Lemon Essential Oil

Use this great oil as a nourishing moisturizer or sensual massage oil. (Now we’re talking!)

*

Lemon Toner

1 cup Witch Hazel
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
Zest from Lemon or Lemon Essential Oil

Apply to facial skin after cleaning and before moisturizing. This solution is particularly good for oily skin types, since lemon oil has astringent properties.

–Erika Lenkert

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