When the sun beats down harder each time you step out of the house, head to the nearest spa to cool your heels. You may slather yourself with creams, lotions and sunscreens, but are they enough to keep you fresh and going?

Agreed, a spa treatment requires time commitment, however, there is not much wiseness in postponing your spa visit till the next holiday. Simply kick all laziness and pamper yourself to a rejuvenating therapy that’ll brace you to face the torrid summer months ahead.

Any spa treatment is not the answer, go for a specialty summer therapy that will do wonders to your body and make you feel so much lighter. We get talking to spa experts on therapies tailored for the great Indian summer and how they help restore vitality…

Cooling mint aromatherapy
This one refrains from the use of concentrated massage oils that make the glands hyperactive and leaves a burn or two. After bath, a light mint-based oil is used for a relaxing massage as mint is known to cool and comfort sunburned skin. Sandalwood with olive oil and almond oil are other variants that bear equally impressive results. Not to forget, the ‘Swiss knife of aromatherapy’, lavender known for its calming properties can be used both in summer and winter. They don’t particularly have a cooling or healing effect on the skin as mint or sandalwood does, but it helps ease frazzled nerves.

Then you are given a cold shower which soothes your nerves and your body is left tingling with freshness. Throw in a mint and sandalwood spa manicure and pedicure as well. Aromatherapy is most popular as the oils keep changing with the weather.

Body scrub with pack
You need to reserve at the most an hour for this therapy. Apricot is the most popular and widely used variety of body scrub. It exfoliates dead skin cells making skin glow. Aloe Vera gel is ideally suited for summer as it helps hydrate the skin. Follow it up with a eucalyptus oil herbal steam. A face pack or mask, depending on your skin type is further applied on you. And finally, a refreshing shower in lukewarm water. Sunscreen lotion with an SPF 15 is a must before stepping out in the sun again.

Shiatsu
A contemporary therapy with its roots in Oriental traditional medicine, Shiatsu does not use any oil, instead a dry powder is used to massage pressure points. The therapy is based on acupuncture. However, unlike most spa treatments, the receiver remains clothed through the session, and the practitioner uses his deft hands to apply pressure precisely at localised points. And for applying pressure on a larger area, he uses palms, elbows and knees.

Himalayan clay body wrap
The treatment uses a high concentration of organic herbs known for their therapeutic qualities along with mint and sandalwood powder for their oil and impurity absorbing qualities. You are first massaged thoroughly with a body polish, after which a body mask made of organic herbs is applied neck down and left for about half hour to allow the body heat to open up the pores. This helps in detoxification and absorption of minerals. And finally, a shower in lukewarm water.

Udvarthanam
Udvarthanam is an Ayurvedic therapy that is extremely effective in summer. In this hour-long treatment, the whole body is massaged with specially prepared medicinal powder made of herbs to enhance the suppleness of the skin. First, the body is massaged with a light oil with water content, and then, scrubbed using a mixture of oil and herbal powder. Further on, you are given a eucalyptus oil steam bath and a shower in lukewarm water. If you have the luxury of time, you can also go for a Jacuzzi. Udvarthanam is beneficial for those with high blood pressure and cholesterol. So much so, ten sessions a month can make you lose a few inches with flair. It is also a perfect remedy for blisters, acne and prickly heat.

Essentials for your own home spa…
- Grow an Aloe Vera plant in your kitchen garden so that you can off and on make use of its leaves to cleanse your face. Always refrigerate the leaf for about 20 minutes before using it. While going to bed apply the squashed Aloe Vera gel scrupulously on your face and neck, and leave it until next morning.
- Stock up on coconut water. It hydrates the body and makes you summer fit.
- Cover your eyes up with cucumber slices and take a beauty nap. It will do you a world of good. Or you can refrigerate the cucumber for 20 minutes and then crush it to apply it on your face.
- Don’t use the same sunscreen lotion across seasons even if the expiry date is not anywhere close. Sunscreens need to be changed every few months, for their properties slowly die down.
- Lip balm with an SPF 15 is an absolute must-have. You can go for the fragrant fruity flavours; they are a perfect substitute for lip gloss.
- Give yourself a nice foot bath complete with scrub to avoid dry feet.
- Go for sandalwood, mint or Aloe Vera based body soaps.
- Aromatic face scrub is refreshing after a hard day at work.
- A sea mineral body polish.
- Lavender bath oil. Add two drops of it in a bucket of water and bathe. It cures body odour.

Summer months are challenging especially for acne-prone skin. Protect yourself from sun scald by using exfoliants regularly, going for weekly facials and generally taking extra care of your skin.

(With inputs from Sonia Sharma, club manager, Spa Soul Galaxy, Gurgaon, and Nancy Karia, spa expert, The Resort, Mumbai.)

Courtesy: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com