A Day at the Spa-- Care Package Style!

College is stressful-- especially if you’re just starting your journey as a freshman. It’s a whole new world of classes, people, professors, homework, and projects that no one is ever entirely prepared for. It’s also the first time a lot of students are away from home, which may cause them to experience some degree of homesickness! Care packages are are a fantastic way to show that college student in your life that you’re thinking about them-- and that you’re rooting for them to do well at school, with friends, and in any activities they decide to join as well. 

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Lots of people send care packages with students’ favorite treats, snacks, or baked goods, but if you happen to know a young lady that’s navigating college for the first time, chances are she could use some “me-time” once in a while. A relaxing spa care package is different than your typical care package, and is meant to keep her relaxed and comfortable, so she rejoin the hectic university life rejuvenated. We’ve put together this list of all the necessary items you’ll need to send that special girl a much appreciated spa care package-- it will definitely bring a smile to her face and give her some much needed pampering.

Relaxing and Unwind After a Long Day

Let’s face it, the days are long in college-- there’s classes, study groups, labs, and part-time jobs to get through before you can go home. When your student finally gets to return to their dorm or apartment at the end of the day, their brain is already thinking about what needs to get done in preparation of tomorrow’s demands. But before they consider any of that, these de-stressing options will allow them to make some time to just relax a bit, before tackling any additional projects. These are a couple of low-key and easy spa options that can be done in no time.

Tea

When you’re putting together a great spa care package, make sure to include some relaxing herbal tea. Lavender tea is a favorite, but there are all kinds of other options out there like lemon, chamomile, or mint. Consider getting your college gal a mix and let her decide which she likes to unwind to most! 

Tea is easily prepared, even in the dorms, where a nice steaming cup is just a hot pot boil away. Herbal tea is recommended since it does not have the caffeine that black and green tea contain, allowing her to sip away the day’s worries.

Diffusers 

What spa visit wouldn’t be complete without candles? Unfortunately, these are typically not allowed in dorms, which is a bummer for those who enjoy their fragrant scents. Not to worry, get a diffuser instead! These simple devices utilize the aromatic properties of essential oils, and can really change the feeling of an entire room. You can opt to go for the type that you plug in and vaporizes the oil into their, or keep it simple and go for the reed diffusers-- which is also sure to offer a tranquil scent to her room.

The choice in scents is up to you, but some of the most calming are lavender, rose, and tea tree oil. It’s a nice way to tie in a little extra pampering at the end of her day.

Masks

Masks are well known for their rejuvenative properties, minimizing pores and keeping skin looking fresh and healthy. This is an extra step your college student can put into her routine ensuring a nice break from a hectic day, and some self-care. There are all kinds of mud masks, clay masks, honey masks, and charcoal masks, which address certain skin concerns-- but all of them are a fantastic way to relax and help your skin out at the same time. Just be sure to remind your college girl to stop and get a cucumber for her eyes to ensure some additional hydration-- and complete the spa look!

Shower Time-- Perfect for Any Shower Caddy!

If your college girl has a little more time on her hands for some deeper spa treatments, consider picking up some of these great shower options. They’re a special way to give her some much needed relaxation-- she might think she was visiting her hometown spa!

Shower steamers

Because no one takes baths in the dorms, thankfully there are shower steamers. They are essentially the same thing as a bath bomb, minus the bath. Easily carried in her shower caddy, you just place it on the floor of the shower and allow the water to open up the essential oils in the capsule. It creates a relaxing and enjoyable shower-- sure to keep her ready to face anything that her classes or professors can send her way.

Shower steamers come in all kinds of wonderful scents, so make sure to include a couple of these in her spa care package. All the girls on her floor are going to wonder where she gets such wonderful smelling shower steamers!

Handmade soaps

Handmade soaps with quality ingredients will be a nice change from her bargain soap from the closest Walgreens. There are a lot of proprietors that offer soaps made from olive oil, rosehip oil, and eucalyptus oil that will do wonders on her skin-- especially if she’s going to school in a dry climate. 

Many soaps are also made with soothing ingredients such as goat’s milk and honey, which offer better, longer lasting moisture protection for the skin. Not to mention they come in all kinds of scents! If your college girl is into sweet smells like blackberry and honey, or prefers more muskier soaps, like cinnamon and cloves, there is definitely a soap for her! 

Sponges

No spa package is complete without a great sponge. She may reach for her loofah daily, but when it comes to a “spa day,” she’s definitely going to reach for her all natural spa sponge. Natural sea sponges produce wonderful amounts of lather, and are soft and resilient. They’re really easy to take care of as well-- just squeeze out extra water and allow to dry fully. That’s it! 

The sponges are naturally bacteria resistant, which is always good news in a dorm room. Including this sponge with some luxurious soap is sure to make her show feel more like a spa!

Exfoliators

Scrubs are a great way to make sure your skin is looking its best. You can opt for sugar or salt exfoliants, but both remove dead skin to reveal healthy, glowing skin underneath. There are exfoliators specifically designed for treating your face, or you can opt to include an all body scrub in your care package. Scrubs are also a great way to make sure areas that tend to get dry easily-- such as knees, elbows, and heels-- are well cared for. Your college student can use her scrub during her shower and afterwards apply lotion to really lock in the moisture for her skin.

A little goes a long way with scrubs, so she won’t have to use it everyday, allowing it to last a little bit longer. That means more spa days!

Pamper Yourself Before Bed

As your college gal prepares for bed, give her some options that are sure to keep her well rested and ready to face another day. Getting a good night's sleep is key to reaching her full potential during the day, so make sure she’s preparing for bed in a relaxing way.

Eye Mask

Sometimes dorms are busy places-- people studying late, maybe partying late, or just binge watching some Netflix. When it’s time for bed, make sure your college girl is able to block out those distractions and bright lights with a luxurious eye mask. Depending on which kind you get, eye masks can also reduce puffiness and under eye circles, which can both be signs of fatigue. 

There are also masks available that can either be frozen or heated up in the microwave, depending on what you’d like it to do. Heating up her mask before bed will create a relaxing, dark environment that is perfect for her to catch up on some sleep!

Linen sprays

Linen sprays, or hydrosols, are also a great option for creating a relaxing bedroom and prepare your college student for a restful night. Simply have them spray their sheets or bedding a couple of hours before bed to allow the essential oils to seep into the linens. Lavender or mint hydrosols are particularly good at inducing relaxation and sleepiness-- the perfect way to get a good night’s rest!

Lotion

Include some lotion in your spa care package as well, as putting some on to skin before bed is a great way to get some extra moisturizing in. Thicker lotions are recommended as well, as there is more time for the skin to absorb the moisture without disruption. Lotions come in all kinds of soothing scents, and coupled with a mask and some linen spray, your college girl should be well on her way to restful sleep!

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College students need some extra care in the first couple of months away from home, which is why sending a care package is such a thoughtful idea. Whether you know someone just starting school-- or who could use a pick me up-- consider putting together a spa care package and brighten their day.