Having a spa day at home might not be your biggest concern at the moment, but it’s also a perfectly acceptable response to seek comfort in the control of a beauty routine. There are real stress-relieving benefits in taking 20 minutes to draw a bath or light a candle—and that’s certainly something we could all use.
This isn’t to say you need to turn your bathroom into an elaborate wellness retreat, though. A spa day at home can be as simple as popping on a sheet mask or investing in a muscle-soothing soak to ease tightness from sitting at your makeshift desk (read: couch) all day. Plus, if you’ve got the means, it’s also good time to think of your neighborhood spas that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Right now, you can help keep them in business by purchasing vouchers or ordering some of their in-house products.
Ahead, we asked estheticians, spa owners, and other experts in the art of self-care to share their best DIY spa tips and home spa treatments for you to try. Sure, there’s no comparison to the massage you’d get at five-star resort, but we’ll take all the little luxuries we can get.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Kate Middleton and Prince William just gave fans a rare glimpse at their home in celebration of Easter. The royal couple usually joins Queen Elizabeth II at St. George’s Chapel for a church service, however, this year will be different as they’re all observing the holiday separately amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic—just like many families around the world.
On Sunday, April 13 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge marked the occasion by sharing a stunning exterior shot of their London residence, Kensington Palace, surrounded by yellow daffodils. “Wishing you all a safe and happy Easter,” they captioned the post, which was accompanied by a bunny rabbit, a chick emoji and the hashtag #StayHomeSaveLives.
Of course, this Instagram is not the only way post honoring the holiday on their page. On April 8, the royal couple surprised a group of teachers and students in the U.K. with an Easter video call—and there were many bunny ears involved.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge aren’t the only members of the royal family to share messages on Easter—and it looks like flowers were the central theme for Prince Charles and Princess Eugenie’s posts as well.
The Queen also shared a message of encouragement in what is reportedly Her Majesty’s first-ever Easter address, according to The Daily Mail. The Queen, who turns 94 later this month, is social distancing at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip. In her speech, she urged the public to continue practicing social distancing.
“This year, Easter will be different for many of us, but by keeping apart we keep others safe,” she said. “But Easter isn’t canceled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever.
“We know that coronavirus will not overcome us. As dark as death can be—particularly for those suffering with grief—light and life are greater,” the monarch added. “May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.”
Just when we thought we had enough loungewear and crisp bed sheets to last us through social distancing, two of our favorite brands—Madewell and Parachute—teamed up for the collaboration of our dreams. The capsule, which launched on April 8, includes everything from Insta-worthy bed linens to the chicest dog bed we’ve ever laid eyes on.
Madewell collaborations are always on our radar, but the capsule with Parachute feels particularly serendipitous at a time when our WFH ’fits are looking a lot like our pajamas (they basically are), and we’re spending more time in bed than we’d like to admit.
Despite the coincidental timing, the brands have actually been working on the collection for over a year. “After collaborating back in 2018 on a small capsule of travel accessories, it was such a success and so much fun working with the Parachute team that we knew we wanted to continue our partnership in a bigger way,” Madewell’s head designer, Joyce Lee, tells Glamour.
The collection celebrates what both brands are known for—Madewell’s effortless design and Parachute’s beautiful, lived-in home essentials. The pieces themselves run the gamut from cotton sheets and striped duvet covers to quilted slippers and (gasp) a denim bed for your fur kid. Madewell’s denim expertise got some love in the line too, as Lee tells us the dog bed was a natural extension for the brand: “We thought a dog bed was a fun addition because everyone deserves a stylish and comfy nighttime routine,” she says. “It looks great in any room as well, which is an added bonus!”
If there’s anything that can turn our homes into a sanctuary, it’s these comfy pieces—and if you’re looking to put your dollars toward brands giving back to coronavirus relief efforts, you’re in luck: Madewell recently partnered with No Kid Hungry and will match customer donations up to $25,000.
For a purchase you can feel good about in more ways than one, here are six things from the collection worth adding to cart. FYI, you can shop the pieces directly on Parachute or Madewell.
Madewell x Parachute Striped Oversized Pajama Shirt
To protect ourselves and our most vulnerable community members, we’re spending nearly every waking moment inside—so we’re looking to spruce up our living spaces however we can. At the same time, the suffering economy is driving everyone to tighten spending and be mindful of purchases—which is why we’re looking to H&M’s chic and budget-friendly home section for everything we need to fill out our spaces for cheap.
The retail giant, which recently donated $500,000 to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, has a surprisingly wide selection of everything from bedding to kitchenware, allowing for tasteful additions to your living space that you can feel good about. Plus, the brand is offering free shipping on orders $60 and up, and you can get 20% off by joining its free membership program. So whether you’re finally starting that plant family you set out to build this spring, or are just trying to keep all your dirty sweatpants in an aesthetically-pleasing vessel, there’s something for you on this list. Ahead, all the cute finds we’re adding to cart from H&M’s Insta-worthy home section.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the foil one nail at a time, wiggling it along with the cotton ball back and forth while you pull it off. Using the orange wood stick, gently push off any excess that is left behind. Re-wrap and soak if any dip is still hanging on. Don’t pick at it.
Step 5: Buff and nourish.
Once the majority of the dip is removed, use your nail file to gently buff the entire surface of all your nails. Brush away any dust and follow with a soft buffing block. Then apply a cuticle oil like LeChat Nails Nobility Cuticle Oil to your nail beds and massage into each of your nails.
This helpful hack is a favorite of Youtuber Favrielle Brooks. It requires less time than foils, but know that it’s a bit messier.
Step 1: Gather materials.
You’ll need a large bowl, two sheets of paper towels, two plastic sandwich bags, 100% pure acetone, and cuticle oil.
Step 2: Heat water.
Fill the bowl with water about halfway, and microwave it for about two minutes. You want the water to be hot, but not scalding so it doesn’t burn you.
Step 3: Prepare paper towels.
Take one paper towel, fold it in half, and place it in the bottom of each of your sandwich bags. Then, pour in enough acetone to saturate the paper towel.
Step 4: Protect your hands.
Cover your hands in cuticle oil, leaving your nails bare. You could also use hand cream, but oil makes a better barrier. This will help prevent the acetone from drying out the rest of your hands while your polish soaks.
Step 5: Soak.
Set a timer for four to five minutes. Place your hand inside the sandwich bag and nestle your nails in between the folded paper towel. Then put the whole bag into the hot water. Move your hand in a scrunching motion along the paper towel to break up the polish. Repeat on other hand.
Step 6: Finishing touches.
Rinse away any residue and acetone, and then buff away any lingering dip polish with a nail file. If any is stuck by your cuticles, gently use a cuticle nipper to chip it off or try soaking for another minute. Buff again, and finish with cuticle oil on all your nails.
No matter which method you choose to remove your dip powder, you should give your nails some downtime in between manicures to prevent them from breaking and becoming brittle. Directly after removal, apply some cuticle oil or a heavy-duty hand lotion to nourish your nails and cuticles, since acetone can be extremely drying.
We never thought we’d spend so much time frantically wiping things down, but here we are. Our carts are filled with the best cleaning products and our homes have never looked (or smelled) this good since we moved in. With most of us on work-from-home duty until further notice, cleaning is now our new hobby. Following the deep clean you did in the early days of quarantine, you now have the time to actually do the spring cleaning you put off every year. It’s the chore we never made time for, but since we’re all in this weirdness together, we seem to have rekindled our relationship—and love—for cleaning.
A bathroom-scrub here, a kitchen cupboard-declutter there…things can get messy when you’re trying to clean—not to mention, wasteful. So we’re pleased to report modern brands are reimaging what a healthy home looks like by tackling the problem from your sink (or bathroom floor) up. Brands like Blueland, Supernatural, and Branch Basics are cutting down on single-use plastic by introducing you to reusable glass or plastic bottles. Others are changing the game by looking to the ingredients themselves, replacing harsh chemicals with essential oils that are less drying on your skin, easier on your lungs, and kinder on the planet.
Finding your tried-and-true staples at the grocery store or online is hard right now, which is why we looked for chic, modern cleaning supplies made with better-for-you and better-for-the-environment ingredients. From refillable multi-surface sprays to natural wool dryer balls that’ll survive hundreds of laundry loads, the products we found are smarter, safer—and not to mention, prettier—ways to keep your home clean and well-stocked. Ahead, 16 of the best cleaning products to add to cart right now.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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