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" If you&amp;#039;re as stressed as the rest of us, chances are you can&amp;#039;t even find time to make a spa appointment, even if you had the time to go to one. We feel your pain. That&amp;#039;s why we&amp;#039;ve collected these at-home spa treatments that are easy, fun and oh-so-relaxing. Grab a magazine, whip up these recipes and enjoy some down-time\u2014before someone calls and asks for five dozen cookies for the bake sale tomorrow! (Turn off your phone)!   Stress can really creep up on you! Just getting through your daily to-do list can make your head spin, not to mention those busier times when there just aren&amp;#039;t enough hours in the day. &amp;quot;Stress can also wear down your immune system and cause fatigue,&amp;quot; says Michael Finkelstein, MD, founder of the healthy-living concept &amp;quot;Skillful Living.&amp;quot; The solution: Set aside &amp;quot;me&amp;quot; time once a week to recoup. Get started with these pampering techniques from the pros. Ahhh!    Relieve Tension While Promoting Shine A weekly scalp rub can soothe sore muscles in your head and neck (so good for tension headaches!), but it&amp;#039;s fantastic for your hair, too, helping spread out natural oils to enhance shine. To give your hair a luster workout, start with dry hair and, at the base of your neck, use the tips of your fingers to make slow, circular motions on your scalp, working up toward your hairline. Then reverse by raking fingers down through your hair. Repeat steps for 10 minutes.   Honey-Banana Hair Smoothie Get hair super-shiny and moisturize the scalp with this recipe from Keneesha Hudson, owner of Urbanbella Salon in Atlanta. 1 mashed banana 1 Tbsp plain yogurt 2 Tbsp condensed soy milk 3 drops honey Blend together ingredients and apply to wet hair (pre-shampoo). Prevent dripping by wrapping hair in plastic wrap and covering with a towel. After an hour, rinse out, then shampoo as usual.    Repair Overnight Seventy-six percent of Americans have a sleep disorder* and aren&amp;#039;t getting the proper seven to 10 hours of rest. &amp;quot;Sleep is an integral part of maintaining your health,&amp;quot; says Andrew Weil, MD, pioneer in integrative medicine and creator of the Night Health Skincare line for Origins. Like children, adults can benefit from a nighttime ritual that preps the mind for sleep\u2014by ridding the body of tension, especially in the neck and shoulder area. As part of this routine, give yourself a five-minute massage with a lavender-scented lotion (to calm the senses). Use your fingertips to apply it in a circular motion to the hollow point at the base of the skull. Then sweep fingers down toward your shoulders.   Milk &amp;amp;amp; Honey Facial Mask Beat dryness with a hydrating facial mask from Bettijo B. Hirschi, creator of Bath By Bettijo, an all-natural spa skincare line. 4 Tbsp powdered milk 2 Tbsp warm water  2 Tbsp honey 1 washcloth Combine ingredients and stir until smooth. Spread mixture on face (avoid eyes and mouth). Wet washcloth with warm water and rest it over the mask for 10 minutes. Rinse off mask using the washcloth and pat dry.    Lift &amp;amp;amp; Cleanse Skin Give yourself a firming facial each morning and night. &amp;quot;Applying uniform strokes when washing your skin helps improve blood circulation and renew elasticity,&amp;quot; says Patty Schmucker, esthetician and founder of DoshaCare, an Ayurvedic skincare line. Here&amp;#039;s how: Use your ring and middle fingers (they apply the least amount of pressure to skin), and\u2026   1. Forehead Rake your fingers in upward strokes toward the hairline.   2. Cheeks In three separate strokes, gently swipe from the sides of your mouth out toward below your ears; then from the sides of your nose out to the middle of your ears; then sweep below the eye area out toward your temples.   3. Chin and jawline Massage in a circular motion.    Erase Dry, Cracked Heels &amp;quot;Next time you decide to eat fresh pineapple or kiwi, recycle their skins to create a unique foot treatment,&amp;quot; says Susie Wang, creator of 100% Pure, an all-natural, fruit-based makeup and skincare collection sold on QVC. The skins contain bromelain (a meat tenderizer), which naturally helps exfoliate feet. Simply rub the fleshy part of the pineapple or kiwi skin along the bottom of each foot for five minutes, focusing on heels, between toes and on calluses. Rinse feet with warm water and towel dry before finishing with a moisturizing foot lotion to maintain softness.   Essential Body Scrub &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s easy to create a pampering body scrub,&amp;quot; according to Anne-Marie Faiola, DIY beauty expert of Bramble Berry, a beauty crafting supplier. The ingredients you need are right in your kitchen. This weekly scrub will shed scaly skin and promote a healthy glow. 1/2 cup sugar  1/2 cup olive oil 10 drops essential oil  Combine ingredients and gently rub over your body. Concentrate on areas prone to dry, rough patches, like elbows, knees and heels. Rinse off and pat dry. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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