Spa sensations

7:00am Saturday 20th September 2008

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Celebrate National Spa Week (September 20-28) by recreating top treatments at home.

We all love the occasional spa indulgence - a facial to brighten a lacklustre complexion, a soothing massage to ease out aches and pains, or a manicure to make nails gleam again.

But the credit crunch may mean that the only beauty attention your body's getting these days is the occasional half-hearted foot rub from your partner.

Treats such as trips to spas and salons are one of the first things people cut out when they're feeling the pinch, according to recent TNS research. Sainsbury's have dubbed our cost-saving DIY efforts the 'beauty salon to bathroom' phenomenon.

"Recently we have seen sales of our DIY beauty items go from strength to strength," says Sara Wolverson, Sainsbury's beauty manager.

If your body's screaming out for some beauty attention, claim some treat time with your own DIY spa.

With National Spa Week beginning on September 20, we reveal how to recreate the most popular spa treatments in your own home - at a fraction of the cost. Each product is pretty affordable if worked out on a cost-per-use basis.

Check in at your bathroom for some blissful me-time.

BODY BLAST Cellulite is most women's worst body enemy. Give the dreaded dimple effect the heave-ho with regular body treatments to wake-up lazy skin cells.

SPA SPLURGE :: WHAT? Urban Retreat Anti-Cellulite Body Blitz :: WHERE? Urban Retreat Harrods, Harvey Nichols Manchester, Heathrow T1 :: HOW MUCH? £80 for 90 minutes :: TREATMENT DETAILS: An anti-cellulite seaweed mud is applied to the skin to break down fatty deposits and increase circulation. A heated blanket is then wrapped around the body to intensify the treatment. After a refreshing shower, a soothing massage follows to eliminate newly released toxins.

DIY: Bag Urban Retreat's Body Detox 10 Day Anti-Cellulite Plan, £29.50 (www.boots.com). Boasting similar effects to the spa's Body Blitz, this two-part treatment combines a rich potent seaweed-based mud and cooling treatment cream. Aid cellulite disappearance by flushing out toxins with at least six to eight glasses of water a day.

FACIAL FABULOUS Complexion flagging? A facial treatment can be an instant skin reviver. If you can't find the time or cash for a facial, an at-home mask is the next best thing to give your skin a luxurious boost.

SPA SPLURGE :: WHAT? Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial :: WHERE? Elemis spas nationwide (01278 727 830/www.timetospa.co.uk) :: HOW MUCH? From £65 for 60 minutes :: TREATMENT DETAILS: This facial uses minerals that play a vital part in cell structure and cell communication resulting in firmer, uplifted skin. It's said to reduce the number of wrinkles by up to 94% and improve skin firmness by up to 57% after just one treatment.

DIY: If you're stressing over the merest hint of a wrinkle or crows' feet, a mask that lifts, hydrates and tones works wonders for brightening a tired face. For a twice-weekly treat, pamper your skin with Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Mask, £45. For a cheaper alternative use Dr Nick Lowe Lift & Hydrate Mask, £12.95 (Boots nationwide). Combine with facial massage techniques for increased effects - check out a how-to book like The Face Lift Massage (£7.49 at www.amazon.co.uk) for hints.

MANICURE MISSION There's no point investing in A/W's glossy dark nail polishes if your hands are letting you down. Add a DIY manicure to your weekly beautifying to-do list.

SPA SPLURGE :: WHAT? Jessica Deluxe Manicure :: WHERE? Bannatyne's spas nationwide (0845 434 8466/www.bannatyne.co.uk/thesensory) :: HOW MUCH? From £25 for 45 minutes :: TREATMENT DETAILS: Hands are exfoliated and cuticles are cared for with prescriptive oils and creams. The nail shape is then perfected and treatment basecoats and colour are applied for the perfect finish.

DIY: If you're using dramatic polish your talons need the perfect base for flaunting those fingernails to the max. Don't skip on the manicure basics.

Boots Salon Nails Manicure Set, £18.99, has 10 attachments for getting your nails into tip-top condition. Follow up your buffing and filing by rubbing a thick layer of luxurious hand cream into hands and arms, like Soap & Glory's Endless Glove Dry Hand Cream, £4.50 (Boots nationwide).

:: TRIED AND TESTED Want lashes to die for? Check out these mascaras to cheat your way to eye fluttering heaven.

:: Diorshow Black Out Spectacular Volume Intense Mascara, £18.50 (0207 216 0216) A must-have for fully charged glamour. This mascara gave me thick and long spidery lashes that looked show-stopping. Worth splashing out on if you want the wow factor.

5/5 :: Clinique High Impact Mascara, £12.50 (www.clinique.co.uk) This mascara wand had a fabulous thickening effect making my lashes look fuller and lustrous. The results aren't OTT so it's a versatile mascara for day or night use.

4/5 :: Max Factor Falsh Lash Effect Mascara, £10.99 (nationwide) The chunky packaging belies how quick and easy this mascara is to use. Though my lashes lacked impact after the first coat, the second added some major lash oomph.

3/5 :: BUY IT NOW Red alert! Just 1500 of these 'Laura Lees Loves Revlon' make-up bags are available at Boots.com. The limited edition bags are free when you spend £18 on Revlon make-up. Available during London Fashion Week from September 16 at www.boots.com BEAUTY BULLETIN :: CREDIT SCRUNCH The way Brits are tightening their purse strings is having an affect on our tresses, according to celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward.

"When the economy is booming and buoyant, hair becomes big and statement-like. Things become more functional in recession - clothes are utilitarian and hair is cropped short, making it easier to look after."

To stay bang on trend without upsetting the bank manager, Richard recommends 'the credit scrunch' - a "barely there curl, tousled and effortlessly styled".

:: MAN MAKE-UP Guard your make-up bags ladies, men are cosmetic-savvy and proud. Selfridges have launched wonder product Touche Eclat for guys. Dubbed the 'metrosexualisation of the cosmetics sector', the launch featured guyliner fan Stuart Pilkington from Big Brother 9, who introduced the product and showed men how to use it. YSL Touche Eclat For Men is £22.50, exclusively available at Selfridges.

UPCOMING :: Sep 19: BEAUTY Fashion Week: Check out next season's hottest S/S hair and make-up fresh from the catwalks. With pictures.

:: Sep 26: BEAUTY Autumn Winter: We reveal the key beauty trends we'll all be wearing for autumn/winter. With pictures.

:: Oct 3: BEAUTY Lazy Goddess: Stylist Hannah Sandling reveals how to do beauty routines the lazy way. With pictures.

:: National Spa Week takes place from September 20-28. Visit www.spaweek.co.uk for more information.