4 Self-Care Sunday Recipes Using Natural Oils & Aromatherapy
4 self care Sunday recipes with natural oils: a scrub, a face steam, a bath soak and a massage blend.
In this guide
A self-care Sunday is your time to slow down, reset and look after your body and mind. These 4 easy DIY recipes use natural oils and aromatherapy: a steamy bath soak, a coffee body scrub, a facial steam and a lymphatic massage oil. Each one takes minutes to make and helps you feel calm, restored and glowing.
Key takeaways
- The best aromatherapy oils for a self-care day are lavender, cedarwood, clary sage and peppermint.
- A warm bath with Epsom salt and essential oils eases muscle tension and stress.
- A coffee and sugar scrub with lemon and cedarwood buffs away dead skin and boosts circulation.
- A peppermint, thyme and lavender steam opens the pores and helps you breathe more easily.
- Always mix essential oils into a carrier before they touch your skin or go in the bath.
What is a self-care Sunday?
Self-care Sunday is a day set aside to rest, recharge and nourish yourself before the new week. Maybe you have had a demanding week, it is cold and grey outside, or you are simply craving rest.
Dedicating your Sunday to wellness helps you unwind. These recipes use natural oils for skin care and aromatherapy blends to help you feel calm, restored and glowing from the inside out.
Short on time or budget? Our 5 self-care ideas that don't cost a thing need nothing but you.
How to plan your self-care Sunday at home
You do not need to do everything at once. Pick the recipes that suit your mood, or work through all four in this order.
| Recipe | Time | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Facial steam | 5 to 10 minutes | Opens pores and clears the head |
| Coffee body scrub | 10 minutes | Smooth, glowing skin |
| Aromatherapy bath | 20 to 30 minutes | Releases tension and stress |
| Lymphatic oil massage | 10 to 15 minutes | Relaxed, rejuvenated body |
4 recipes for your self-care Sunday
1. Aromatherapy Steamy Bath
Best for: letting go of muscle tension and stress
- 1 cup Epsom or sea salt
- ⅓ cup Bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbsp Carrier oil, such as sweet almond, jojoba or olive
- 2 drops Clary sage oil
- 3 drops Lavender oil
- 3 drops Cypress oil
- 2 drops Atlas cedarwood oil
- Optional Lavender buds or flowers of your choice
Mix everything in a bowl and add it to a warm bath. Warm water opens pores, promotes circulation and helps flush out toxins. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes and breathe in the grounding, floral scent. It is a perfect natural remedy for muscle tension and stress.
2. DIY Exfoliating Body Scrub
Best for: smooth, glowing skin and better circulation
- ½ cup Ground coffee beans
- ½ cup Cane sugar
- ½ cup Sweet almond, jojoba and/or grapeseed oil
- 15 drops Lemon oil
- 10 drops Atlas cedarwood oil
Combine everything in a clean bowl and store in a sterilised jar. Massage onto damp skin in small circles, focusing on dry or rough patches, then rinse well. Rich in antioxidants, it helps detox the body and suits a natural anti-ageing skin care routine. Use it once a week.
3. Facial Steam
Best for: clearing the head and calming irritated skin
- 1 bowl Warm water
- 2 drops Peppermint oil
- 2 drops Thyme oil
- 1 drop Lavender oil
Add the oils to the warm water. Hold your face over the bowl at a safe distance, drape a towel over your head and breathe in the steam for 5 to 10 minutes. Peppermint, thyme and lavender are known for soothing the airways, relaxing the nervous system and cooling the body, so it is especially good when you have a cold or flu.
4. Lymphatic Oil Massage
Best for: releasing tension stored in muscles and tissues
- 30ml Sweet almond oil
- 2 drops Atlas cedarwood oil
- 2 drops Ginger oil
- 1 drop Rosemary oil
- 1 drop Lemon oil
Blend everything in a sterilised 30ml dropper bottle. Lymphatic massage helps blood flow move through the body's organs and cells, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated. See the steps below for how to do it.
How to do a lymphatic oil massage at home
- Warm a few drops of the oil between your palms.
- Start at your feet and work upwards, always moving towards your heart.
- Use long, sweeping strokes, with a little extra pressure on tender muscles.
- When you reach your chest, tap gently in a steady, light rhythm to stimulate the lymphatic system.
- Repeat for as long as it feels good.
For more on this, read our guide to boosting circulation with essential oils.
Pro tip
Finish your Sunday with a cup of herbal tea and a candle. Then do the massage just before bed, so your body stays warm and relaxed as you drift off to sleep.
Self-care safety tips
Safety first
Never use essential oils neat. Mix them into a carrier oil before they touch your skin or go in the bath, and patch test new blends on a small area first.
- Use warm water for the facial steam, never boiling, and keep your eyes closed.
- Lemon oil can make skin sensitive to sunlight. Rinse the scrub off well and avoid strong sun on that skin for 12 hours.
- Oils and scrubs make the bath and shower slippery, so step out carefully.
- Clary sage, rosemary and peppermint are best avoided in pregnancy. Check with your GP or midwife first.
- Do not use peppermint on or near babies and young children.
- Keep oils and finished blends out of reach of children and pets.
FAQs
What aromatherapy is good for self-care?
Lavender, cedarwood, clary sage and peppermint are ideal for self-care. They help reduce stress, support sleep and soothe skin when used in a bath, a diffuser or a massage oil.
How can I do aromatherapy self-care at home?
Use natural oils like rosemary or lemon in facial steams, baths or massage blends, always diluted in a carrier oil. It is a simple way to relax and nourish your body.
How do I start aromatherapy at home?
Start with versatile oils such as lavender, tea tree and lemon. Use them in DIY bath salts, scrubs or a diffuser. With regular use, softer skin and a calmer mood become part of your routine.
What are the benefits of aromatherapy self-care at home?
Home aromatherapy supports glowing skin, calm and clarity. DIY recipes improve skin texture and tone, while oils like clary sage and cedarwood help with stress. It is a natural, affordable way to look after yourself.
What should I do on a self-care Sunday?
Pick one or two recipes, switch off your phone and give yourself time. A steam, a scrub, a long bath and a massage before bed make a lovely, unhurried day.
How long does the coffee scrub keep?
Kept in a clean, sealed jar and scooped out with a dry spoon, it keeps for a few weeks. Throw it away if it smells off or shows any signs of mould.
The bottom line
Self-care does not have to be expensive or complicated. A steamy bath, a coffee scrub, a facial steam and a lymphatic massage bring balance to body and mind with a few natural oils. Find every oil in these recipes in our essential oils collection, and for more ideas, read our tips for self-care at home.
