Ahh… there’s nothing like being pampered. A day at the spa is one of the most luxurious ways to treat yourself. As you sit in a dark room listening to simulated waves crash on a beach, you find yourself soothed and relaxed…until you realize this is costing you well over a hundred bucks, which is a luxury you can’t afford!

Spa treatments don’t have to be expensive. Here are 5 cheap and effective spa treatments.

A friend of mine posted a DIY bizarre foot-sloughing treatment on Facebook. Intrigued, I decided to try it out. That got me searching the web and Pinterest for homemade facials, body scrubs and skin remedies. Here’s what I tried – starting with that freaky foot treatment:

• Listerine Foot Soak. It may sound strange, but it smells even worse. Oddly, though, it really works. Soak your feet in this concoction and the dead skin will come off easily in 10 minutes, leaving your feet soft, smooth, and sandal-ready. Here’s what you do: Mix 1/4 cup Listerine (I bought a knock-off brand at The 99 Cents Store) with 1/4 vinegar (also cheap to buy) and 1/2 c warm water. Sit and soak your feet for 10 minutes while you read a magazine or check your smartphone. That’s it. Cheap, easy and effective. Tip: Unless you want to walk around smelling like Listerine (blecch), when you’re done, wash your feet with soap and apply some nice-smelling lotion.
• DIY Spray-On Tan. Last year, I got a spray-on tan at a spa. My skin felt unbearably sticky and I couldn’t shower until the next day. The tan lasted only a few days and wasn’t cheap. This homemade self-tanner is quick, inexpensive, easy, and does not leave you sticky. Here’s what you need: 2 cups boiling water, 4 bags of Black Tea (I bought a box of 100 at The 99 Cents Store), a spray bottle (same store) and body lotion. Prep your skin first (exfoliate, don’t put on lotion). Boil the water in a pot, then add the tea bags. Let set for 15 minutes. Put it in a spray bottle and spray your body. This can be a somewhat messy task, so be prepared to wipe the floor down after with paper towels or a rag. Allow 10 minutes (or less) to dry. Then apply lotion. Very natural looking. It lasts for a few days but you will have plenty left over to try again. You may want to experiment with a greater amount of tea bags for a darker color.
  
• Tanning Lotion with Cocoa Powder. This experiment was a disaster for me, but you may be willing to experiment. I mixed a small amount of cocoa powder into my body lotion, then applied. What’s a small amount? I used about 1/2 tsp. and was covered with brown streaks that I had to wash off. The plus? I smelled really yummy.
• Body Scrub. Salt scrubs at the spa can be really abrasive, not to mention expensive. When doing my research, I purposely looked for scrubs that weren’t so rough on my skin. The first I tried – a supposed fan favorite – was clumpy and clotty. No thanks. This one was better: Mix 1/8 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp honey, 1/8 cup olive oil and 1 tsp vanilla. (My first attempt smelled too strong, so I reduced the amount of vanilla for you.) This body scrub smells desserty and leaves your skin glistening. It might leave the tub a little greasy, though, so be careful not to slip. You can also substitute vanilla for your favorite essential oil.
• Peel-off Facial Mask. This recipe was billed as a recipe for pore strips, but I found it to be more of a facial mask. What you need: 1 envelope of clear gelatin (about 1 tbsp) and 2 tbsps of milk (any kind). Put the gelatin in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, stir in the milk and nuke for 10 seconds. Apply to your face for approx. 15-20 minutes. Tip: Avoid your hairline and eyebrows at all costs! Your skin will feel super-soft when you’re done.
• Bathroom savings. Ok, so these ideas aren’t as relaxing as spa treatments, but saving money in the bathroom on shampoo, toilet paper, lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, and water can be relaxing in the long run…when you have money to go to the spa! Hahaha.
• Bye bye, hair. Instead of spending gads of money to get rid of hair, compare the cost and benefits of these four hair removal techniques to save money.

What homemade beauty treatments have you tried?