The hurried, stressful pace of college life can make it difficult for students to find inexpensive ways to relax at home.
Jana Gwin, owner of One Eighty Wellness Spa in Auburn, said students are stressed trying to keep up their grades and balance extracurricular activities.
"Stress can affect your skin because the stress hormone cortisol can cause more oil on your skin, which clogs your pores," Gwin said.
Gwin recommends professional-grade products with the active ingredient salicylic acid, which kills acne bacteria, and facials to oxygenate pores.
"It is also beneficial to get your skin regulated with vitamin A products and treatments like facials to help control breakouts," Gwin said.
College students also complain of neck pain, back strain and muscle soreness from carrying backpacks full of textbooks across campus.
"I am a big advocate of taking very warm soak baths in Epsom salt, which relieves stress, strains and sprains from your muscles and joints," said Sonya Hildreth, owner of Create A Spa in downtown Auburn. "And consistency is key with that technique."
Students can soak away aches and pains by purchasing a container of Epsom salt at a local pharmacy for about $2 for a 16-ounce container.
Another tip for soothing backaches can be as simple as sitting straighter.
"Students spend a lot of time over computers, and you have to be careful with posture," Hildreth said. "That can cause a lot of strain, and good posture is vital."
Hildreth said she often reminds her clients take frequent stretch breaks when spending hours hunched over a laptop studying.
Rather than purchase products to use for a relaxing spa experience at home, some students are making their own.
"Last year, I made homemade body scrubs for my friends for Christmas," said Alysha Ledbetter, junior in nursing. "It was inexpensive and a great way for them to treat themselves after finals week."
Ledbetter found the recipe for body scrubs on Pinterest, a popular do-it-yourself website.
She said she would recommend the body scrubs recipe to others because they were easy and quick to make, only taking about 10 minutes, and because they made her kitchen smell amazing.
"College students aren't expected to spend a lot of time and money on their skin," Gwin said. "But you can prioritize and use what you have and incorporate that into an overall wellness."
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