Light some scented candles to give the room a calm atmosphere. Choose scents proven to enhance relaxation, such as lavender or vanilla.

Before your guests arrive, set up stations around the room with:

• A portable foot spa and towels (add a drop of peppermint oil to the water to leave feet smelling fresh).
• A table with a bowl of water, some hand scrub and hand towels (if you don’t have a hand scrub available, it’s easy to whip some up with just white sugar and coconut or olive oil).
• A table with natural hand cream for hand massages. Start at the base of the hand and work your way towards the fingers in slow, concentric circles.
• A table with nail polishes and cotton tips (depending on how close it is to the wedding day, you will want to make sure the nail polish is the right colour for members of the bridal party and that application is neat and tidy).

​Rotate around the stations in pairs or groups.

The benefits of a DIY mini facial are endless. It can instantly make your skin look radiant and it helps to keep your skin in optimum health. It’s also a great way to unwind and treat yourself.

STEP 1
Be sure to take your makeup off before you begin your pamper party.

STEP 2: FACIAL STEAMING
Do the facial steaming first to open up pores so that the face mask can penetrate deep and nourish the skin. You can use rooibos, chamomile or green tea. Add 1 tablespoon of loose tea to a bowl, pour over hot water and wait a couple of minutes so you don’t burn your face with the hot steam. When the temperature is right, place your face over the bowl and place a towel over your head.
Do this for about 5 to 8 minutes.

STEP 3: FOLLOW UP WITH A DIY FACE MASK
Cucumber is one of the best kitchen ingredients to soothe, heal, and re-hydrate dry skin. Combined with Greek yoghurt or natural plain yoghurt, you can create an awesome face mask to nourish your skin and make it supple and smooth again!
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Yoghurt contains antibacterial and antibiotic properties that help treat bacteria. It deep cleanses, nourishes and softens the skin. Only use plain, unsweetened, and unflavoured yoghurt to avoid any skin irritations and rashes.

Ingredients per person:
½ Cucumber
1 tablespoon yoghurt

Directions:
Blend the ingredients into a puree.

Pat dry with a towel and apply a thick coat of the face mask to your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. When the time is up, gently rinse off the face mask using lukewarm water.

Pat dry with a soft clean towel.

STEP 4
Apply a hydrating, natural moisturiser.

You might prefer to hire a mobile massage service and all take turns having professional massages in a separate room.

​To add an element of fun to the evening, hire a bartender to come and make cocktails for all the girls or find one who will teach a class on making cocktails with what you have at home.

For a simple, yet indulgent, treat you can’t go past fresh fruit and chocolate fondue. Melt the chocolate slowly in the microwave or on the stove top, with the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Prepare and serve in a bowl right before it’s time to eat. Fruits like strawberries, banana pieces and apple slices will always be winners here, but you can experiment with others like pineapple and pear. Have separate bowls of white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate to add variety without much extra effort.

After you’re done pampering each other, put on your dressing gowns and slippers, and get comfortable watching a classic chick flick. This would also be a great time to pair up and give each other neck and shoulder massages.
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As Anne Lamott once wrote – “Joy is the best makeup”, so have a pampering night in with the girls and give yourself that beautiful glow that comes from being happy and relaxed!

Sometimes the best kind of events are in your very own living room. Click here to find tips, tricks and ideas that will guarantee an incredible party... without leaving the house!

To share this infographic on your site, please copy and paste the following code into your post:
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<a href="https://www.foreveryhen.com.au/hens-party-activities/pamper-party"><img src="https://www.foreveryhen.com.au/uploads/3/1/5/3/31534501/pamper-party-infographic_1_orig.png" alt="Pamper Party Infographic" width="816" /></a><br><p><a href="https://www.foreveryhen.com.au">Infographic by For Every Hen</a></p>

Massage is one of those hard to find, beautiful inconsistencies of life. Most of us would be hard pressed finding something that feels as magical as massage while being great for us too.

It’s like having a guilty pleasure you don’t have to hide from anyone. If you ask us, it’s a keeper; like ice-cream in front of a warm fire on a freezing cold winter’s day (minus all of the sinful associated accountabilities).

Massage has a wide variety of properties that improves health; some of which include better blood circulation, improved flexibility and mobility, quicker rehabilitation of muscular injuries, reduced stress and much more. Here’s a more detailed list of massage benefits in case you still need some convincing on why this would be the ultimate hen’s party idea!
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Regular massages help us take care of a stressed out bride and also serves as a unique and memorable experience –basically, it’s a win-win!

Massage has been used by our ancestors for centuries now.

Practiced in countries such as India, China, Greece and Egypt (to mention a few) massage was once a necessity instead of the luxury it is in the modern world, and it was believed to be a pivotal precautionary measure to keeping sickness away.

Unfortunately the concept of massage has slowly been degraded as a potential healing solution to one that many of us associate with extra money to spend. However, there is now considerable evidence that advocates massage as a therapeutic solution to many of the common day ailments we face. One that not only saves us money in the future as a precautionary means rather than a cure (in terms of diseases such as stress, etc. going untreated for too long), but best of all, one that is completely natural.
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It’s a perfect solution for brides that need some much needed unwinding before their big days!

When you’re good on the inside it shows, which is probably the single most important feeling any bride should be experiencing on her day.

Remember the saying, beauty is only skin deep? Though this may be true for our souls (another blog topic!), when it comes to our health, it is an entirely different matter. When we feel healthy within, it’s probably going to show on the outside.

This is why we’re constantly being barraged with messages of how we need to pay more attention to what we put in our body. For years now, medical research has strongly suggested a significant correlation between stress and ailments such as the cold and flu, to more serious life threatening diseases as well.
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And sickness and feeling under the weather is the last thing any bride is going to want to have to deal with on her wedding day, so massage is a lifesaver – literally!

In all honesty – stress is just one more thing to stress about. Massage helps to alleviate anxiety, which in turn makes us feel and look better.
The peaceful calmness that lasts long after a massage ends should be reason enough to gift this wonderful art our ancestors have been using for centuries to our favourite bride-to-be.

Massage is a wonderful gift for anyone, and frankly, who deserves some tender, loving care more than a new bride? No one!
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Do you have any inspiring massage stories to share that could help brides to be and/or those organising the most memorable hen’s party there ever was? Let us know in the comments section.

After hearing about the benefits of massage, are you keen to book one in (not going to lie, I'm running to my nearest day spa for a little TLC!)? Treat your bride-to-be and her friends to a pamper sesh at home by following the tips in this article.

STEP #1
​​Set the mood with some relaxing music playing softly in the background. Whether it’s singing or water trickling, it can really help you drift off. 

STEP #2
Placing lit candles around your home or venue is a fantastic way to create a relaxed atmosphere. Dimmed lights and flickering candles is a great way to wind down. 

STEP #3
Have some beautiful robes especially for each guest attending the hens party – instant pamper party feels! Your style could be anything from silk robes that create instant luxury to a nice fluffy robe that feels cozy. 

STEP #4
Because sipping champagne with your besties is a must. Obviously.​

STEP #5
From a manicure or a pedicure, to facials and massages – there’s so many ways you can spoil that hen of yours! Whether you decide to DIY it (e.g. home-made face masks and taking it in turns to do each other’s nails) or hire some professionals (taking pampering to a whole new, amazing level!); everyone is sure to have a great time.

STEP #6
Treat your guests’ to some special goodie bags filled with natural and/or organic pamper related products (such as chocolates, hand scrubs, body lotions, small bottles of champagne, bath bombs, etc.!). It’s a great way to keep the relaxation feel; even after your pampering has finished.

If the thought of planning the pamper party of your bride-to-be’s dreams stresses you out (which defeats the purpose of such an event!); pass the ball to Relax and Unwind Massage Therapy. You can then sit back, relax and enjoy an unforgettable day with the girls while we take care of everything; working with you to make sure your hen and her girls have a day of pampered relaxation and bliss (leaving you with some luxurious goodies to continue those relaxation feels well into the night)!

Pamper your beautiful best friend in the lead up to her wedding day is always a good idea! For more ways to do just this, click here!

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