Simple Steps for a Perfect DIY Spa Night

Relax and revitalize with this monthly at-home regimen

Lois Joy Johnson,

Updated February 19, 2026

AARP

Updated February 19, 2026

an illustration with a collection of oversized bath and beauty products crowded into a clawfoot bathtub

(From left) Pamper yourself with a host of at-home beauty treatments, including Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Gentle Exfoliating Konjac Jelly Body Wash; Kitsch Moisturizing Conditioning Treatment Mask; Que Bella Intensive Foot Mask; WoodWick Oceanic Trilogy Hourglass Candle Jar; Bath & Body Works Lavender Vanilla Shower Steamers; and Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath With Pure Epsom Salt.

AARP (Getty Images, 2; Kohl’s, 2; Ulta; Target; Bath & Body Works; CVS)

Which freebie would you choose: a designer wardrobe, porcelain veneers, microbladed brows and hair extensions … or a week at a destination spa with massages, facials and yoga on the beach? Of course we’re daydreaming, but I bet you’d grab that spa trip! The allure of “me” time and beauty treatments with a look-good, feel-good aesthetic is on the rise, and it’s why an at-home spa night continues to appeal to women over 50. However, it’s also 2026, and even that iconic DIY routine has gotten an update. Here’s how to do a spa-night reset.

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a collage with two scented candles and a plush bathrobe

(From left) WoodWick Oceanic Trilogy Hourglass Candle Jar; Gap Women CashSoft Boucle Relaxed Robe in Ivory Beige Frost; Chesapeake Bay Jar Candle in Serenity and Calm.

AARP (Kohl’s, Gap, Target)

1. Schedule a time-out.

Don’t decide at the last minute. Set aside two hours or more when you’ll be undisturbed by emails, texts, TV and FaceTime. A spa night has a legendary evening timeline, but your version may be a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Start with a sparkling-clean bathroom, a stack of fresh towels and a scented candle to set a spa-like ambiance. Choose a scent you find relaxing. A lavender-based candle, like the Chesapeake Bay Jar Candle in Serenity and Calm ($8, target.com), or a seaside-ish one, like the WoodWick Oceanic Trilogy Hourglass Candle Jar ($21, kohls.com) with seagrass and sea salt, always projects relaxing, off-duty vibes. Put on a mellow music playlist to help unwind; anything from ocean waves to jazz does the trick. Slip into a soft, cozy robe, like the Gap Women CashSoft Boucle Relaxed Robe in Light Heather Gray or Ivory Beige Frost ($49, gap.com), grab a nonbreakable travel mug with lemon-spiked water or your favorite tea, and turn off all judgments about your body.

Super tip: Let’s be honest: If all you do is use this “staging” for a basic bath or shower without all the extra skin and hair care bells and whistles, that’s fine, too.

a collage with two exfoliating bath products and a pink shower glove

(From left) Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Gentle Exfoliating Konjac Jelly Body Wash; EcoTools Exfoliating Bath & Shower Gloves; Tree Hut Ocean Glow Hydrating Sugar Scrub.

AARP (Kohl’s, Target, Ulta)

2. Turn a bath or shower into a multitasker.

So really, what is spa night? We’re simply talking about a time-out to take a cozy bath or shower, tack on a few hair and skin-care maintenance tasks, and emerge feeling renewed and improved in face, body, mind and spirit. Instead of hours marinating, soaking and waiting for miracles, spa night 2026 has gotten an update. We’re keeping the pampering, but paring down the time and mess while pumping up the results with new products.

Here’s the basic strategy: Assemble any accessories and products you’ll be using: a bath tray, a rolled hand towel to support your neck in the tub, bath salts, exfoliating scrubs, body washes and butters, masks, shampoos and conditioners. Remove all makeup and any dull or chipped nail polish. Be sure to file or shape your nails while dry to avoid splits and breaks. Then decide how you’ll use your bath and shower time to multitask. Face masks can “bake” while you’re in the tub and be applied before or after a shower. Specialty masks for hands and feet can be applied last, right before you slip into bed (see Tip 6). Hair masks should be applied to freshly washed and blotted hair.

My advice? If you’re a bath fan, do a pre-bath shampoo and rinse under the tub faucet or with a handheld shower or bath spray attachment. Then apply a hair and face mask for the actual bath before a final rinse under the tap or spray. Are you a shower type? Do a quick shower and shampoo, blot your hair, then apply the mask and a face mask, too, if you’re going for both. Slip on your robe and relax with a good book or audiotape while the masks work. Then take a final soothing rinse-off shower.

Super tip: Use a spa shower and bath time for exfoliation, too. Just add an emollient hydrating scrub, like the Tree Hut Ocean Glow Hydrating Sugar Scrub ($11, ulta.com) with hyaluronic acid and avocado and macadamia oils, or a nonabrasive wash, like the Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Gentle Exfoliating Konjac Jelly Body Wash ($12, kohls.com) with skin-silkening avocado oil, to your skin cleansing. Or slip on exfoliating gloves such as EcoTools Exfoliating Bath & Shower Gloves ($6, target.com), which turn any body wash or soap into a controlled buffing polish. This extra step gently sloughs away dead cells and flakes that dull your skin and prevent the absorption of all your spa-night lotions and potions.

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a collage with four different conditioning hair masks

(From left) Kitsch Moisturizing Conditioning Treatment Mask; Matrix Food for Soft Hydrating Treatment Mask for Hair Repair; Dove Beauty Intensive Repair 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask; Eva NYC Glass Hair Shine Hair Mask.

AARP (Ulta, 2; Target; CVS)

3. Do a hydrating hair mask.

Hair masks have a rep for being an instant cure and are high on the spa night to-do list for good reason. A mask can give dry, color-treated, highlighted, straightened or relaxed hair an instantly healthier look and feel. To choose the right one, check the label and ingredient list for familiar ingredients borrowed from your favorite skin-care products. For example, to encourage moisture and a silkier texture, choose the Kitsch Moisturizing Conditioning Treatment Mask ($16, ulta.com) with shea butter and coconut oil; Olaplex No.8 Bond Moisture Mask ($33, walgreens.com) with avocado and meadow foam seed oil; Matrix Food for Soft Hydrating Treatment Mask for Hair Repair ($15, ulta.com) with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid; or Eva NYC Glass Hair Shine Hair Mask ($17, cvs.com) with argan oil.

To restore fragile or damaged hair stressed by heat styling and chemical processing, look for protein, biotin and ceramides, which you’ll find in the Dove Beauty Intensive Repair 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask ($11, target.com), with hydrolyzed soy protein and ceramides; and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm, Protein & Almond Oil ($9, walgreens.com). Some formulas have helpings from both groups. Note that new drugstore hair masks are fast, hi-tech formulas that require only a few minutes (1 to 15, depending on which you choose) to do their transformations.

Super tip: Don’t be stingy with the application, and use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the mask evenly from the tips to an inch short of the roots. Do your hair an extra favor and add a scalp massage, either while the mask is on or during the rinse, for a tension-busting, circulation-amping bonus.

a collage with three different types of under eye patches

(From left) Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Pro Plump & Glow Face Mask With Hyaluronic Acid; Pixi NutrifEYE Rose & Chamomile Nourishing Eye Patches; The Good Patch De-Puff Hydrogel Undereye Patch Set.

AARP (Kohl’s, CVS, Target)

4. Wake up your face and eyes with mess-free masks.

Give your usual face serum, cream and eye cream a night off and spring for a sheet mask and eye patches. If you’ve never tried them, sheet masks are single-use masks made of hydrogel (a thin, flexible, sponge-like material), cotton or bamboo, and pre-saturated with beneficial ingredients. Packaged like single-use wipes, they are designed to cling to facial contours and work in 10 to 15 minutes (feel free to leave them on longer).

Choose a mask with hydrating, wrinkle-plumping hyaluronic acid, like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid ($3, target.com); Oh K! Hyaluronic Hydrogel Mask ($6, ulta.com); or Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Pro Plump & Glow Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid ($7, kohls.com). The boost will last you through the next day or two.

You can also add (or swap the face mask for) under-eye patches, which are crescent-shaped mini masks also pre-infused with ingredients. These are specifically designed for the dry, thin-skinned under-eye area and its concerns. (FYI for new users: The narrow part goes at the inner corners.) They can restore itchy, tired peepers and reduce dark circles and puffiness, depending on the ingredients you select. The Good Patch De-Puff Hydrogel Undereye Patch Set ($5, target.com), with caffeine and aloe vera, reduces swelling and bumps up moisture, while Pixi NutrifEYE Rose & Chamomile Nourishing Eye Patches ($24 for 30 pairs, cvs.com) soothe and refresh with aloe and botanical extracts. Leave eye patches on for 10 to 15 minutes, and gently tap in any excess after removal.

Super tip: Chill spa-night masks in the fridge before applying (this is why planning is important), as cold amplifies their puff-reducing power.

a collage with three different types of shower and bath additives

(From left) Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt, Restorative Minerals; Body Restore Shower Steamers - Eucalyptus & Mint; Bath & Body Works Lavender Vanilla Shower Steamers.

AARP (CVS, Target, Bath & Body Works)

5. Chill out in a steamy scented tub or shower.

Here’s the truth. Most women (not just you!) ignore their dermatologist’s lukewarm-not-hot, shorter bath/shower advice in favor of the tranquilizing feel of a long, steamy soak or wash.

My advice? Do your skin and hair a favor: Aim for water that’s not too hot to minimize drying. Shower lovers can amp up the spa scents-ability with a “steamer,” like Body Restore Shower Steamers — Eucalyptus & Mint ($4 for 2, target.com) or Bath & Body Works Lavender Vanilla Shower Steamers ($20 for 6 tablets, bathandbodyworks.com). Tucked in a corner of the shower, away from the water, the heat and steam activate these pre-infused aromatherapy tablets that resemble small cakes of soap.

Bathers can get an extra fragrant mind/body/spirit boost by adding bath salts like Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath With Pure Epsom Salt, Restorative Minerals ($8, cvs.com) with essential oils and a deeply calming eucalyptus-lemon scent, or the Herbivore Coco Rose Tremella + Magnesium Bath Soak ($36, ulta.com) with a coconut-rose-vanilla fragrance, to their water therapy. Bath salts, Epsom salt (which is magnesium sulfate) and sea salt are all rich in minerals and can help de-bloat the belly, breasts and ankles, soothe sore muscles and alleviate tension headaches.

Super tip: Even those with sensitive skin who avoid scented beauty products can enjoy the experience of scented shower steamers and fragrance-free basic Epsom bath salts.

6. Moisturize head-to-toe to seal the deal.

A funny thing about spa night is that many women skip the finale: a final layer of body moisturizer. Be sure to apply a rich moisturizer or oil to damp, towel-blotted skin as you wrap up the evening. New choices include Palmer’s Raw Shea Nourish Body Oil ($10, cvs.com), which is nongreasy, absorbs instantly and can be added to any everyday body lotion to boost hydration; eos Shea Butter Cashmere Whipped Oil Butter-Vanilla ($13, target.com), a combination of rich shea and argan butter for intense moisturizing; and for those who want a fragrance-free option, Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Butter ($24, target.com), with shea butter, glycerin and squalane. Slather these on minutes, not an hour, after drying off! You’ll lose the window of absorption if you wait any longer.

At the end of your spa time or right before bed, do a hand or foot mask. The easiest solutions are pre-infused glove and bootie “masks” with hydrating ingredients and emollients, like the Nails.INC Thirsty Hands Hydrating Hand Mask ($5, cvs.com) with shea butter and botanical extracts, and the Que Bella Intensive Foot Mask ($5, target.com) with coconut oil, shea butter and ceramides. They work in 15 minutes, and their clean format makes walking around, using your cell and grabbing a snack doable. When time’s up, simply massage in any excess product that remains on your hands and feet.

Super tip: An alternate before-bed option is to apply a regular hand cream and use any that’s left over (even a face cream works here) to do a foot massage by using your thumbs to press the arches, big toes, small toes, balls of feet and heels in circular movements right before pulling up the covers.

a collage with five different types of overnight face mask products

(From left) Not Your Mother’s Sleep On It Overnight Hydrating Serum Cream; Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Overnight Recovery Cream + Mask; Kiehl’s Since 1851 Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask With 10.5% Squalane; Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Overnight Treatment; Mario Badescu Hydrating Overnight Mask With Peptides.

AARP (Ulta, 4; Macy’s)

7. Turn a spa night into an overnight.

Some women prefer to use their sleep hours for a hair and skin mini-fix. While not quite as much fun (you’ll miss out on the soundtrack, steamy water and visuals), the advantage here is time management. You simply bathe or shower and apply extra-help treatments designed to work while you snooze.

There are three major categories: skin-improving masks that sub for your usual night cream, like the Mario Badescu Hydrating Overnight Mask With Peptides ($24, macys.com), with lactic acid for gentle exfoliating; and botanical oils to soften and soothe, such as Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask With 10.5% Squalane ($45, ulta.com), a balm that transforms to a nongreasy oil, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Overnight Treatment ($98, kohls.com) with peptides and hyaluronic acid balm, and Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Overnight Recovery Cream + Mask ($80, ulta.com) with peptides and hyaluronic acid. Burt’s Bees Overnight Lip Treatment for Dry Lips, Passion Fruit &Chamomile Flavor ($11, walgreens.com), with ceramides and jojoba seed oil, is a healing mask for dry, cracked lips. And no-rinse-required hair serums such as OGX Bond Protein Repair Sealing Hair Serum ($12, walgreens.com) and Not Your Mother’s Sleep On It Overnight Hydrating Serum Cream ($10, ulta.com) are lightweight, nongreasy, leave-in treatments that can be applied to damp or dry hair to give you softer, shinier, frizz-free hair in the morning.

Let’s not forget tanning drops. Added to any bedtime moisturizer or body lotion, a few drops of a face and body serum like Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sun Drops Sunless Tanning Serum ($15, cvs.com) can give dull, ashy or sallow skin a warm, sunny glow, and blur discolorations by sunrise.

Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.

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