Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article explores the growing trend of at-home self-care, highlighting how a simple gadget can transform daily routines into moments of relaxation without the hassle of scheduling spa visits.
I’ve always enjoyed treating myself to a treatment from time to time. The problem is that the idea of going to the spa and the reality of daily life don’t always align. Between work, commitments, and travel, finding time to book an appointment and commute isn’t always easy.
That’s why, almost without realizing it, a gadget ended up becoming my own spa at home. Not because it replaces a professional experience, but because it brings together several of those small self-care gestures we usually do separately and puts them within easy reach. Now I can come home and dedicate a few minutes to myself whenever I really feel like it, without depending on finding a slot in my schedule or someone else’s availability. And the curious thing is that those minutes, even if they are few, have changed the way I invest time in my well-being.
I’m talking about the Philips Beauty Set 9900, and as Patricia Vallehermoso, Consumer Marketing Manager Beauty at Philips Spain, explains, this type of device is designed precisely for that: to facilitate the creation of real routines.
At first, I thought I would only use it for hair removal, but as the days went by, it became my gadget for small rituals: from a quick cleanse at night to a deeper exfoliation after a weekend getaway. This has been an advantage in making my life easier and keeping my vanity from being cluttered with devices or products. Everything is concentrated in a single system that adapts to what the skin needs on that particular day.
Hair removal is probably the function I use most during this time of year, and I think it’s the same for many of us. It’s almost a seasonal essential. I especially like it because the finish on the skin is very different from a conventional razor. There’s no irritation, no small cuts, and certainly no pain. The skin is left smooth, even, and with a ‘porcelain’ skin feel.
And although each person experiences hair removal differently, I think many of us will agree on something: when we are the ones who control the process, we usually adapt it better to our needs, our pace, and our own threshold of tolerance.
Furthermore, being able to use it dry or wet completely changes the experience. In the hot shower, it’s almost a ritual, but it also works perfectly when we’re in a hurry. And that, in summer, changes everything.
We can’t neglect facial and body cleansing and exfoliation. During the summer, we know the skin accumulates sunscreen, sweat, salt, chlorine, and makeup residue; so dedicating a few minutes to this step makes a difference. Facial cleansing has become that gesture that marks the ‘close’ of the day. It’s not just about removing makeup; it’s about feeling the skin return to its base state. Facial or body exfoliation, for its part, has something almost restorative. After a day at the beach, pool, or long walks in the sun, that moment of exfoliating the skin is almost like resetting it. It leaves a feeling of immediate softness and, above all, relief.
At this point, Patricia Vallehermoso emphasizes something important:
After days of sun exposure, she recommends something simple but consistent: gentle cleansing, light exfoliation, and a final moment of care to help the skin regain comfort and balance.
I confess that the function that sparked my curiosity the most was LED light therapy. And it has become one of my favorites. I had never used it in any routine before, so at first, it was the part I least considered. But it has ended up becoming one of the most indispensable moments of the ritual.
I usually use it at night, before sleeping, when the day is over and there’s nothing else to do. I sit down, close my eyes, take a deep breath, and start massaging my face as the minutes pass. It’s not a difficult or complicated step; it’s quite the opposite: a pause. It’s the moment when I force myself to stop and dedicate a moment exclusively to myself. The sensation of gentle warmth is pleasant and relaxing, and it turns those ten minutes into a break within days that often go by too fast.
Spoiler: it’s the function that most reminds me of that spa-like well-being feeling. It provides close treatment with constant heat, which helps improve the appearance of the skin and, at the same time, turns the process into a moment of relaxation.