Pamper Yourself During the Holidays

4 ways to de-stress -- and give yourself an early present.

Massage and Facial

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Even if you don't find a spa gift certificate tucked among your gifts this holiday season, you can still indulge yourself -- at a fraction of the cost. Many mini spa treatments can be whipped up easily at home, using low-cost ingredients you already have in the kitchen. To get yourself in the full spa mindset, turn the ringer off your phone, lock the bathroom door, and light a few candles. Then treat your body to these quick pick-me-ups, each guaranteed to keep you looking (and feeling) great throughout the stressful holiday season.

1. Under Pressure: Our feet often bear the brunt of a tiring day -- especially if you've been stuck shopping in high heels. Massage therapist Larry Costa, author of Massage: Mind and Body (DK Publishing, 2003), suggests a few key moves to relieve all that tension. First, use one thumb to apply pressure in a corkscrew pattern along the sole of your foot. Then, place both thumbs right under your toes and press them outward in a fanning motion along the sole, gradually working your way down and out.