I know it sounds daunting, especially if you haven’t dipped a toe in the skincare world before, but it is truly so easy to give yourself a salon worthy facial in the comfort of your own home. Of course your at home-spa day won’t come with the fun gossip with your facialist or the high tech machines, but hey – we can make it work! Pop on a soothing Spotify playlist, diffuse some essential oils and get ready to relax!
Here are the steps to get an amazing and safe at home facial:
STEP ONE: CLEANSE THE SKIN
With any facial or treatment, this first step is always starting with a clean base. You want to make sure your skin is totally makeup free so the products can really penetrate your skin. If you’re wearing makeup, I would either double cleanse, aka start with an oil based cleanser that will remove the first layer of makeup and dirt, then follow with a foaming cleanser that will clean out your pores.
If oils are a little too harsh for your face (like me, my skin is super sensitive) I will start with a makeup removing balm, wipe that away and then follow up with a foamy or gel cleanser.
STEP TWO: EXFOLIATE
Once your face is squeaky clean, it’s time to exfoliate. The main purpose of exfoliating is to slough off the top layer of skin cells and excess oils in order to make sure that the serums and treatments penetrate and you get the most out of your facial.
Make sure to use a gentle exfoliant. There are so many different ones out there, just ensure you get one free of chemicals or fragrances. If you have never exfoliated before and want to give it a try, test the scrub on the back of your hand – if it feels even a tiny bit itchy or irritated do NOT use it on your face. My favorite gentle exfoliant is Skinceuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub.
STEP THREE: STEAM THAT FACE
This is my favorite part. It feels the most spa-like and I feel SO clean after I steam my face. There are two different ways to go about this at home:
Option One: Purchase a facial steamer. This is what I did and I’m OBSESSED. It was a great price on amazon and came quickly. Fill with purified water, Keep your face a few inches away and let the steam open up those pores.
Option Two: DIY! This is so incredibly easy and really works. You want to get some very hot, steaming water in a big bowl, which you can achieve via the stove top or the microwave. Then, drape a towel over your head and place your face above the water, letting the steam do its magic. BUT – BE VERY CAREFUL. The water will be extremely hot so be careful of splashing and make sure to put the bowl on a sturdy, flat surface. Also, adding the towel ups the steam, so it can be a little hard to breath fully, so give yourself a break or do it without the towel.As long as you’re careful, you’ll get a great steam going!
STEP FOUR: FACE MASK & TONER
After steaming is usually when your esthetician will start extracting. Unless you know what you’re doing, I would skip that step. To utilize your now opened up pores, toss on the face mask of your choosing. A clay mask or gel mask will work great, just make sure it’s clean and good for your skin (whether your oily, dry a combo or normal), while targeting your problem areas. Here are some of my favorite masks.
Leave your mask on for about 20 or so minutes, then wash off and apply toner to close those pores and balance your pH.
STEP FIVE: MOISTURIZER & MASSAGE
Now that your skin is ready to absorb all the hydrating goodness, apply a serum of your choice. Then, moisturizer! Apply your face cream around your eyes and in upward circular motions on your face. Spend a few minutes rubbing all of the product in so your skin can absorb all the cream while getting a bit of circulation, and enjoy the feeling of your skin hydrating.
Lastly, grab a facial roller and roll in an upward motion, massaging in the product and reducing swelling.
You should feel like a glowing goddess now!! Your skin will thank you, and the results will really start to show. Treat yourself hunny, you deserve it! & Let me know how it goes below!
What do you think?