Face It Like A Pro: How To Give Yourself A Facial At Home.
A step-by-step guide to giving yourself a facial at home, just like a pro.
If you have ever experienced a professional facial before, then you would probably agree that it can be such a heavenly experience.
From the decadent mask and warming steam softening your skin to the fluid strokes of the esthetician's fingers gently massaging your face, it's no wonder we are counting the days to our next blissful escape.
While visiting the spa every month is ideal for us to maintain that youthful luster and dewy glow, it may not always be feasible to make the trip.
Practice Self-Care
With our growing schedules and endless to-do-lists, it can become all too easy for us to get lost in the rat race, forgetting to care for ourselves.
One way we can practice self-care is to create a mini spa getaway at home-one that includes a much needed and deserved facial treatment.
Sure, it may not be the exact same as going to a spa because it's hard to replicate the technique, extractions, or massage.
The good news is, you can come pretty darn close to the real thing with the right products and a little ambiance. And best of all, your skin will feel soft and smooth.
When extra time seems elusive or funds are running low, try an at-home facial treatment and Face It Like A Pro.
Not only is giving yourself a DIY facial a pampering way to practice self-love, but it also helps keep your skin prepped and in shape in between appointments with your esthetician.
Just follow these expert-approved steps to re-create a nearly professional facial at home.
Set The Mood
With our fast-paced lives and endless tasks, we are always surrounded by so much noise. Our self-care ritual should help us slow down, relax, and be in the present moment. Create a spa-like oasis in your home by setting the mood with the right ambiance. Light candles, diffuse essential oils and play soft music, anything to help you feel calm and relaxed.
2. Double Cleanse
Just like any facial you receive in a professional setting, a double cleanse is the first step. Properly cleansing the skin is essential because it not only washes away dirt and grime, it also preps our skin for the treatment we are about to receive. Just make sure to use the appropriate cleanser for your skin type to avoid stripping or irritating your skin.
First Cleanse, use an oil-based cleanser or an oil to remove stubborn makeup. Apply the cleanser to dry skin and massage gently for up to 1 minute. This method allows the oil to adhere to the makeup so it can easily lift it off the surface. Add water and continue to cleanse for 1-2 minutes.
My favorite cleanser to use is Iluma Brightening Cleanser for it's hydrating, brightening, and softening properties, or Neroli oil for it’s healing, nourishing benefits.
Second Cleanse- should be the cleanser that cleans and preps your skin. If your skin is sensitive, dry, or normal, a cream-based cleanser may be needed because it is gentle and moisturizing. The Vital C cleanser is super moisturizing and loaded with anti-aging antioxidants. If your skin is combination or oily, you may want to opt for a gel or foaming lather for a more purifying cleansing of your pores. Clear Cell is a great cleanser for soaking up excess oils in the pore, keeping them free and clear.
3. Exfoliate
Exfoliating is an essential step in any facial treatment, it helps to slough off the outer layer of dead skin cells so our skin is better prepared to absorb the active ingredients we are going to apply. This step is prepping our skin, so we get the most out of the facial treatment. Your skin type will help determine the type of exfoliant you want to use.
You can use either a physical exfoliant like a facial scrub or a chemical exfoliant like an enzyme or a hydroxy acid solution.
Facial scrubs-
can help buff away over keratinized skin and unblock pores, giving your skin that polished look. But, be gentle with the application because they can sometimes be too harsh and irritate your skin.
How to: Apply facial scrub with wet fingers, massage gently in circular motions ( 1-3 minutes), gently remove with tepid water.
If you are looking to remove dead skin and the signs of aging, try the Ageless resurfacing mask.
Pro tip: for a more professional, more potent treatment, let the scrub sit after massaging it in and apply the vital C enzyme mask on top, for extra exfoliation and added moisture.
Alpha & Beta hydroxy acids-
hydroxy acids are a great way to keep your pores clear and skin youthful. You can choose to use them daily in a serum or cleanser, but for an at-home facial, we want to use a hydroxy acid that will exercise our skin and encourage cellular exfoliation. A solution is best for this type of treatment because it's more concentrated and can penetrate deep into the pore and achieve better results.
Enzymes -
Enzymes are derived from fruit and help your skin slough off naturally. Although enzymes are considered chemical exfoliants, they have no harsh chemicals. They are the safest form of exfoliation for sensitive skin and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. With all the different fruits and formulations on the market, you can target a wide variety of skin concerns using enzymes. For home use, I love the skin smoothing, brightening properties of a cranberry enzyme.
4. Steam
One of my favorite parts of a facial is the steam. Steam helps to soften the skin and the hair follicle so that it can purge more easily.
If you don't have a mini facial steamer at home, you can fill a bowl with hot water. Place a towel over your head and position it over the bowl to trap the steam in, allowing your skin to open up.
Steam your face during the enzyme or masking process to receive maximum benefits of the active ingredients.
Pro tip: For a spa-like effect, add dried botanicals or fruit to your hot water.
5. Mask
Your mask should be selected based on the skin concerns you want to address. If your skin is oily, congested, or breaking out, you may need to clarify with a clay-based mask that is effective, yet gentle. Image purifying probiotic mask is a great option to remove excess oil and grime while providing hydration and balanced flora of the skin.
Dry/ dehydrated skin- use masks that contain nourishing and hydrating ingredients such as vitamin c, b5, hyaluronic acid, or shea butter.
Aging/ Fine Lines- peptides, antioxidants, and stem cells are your best friend. Placenta stem cell mask or the peptide radiance mask is great for epidermal nourishment, hydration, and brightening of the skin, while offering antioxidant protection and an ageless finish.
Sensitive/ Irritated Skin- a skin-soothing mask with ingredients like aloe vera, calendula, and peptides can calm and balance the skin and activate its natural repair system to protect against irritants. Try a balancing gel mask.
6. Moisture & Massage
The end of the facial is where we focus more on hydration and repair. This is the step where you will layer your favorite serums (thinnest to thickest) then your moisturizer on top.
Serums- are an effective way to target your skin concerns because they penetrate deeper to deliver active ingredients. The main goal of this step is hydration, but most formulations will contain additional actives to target different skin concerns.
My favorite serum is C+ Serum, it’s rich in antioxidants, offers superior hydration, evens out complexion, and is great for all skin types.
Moisturize- After applying your favorite serums, it’s time to nourish and repair our skin with a good moisturizer. Select a moisturizer that is best for your skin.
Facial Massage- The best part of the facial, in my book, is the massage. A facial massage has so many benefits which include; releasing tension in the facial muscles, lifting & firming, increasing circulation & oxygenation to the skin, and stimulating lymphatic flow to detoxify. You can give yourself a top-notch facial massage by using or own hands or a facial tool. I personally love facial tools like the rose quartz facial roller.
Facial Roller- Facial rollers are great tools to use in any skincare routine. Rollers offer many skin benefits from increasing circulation and oxygenation to softening lines and wrinkles.
Facial rollers give your skin a gentle massage that helps increase penetration of the serums and moisturizers, and encourages lymphatic flow.
The rose quartz roller is my favorite stone to use when it comes to matters of the heart, and in any anti-aging or beauty ritual. It truly is a healing stone which radiates the same beauty it promotes.
7. Enhance
For a 360 degree approach to radiant skin, enhance your facial treatment with a spa-like refreshment. A shot of collagen, fresh pressed green juice, or a beauty drink full of antioxidants are not only refreshing, they give your body and skin that boost of hydration and vitamins, which are essential to healthy skin.
A facial treatment is like a workout for your skin. The goal is to treat the present skin conditions, increase blood flow and oxygenation to the skin, hydrate, then nourish and repair.
Whether you want to give yourself a mini facial for an extra boost of hydration, a relaxing pampering session, or you want to re-create a professional facial at home, your mind and skin will experience the benefits. Try an at-home facial kit today.