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How To Give Yourself A Facial At Home
Self-isolating has meant sacrificing many simple pleasures. Eating out with friends or celebrations with extended family, all feel like a distant memory. But perhaps impacting us most in the short-term, is the removed access to professionally-administered touch-ups. That means turning our backs on that regular facial when our skincare could probably use a refresh more than ever; increased blue light damage from screens and dehydration from endless time indoors leaving skin begging for attention. The upside is, of course, with the extra time at home some of us are experiencing during self-isolation, you can take skincare into your own hands.
While your bathroom might not hold a candle to a spa experience, don’t let a lack of fancy tools or professional-level products prevent you from embracing your inner esthetician - giving yourself a decent facial treatment from the comfort of your home is completely doable.
While your bathroom might not hold a candle to a spa experience, don’t let a lack of fancy tools or professional-level products prevent you from embracing your inner esthetician - giving yourself a decent facial treatment from the comfort of your home is completely doable. Boost your skincare regime with an at-home facial that’s as easy as following a few steps.
What Is A Facial?
Whether you’re a facial fanatic or a complete newbie, it’s important to understand what exactly a facial contributes to your beauty routine. An all-inclusive approach to skincare, a facial is a treatment or series of treatments that can target multiple skin ailments. By now, we’re all aware that the skin on our face is a map for our body’s needs, and a facial serves as an infographic to point out any deficiencies or general conditions that need specific care.
Now, not all of these facial treatments are safe - or even possible - to achieve on your own. Due to the precision and experience required, extractions should be avoided at all costs. Chemical peels are also not wise to attempt on your own as they can cause pigment irregularities and even scar your skin permanently when they are misused. Even without these more advanced treatments, you can give yourself an hour of skin pampering that will reset your skin. Although nothing will replace the expertise and experience of professional treatment, an at-home facial can maintain the health of your skin until your next opportunity to visit your esthetician.
Why Give Yourself A Facial At Home?
Experts advise a facial once a month if your skin is frequently problematic, or every time your environment changes or you enter a new climate (read: when you’re suddenly forced to stay inside for weeks on end). Facials are an extension of your other skin maintenance, like exfoliation, dermaplaning, or masks - designate time the same way you might pencil in a manicure or tidying your eyebrows.
Facials should be done at night when your skin is most ready to repair, so think of it as another method to unwind.
A facial is also a chance for you to disconnect from working from home and relax into leisure time - simultaneously pamper yourself and tend to your skin’s needs under different circumstances. Whether you’re contending with a lack of work, relationship strain, or any anxiety related to the current circumstances, this is a way to decompress and boost morale. Facials should be done at night when your skin is most ready to repair, so think of it as another method to unwind. Your skin also renews every 20-30 days, so you’re likely to see results within several weeks of your facial.
How To Give Yourself A Facial At Home
Here is your step-by-step guide for giving yourself a quality facial:
1. Make sure you pull your hair away from your face and secure it with a headband or towel so you can apply your skincare products easily and with the least amount of mess. Now, it’s time for makeup removal! If you’re attempting to take off your makeup with less rubbing (hello wrinkles), consider applying an oil cleanser in circular motions before rinsing thoroughly or removing with a warm, moist washcloth. If you’re battling against stubborn eye makeup, in addition to the oil cleanser, you can also try applying an eye makeup remover to a cotton pad and wiping gently.
2. After removing your makeup, double-cleanse by massaging a small amount of another cleanser into your face and neck for 1-3 minutes (dilute with water if needed). Not only do facial massages allow your skin to better absorb the product, but they encourage the drain of build-up in your face that causes puffiness. Make sure to push the skin up as you massage to give your face a natural lift. Gently smooth forehead and eye area wrinkles as you go. This will relax the facial muscles. Rinse thoroughly
3. Next, spray or apply toner with cotton pads. Remember the neck and decolletage (avoid eye area here), as they are the first areas, other than the face, to show age. Toners are essential to complete the cleansing process and protect the skin from environmental stressors.
4. If you particularly enjoy facials that get a little steamy, never fear - this is something you can definitely DIY. Pour boiled water in a large bowl and place your skin six inches away while covering your head with a towel to trap the steam. This will open your pores and prepare your skin for exfoliation and absorption. You can steam up to 10 minutes, two minutes at a time.
5. Gently massage an exfoliant into the skin. Be careful not to scrub or drag, particularly around the eye area where the skin is thinner, but gently remove dead cells and any remaining dirt or makeup. Rinse thoroughly.
6. It’s a masking time! Apply a thin, even layer of your mask (it may be tempting to go thick, but it’s not necessary) and leave on for five to10 minutes before removing with a damp face cloth. For extra benefit, employ your former massaging techniques. Remember to include your neck and decolletage.
7. To deeply hydrate the skin, reach for your facial oil or moisturizer for another massage. Make sure to avoid acne-prone areas. Gently knead your face for five to10 minutes before rinsing the product off.
8. Now to lock in the moisture: Pop on a serum that suits your skin and massage in circular motions.
9. Reach for your favorite eye cream, lightly blending, and tapping the product until it’s absorbed.
10. Take your moisturizer and apply a thin layer to the face, neck, and decolletage. Leave all final three products on.
How To Give Yourself A Facial At Home For Acne
If problem skin is your specific concern, you may wonder if it's still possible to give yourself a facial at home. Although you will need to take special care, an at-home facial can still be accomplished in a safe and effective way. Here is our step-by-step guide:
1 to 4. Follow the same first four steps in "How To Give Yourself A Facial At Home."
5. If you’re experiencing active acne breakouts, you’ll want to avoid physical exfoliating scrubs in those areas. You can use a light chemical exfoliating peel that has gentle acids that exfoliate without irritation with natural ingredients like salicylic acid from willow bark.
6. Apply a thin layer of a mask with fingertips to cleansed skin, avoiding the eye area. (Dilute with water for easier application). Leave on for five to10 minutes. Remove with a damp face cloth. Tea Tree oil, absorbing charcoal, clay, and salicylic acid are going to be the ingredients to clear your pores and help with those breakouts.
7. Treat your skin with a spot treatment or a serum all over that contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil.
8. Moisturize. Don’t forget this finishing step, even if you do experience breakouts. Apply eye cream and a thin layer of a light moisturizer to the face, neck, and decolletage.
Whether you’re using facials to address specific skin issues, maintain your skin from pre-quarantine, or simply de-stress, it’s the perfect self-care in trying times. You don’t have to be a skincare expert or perform a facial weekly, but putting aside half an hour aside occasionally to give yourself or your partner a pick-me-up has immense beauty and mental health benefits. Plus, your skin will repay the investment, tenfold.
Want to learn more about at-home skincare? Take a look at our selection of masks and problem skin products. And let us know in the comments below or on social media - which Eminence Organics products do you use for your at-home facial?