There’s nothing that beats the feel of having a facial – it’s one of the most revitalising beauty treatments and can leave you wanting to skip out of the salon! But when you can’t quite stretch to the relaxing touch of a beauty therapist, here’s a few ways to recreate that sparkle at home, with your own beauty products.
Cleanse Your Skin Thoroughly
The first thing to do when you have a facial is to start with a clean slate, so to speak, and cleanse your skin using your own home beauty products.
Start with a gentle cleanser in order to get rid of any surface oil and dirt. If your skin is oily or combination, you can try a stronger cleanser but don’t opt for anything too harsh as it can strip away the natural oils from your skin.
Next, exfoliate to get rid of the dead skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin and make it look dull. Using circular motions gently rub an exfoliating cream into your skin, focusing on the T-zone, where skin tends to be slightly oilier – these are the forehead, chin and nose.
Finish with a warm flannel – immerse this in warm water, wring it out and then water and press it gently onto your face a couple of times, to open pores.
Let The Pampering Commence!
The next part of any facial is to apply a face mask. Look at the beauty products you’ve already got at home – or you can buy single sachet face masks quite cheaply in most high street chemists. As a rule, if your skin tends to be oily or combination, you should plump for a clay-based mask, and if your skin is on the dry side, a hydrating mask will be more suitable.
Apply the mask to your face, apart from the sensitive area around the eye, and leave it on for as long as directed on the sachet or tub.
Put Some Moisture Back In
After the face mask, your skin should be feeling peachy clean and fresh, so you’ll only need a light moisturizer in order to keep it feeling this good.
A Deep Cleansing Facial Steam
Another popular facial treatment that can perk up tired looking skin is the steam facial. This beauty treatment is best carried out on a monthly basis, and you’ll love the effects.
Just put your hair up in a towel to keep it away from your face – there’s nothing more annoying than stray hairs getting in the way of your facial!
Start by cleansing and exfoliating as per the home facial above, but instead of the warm flannel take a bowl of just boiled water and lean over it, with a towel completely over your head. Add some essential oils if you like – a soothing lavender, chamomile or rose would be good. Only add a few drops as the steam will condense it very quickly.
If you have the time and the patience, adding fresh lavender and herbs to the bowl can also make the beauty treatment a little bit more special.
Stay over the bowl for five to ten minutes, relaxing and breathing deeply. Another bonus of adding calming oils is that you’ll be relaxing as you cleanse!
Don’t apply a face mask after a steam session, simply pat your face dry and add some moisturiser.