Getting a facial is relaxing, but expensive. Fortunately, you can make your skin smoother, softer and less irritable by giving yourself a facial cleansing and recreating an authentic spa atmosphere in your own bathroom. You can use readily available products on the market, homemade recipes, or a combination of methods to make a perfect DIY treat without leaving home.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Cleansing
Step 1. Remember that washing your face is very important
Skin cleansing eliminates all sebum, sunscreen residues and external pollutants that accumulate on the skin daily. It also helps prevent pores from clogging, which consequently reduces the likelihood of blemishes appearing. Finally, washing your face helps prepare the epidermis so that it can absorb the products you intend to apply.
You should wash your face at least twice a day, even if you are not planning on getting a full facial
Step 2. Part the hair away from the face by gathering it with a band
Wash your hands thoroughly and remove your make-up completely.
Use your usual makeup remover to remove all makeup residue from your face
Step 3. Use a commercial facial cleanser
The options are many, from soaps that cost 1 euro to cleansing lotions from 40 euro. However, many beauty experts argue that it is not necessary to spend a fortune on these products, the important thing is to choose one that is specific to your skin type.
- In general, gel and foam cleansers are more suitable for combination / oily skin, while cream cleansers are ideal for normal / dry skin, because they offer an extra touch of hydration to the face.
- If you have mild acne, you can try using a cleanser that contains salicylic acid. This ingredient helps to clear clogged pores to fight and prevent skin imperfections. There are various brands that offer this product, from perfumery ones, such as Clinique, to those available in pharmacies (but generally for higher concentrations of salicylic acid you need a prescription).
Step 4. Make a homemade cleaner
You can also try making your own using some ingredients you probably already have on hand. Here are a couple of options:
- Mix 3 tablespoons of fresh apple juice, 6 tablespoons of whole milk and 2 tablespoons of honey. If you want the cleaner to have a warming effect, heat the honey in the microwave for 10 seconds before adding it to the other ingredients.
- Pour half a tablespoon of rolled oats into a food processor and grind them to a powder. Then, add 1 tablespoon of almonds and repeat the process. Add 1ml of honey and 1ml of soy milk.
Step 5. Wash your face with the cleanser you bought or created
Moisten your skin with warm water. Then, apply a dab of cleanser to the skin in an outward circular motion.
After washing your face, rinse it with warm water and pat it dry with a towel. Rubbing the skin vigorously will only make it red and irritate it
Step 6. Deal with pimples
Apply a targeted treatment that you can buy or do at home. Salicylic acid is one of the most popular ingredients to treat acne, because its function is to free the clogged pores and eliminate dead cells that facilitate the appearance of imperfections. Benzoyl peroxide is another product typically used for acne. Its action consists in killing the bacteria that cause the disorder, consequently relieving the inflammation due to these microorganisms.
- Some targeted acne treatments include those based on biologically active sulfur, salicylic acid, and 10% benzoyl peroxide. Ask your dermatologist or pharmacist for advice.
- If you want a do-it-yourself acne treatment, apply tea tree oil or toothpaste to the affected area. Tea tree oil, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, is an excellent home remedy for those with sensitive skin, because it usually does not dry or redden the skin as it happens with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
- In any case, dermatologists advise to apply these targeted treatments with caution, to avoid using them in excess. Overdoing it can cause redness, dryness, and peeling of the skin. For each product, be sure to use a pea-sized serving.
Part 2 of 5: Exfoliation
Step 1. First, you need to know what exfoliation is
This procedure eliminates dead cells, which can clog pores and contribute to the appearance of imperfections. In addition, it brightens the skin and allows you to have a visibly healthy complexion. On the other hand, non-exfoliated skin can look dull.
Proper and regular exfoliation can also make you look younger, as it exposes the new and fresh layers of skin, hidden under the old ones
Step 2. Choose an exfoliating product
Numerous brands offer this product, available in perfumery, pharmacy or supermarket. Read the description on the package: it should indicate that it exfoliates the skin. Exfoliants are also called scrubs, which in English means "to rub" (in this case the dead cells). If you have oily or acne-prone skin, consider a salicylic acid scrub.
You can also buy products that contain mild abrasive ingredients, such as jojoba microspheres, white rice, or oats. They favor the exfoliating action. Some have larger particles, such as apricot kernels and dried fruit shells. If you have sensitive skin that is easily irritated, it is best to avoid these types of exfoliants
Step 3. Make a homemade exfoliant
There are a number of do-it-yourself scrubs that you can make right at home. Here are some options:
- Mix 1 banana reduced to a pulp, 60 g of granulated sugar, 60 g of muscovado sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 ml of vitamin E. Sugar is the exfoliating agent, in fact it has an action similar to that of microparticles scrubs to eliminate dead cells.
- Blend half a dozen fresh strawberries with 60ml milk. The enzymes in strawberries dissolve dead skin cells and the milk helps soothe the skin afterwards.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Separately, make a handful of rolled oats. Use less water than the instructions on the oat pack so you get a thick compound. Then, add the honey and olive oil mixture to the oats. Oats exfoliate, while honey and olive oil hydrate.
Step 4. Apply the exfoliator gently
A light circular motion is enough to remove dead cells. If you exfoliate vigorously, you will end up with red and irritated skin. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel.
Step 5. Treat your lips
Use a special exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and make them smooth. If you want to exfoliate them at home, you can use a moistened toothbrush in gentle circular motions or mix extra-fine sugar and any oil of your choice until you get the desired consistency.
Once your lips are exfoliated, apply a balm to seal in the hydration. You can also make one at home
Part 3 of 5: Steam
Step 1. Steam facial cleansing has many benefits
The steam thoroughly cleanses and cleanses the pores because during the process, impurities, including pimples, blackheads and so on, are eliminated through sweat. In addition, it moisturizes both the deep and superficial layers of the facial skin and helps reduce the size of the pores.
Step 2. Boil some water
It needs to be hot to do an effective treatment, so bring it to a boil in the electric kettle or on the stove. Then, you can pour it into a large bowl or bathroom sink. Wait a few minutes for it to cool down slightly so you don't burn yourself.
If you use a bowl, make sure it can tolerate hot liquids
Step 3. Steam your face
Place your face on the bowl for 2-5 minutes. To trap the steam to act directly on the pores, place a towel over your head to create a sort of curtain.
Step 4. Try making additions
To make the treatment even more effective, open a green tea bag and add its contents to the water. You could also add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender.
Part 4 of 5: Apply a Mask
Step 1. Making a mask is also important
This treatment further frees the pores and removes impurities from the skin. You can also use masks that contain skin moisturizing ingredients.
Step 2. Choose the right mask
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should buy one with clay or sulfur to combat impurities (try Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque). If you have dry skin, use a moisturizing mask, such as Kiehl's Ultra Facial Masque.
Step 3. Make a homemade mask
If you don't want to buy it, you can easily reproduce it. Mix 2.5g avocado, half a teaspoon of honey, half a teaspoon of yogurt, 0.5g of yeast, and half a teaspoon of cranberry juice, apple juice, or kombucha tea in a food processor. Let the ingredients blend until they have a creamy and homogeneous consistency. Here are some alternatives for various skin types:
- For normal or dry skin: mix 60 g of cocoa powder, half a cup of honey, 3 tablespoons of cream and 3 tablespoons of rolled oats.
- For normal to oily skin: Mix half a cup of pulped raspberries, half a cup of rolled oats, and 60 ml of honey.
Step 4. Apply the mask
Massage it on your face, avoiding the eye area and mouth. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. However, don't wait for it to become crumbly and dry. Remove it with warm water and a soft sponge.
- If you feel a burning or hot sensation while the mask is on, remove it. The skin may become irritated.
- When removing the mask, do not rub it abrasively, instead let the lukewarm water do the bulk of the work to completely remove it from the skin.
Part 5 of 5: Hydration
Step 1. Hydration is also essential
It is a very important part of any beauty treatment. Moisturizing products allow the face to look healthy, smooth and fresh.
Hydration also has long-term benefits. In fact, it allows the skin to stay in shape and function optimally. This means that skin cells can repair themselves quickly and promote good turnover. In the long run, this has enormous benefits because it decelerates aging. According to some studies, people who use moisturizers are significantly less likely to have wrinkles than those who have dry skin and don't cure it
Step 2. Choose a moisturizer
You have to select it according to your skin type. If it's oily, go for lotions or gels over creams. If it is dry, look for a cream, which contains more oil. The higher the oil content, the better the product is absorbed by the skin, hydrating the tissue more effectively. If you have combination skin, try a lotion that is free of acidic ingredients, such as those from Clinique, Avène, Nivea or HQ.
After a facial, avoid using a very light moisturizer. The skin has been thoroughly cleaned, so it needs to be invigorated and nourished. Otherwise, dehydration will cause it to produce excess sebum and clog pores, which will eventually cause blemishes
Step 3. Consider using a moisturizer with SPF
The sun destroys skin cells, and one of the secrets to fresh, youthful-looking skin is to incorporate a sunscreen factor moisturizer into your daily beauty habits.
- Try to buy a moisturizer with SPF (sun protection factor) 15-30. According to some recent studies, products with higher SPF are no more effective than others. Furthermore, the indicated protection factor does not necessarily correspond to the actual one.
- You can try Avène's sunscreen with SPF 20, which is for sensitive skin, or Clinique's protective face cream with SPF 30.
Step 4. Apply the moisturizer
Gently use your fingertips to massage the product into your skin, making sure to apply it to every single corner of your face.
