How to: Give Yourself the Ultimate At-Home Facial

This is a guest post written by Sami Blackford from Love Yourself Naturally

How to: Give Yourself the Ultimate At-Home Facial

Many people swear by facials not only as a way to feel relaxed and pampered, but also as a means for making their skin healthier.

Before you start, gather together everything you’re going to need – this makes the process smoother and less stressful than when you have to go hunting for something half-way through the treatment.

What will you need?

• cleanser
• exfoliant
• steam bath
• mask
• tonic
• moisturizer or facial oil

You’ll also need cotton-wool pads, a bowl of hot water, a towel, a face flannel, and a bowl of water at room temperature. Alternatively, you can use your bathroom sink, but I like to do this in the comfort of my sitting room or bedroom so that I can relax. I’ll leave it up to you.

What to do…

Clean your face thoroughly using cleansing cream and remove with cotton-wool – double-cleanse if you need to.

Exfoliate your skin using a gentle exfoliant to get rid of any build-up of dead cells on the surface of the skin. Rinse with room-temperature water and pat skin dry with a clean towel.

Steam your face to open pores and draw-out toxins – add your steam bath herbal blend to a large bowl of hot water and allow the herbs to infuse for a minute or so. Make a “tent” over your head and the bowl using a large towel. Steam your face for 10 minutes.

At Freyaluna, we offer ready-to-use steam bath blends for each skin type, but you can make your own.

You may want to skip this step if you have rosacea or very sensitive skin as saunas and steam baths can exacerbate the condition.

Nourish your skin using a facial mask – cover your face with a light, even coat, avoiding the delicate eye area. Now RELAX for 10 – 15 minutes to give the mask time to do its work (and to give you a time-out to de-stress).

Facial masks can do all-manner of things and can give many benefits, but make sure you get one that’s right for your skin.

Remove the mask using a facial flannel soaked in room-temperature water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

Refresh your skin with a facial tonic – either soak a cotton-wool pad with the tonic, or use a spray bottle to spritz your skin.

Moisturise your skin using a moisturising cream or facial oil – give yourself a little facial massage as you go, to encourage deep-down moisturising and to improve circulation to the skin.

Smile and relax! You’re all done. Your skin is now beautifully clean and energised.

Your skin will be sensitive after a facial, so stay indoors for at least an hour after treatment to allow your pores to close completely, and try not to apply any make-up for the rest of the day. Why not take this opportunity to indulge in some proper “me time” and unplug the phone, switch off all technology, and lose yourself in your favourite book.