Self-care can take on many shapes and is essential to maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit. One of the best forms of self-care is to indulge in at-home facials, and many skincare experts agree that performing regular facials at home is the best way to maintain healthy, glowing skin. With an enormous skincare range available, it's never been easier or more affordable to experience the luxury of a spa-like facial at home.
Before you begin your at-home facial treatment, set the mood by putting on some relaxation music and pulling your hair back from your face with a plush headband.
Then, using micellar water or a cleansing balm, remove all traces of makeup. Work in an upward movement when applying pressure to your face, as this can help with skin elasticity. It's also best to use lukewarm water.
The second step is to wash your face with a cleanser to purify and nourish the skin.
Apply the product to your face and work into the skin in small circular movements. Concentrate on areas prone to congestion and clogged pores, such as the corners of the nose, the eyebrows, the jawline, and the hairline. Rinse the cleanser off and gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
To give your skincare ritual a professional touch, add some steam. Heat and moisture open the follicles, allowing skincare to absorb more easily.
To steam the skin at home, carefully fill a bowl with boiling water and position your face over the bowl about six inches away. Using a towel or blanket, cover your head and stay like this for up to 10 minutes.
To make the experience more indulgent, add some essential oils to the water, such as lavender or peppermint. Then spend some time inhaling and exhaling slowly.
Exfoliation is key to revitalizing the skin. For best results, use an exfoliant that contains alpha and beta-hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs) to target signs of aging and acne.
Apply exfoliant to the skin using a soft facial brush. Leave the product on for no longer than the instructions specified to avoid damaging your skin. Then remove the product with a soft damp towel before moving on.
Follow exfoliant with a toner to balance and hydrate your skin. We recommend using one in an atomizer for this 10-step skincare ritual. Choose a toner with lavender or an aroma that you enjoy to immerse yourself into your facial ritual even further.
Spritz the toner over your entire face, and allow it to absorb for a minute or so.
The next step in your skincare ritual is a mask. Choose a gel, cream, or sheet mask that boosts hydration and provides antioxidant protection.
Using a soft facial brush, apply the mask to the face. Now's the perfect opportunity to relax, watch an episode of your favorite show, or take a warm bath to let the ingredients work their magic.
When you're ready to remove the mask, use lukewarm water or a soft damp towel.
Serums can treat skin conditions and give your skin a boost of nutrients or hydration. They typically contain active ingredients and are a great addition to a 10-step skincare ritual.
After removing the face mask, apply a few drops of the serum onto clean and dry fingertips. Using firm pressure, press the serum into the skin, and allow it to soak in completely before moving to the next step.
Moisturizers are crucial to every skincare ritual and act as a barrier to lock in moisture, provide nutrients and hydration to the skin, and protect it from external stressors.
Take a small amount of your moisturizer on your fingertips, and apply it to the face working in light, upward strokes.
The skin around your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face and is more prone to signs of aging, dark circles, and puffiness. So it's important to use products designed for that area.
Apply an eye cream using your ring fingers, as they use the lightest pressure. Take some eye cream onto your fingertips and lightly apply the product under the eyes, working from the center and outwards. Finish with your fingertips at the temples using firm pressure.
Complete your skincare ritual with a relaxing facial massage. Apply facial oil to your hands, and spread it across your face, neck, and décolletage by pressing it onto the skin evenly. Then use light upward strokes to get the circulation flowing, starting from the bottom and working your way up the neck and face.
To reduce facial tension, focus on pressure points between the eyes, under the cheekbones, the jaw muscles, and the temples.