It's great to visit a salon and have a facial. A nice boost for the skin, which targets concerns discussed with your therapist. However, a one-off facial is obviously not going to give miracles and needs at home care to keep up results and a long term skincare regime to keep the skin in a good condition. It can all be overwhelming, so what's the process for giving yourself a regular facial at home and how often should you do so?
It is recommended that if you have oily/combination skin you should give yourself a facial at home twice a week. For dry skins this would be just once a week.
Get ready
You may wish to tie or hold your hair back with a headband. You will need some cotton pads, a clean wash cloth and the products recommended for your skin type.
1. Cleanse
Using cotton pads, apply your eye make up remover and gently wipe over the eye area. Then, using your hands, gently massage the cleanser into the face, covering all areas, excluding the eyes. Remove the cleanser with warm water and you clean wash cloth. You may want to cleanse the face twice if you have had heavier make up on.
2. Tone
Using the appropriate toner for your skin type, apply to a cotton pad and wipe gently over the face. This removes any excess cleanser, dirt and grime, and closes the pores after cleansing.
3. Exfoliate
Apply a little exfoliator (be sure to check which is recommended for your skin type) on your fingertips, then massage it gently int the face all over in circular movements. Do this for a couple of minutes. Don't forget around the nostrils and also have a good focus on the chin and forehead. Some gentle exfoliators are instead applied like a mask and then removed, so do check application with your product instructions. Remove the exfoliator with warm water on your wash cloth. Quickly tone with a cotton pad again.
4. Mask
If you have an eye mask, apply this first with the ring fingers and gently dab it under the eyes and over the top of the eye socket near the eyebrows. Then for the facial mask. Again, ensure the mask you are going to use is suitable for your skin and going to give the results you are looking for. Some masks are great for hydration, some for balancing oiliness, drawing out impurities, smoothing and deep cleansing,and others for brightening or plumping the skin. Apply the mask in a thin layer over the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave this on for about 10 minutes. If you are busy, then you can apply this whilst doing other household chores, otherwise we recommend it's a great moment for relaxation or meditation. After the recommended time, remove with warm water and your wash cloth. Again, tone with a cotton pad.
5. Eye Cream/Serum
Don't forget the eyes! The eyes are an area of the face which show ageing the quickest, so an eye cream is important. Remember to apply your eye cream gently with the ring fingers and dab under the eyes and around the top of the eye socket. This is also the perfect time to apply a serum to the face if needed. Serums are great if your skin needs an extra boost of hydration, or attention.
6. Moisturise
You will already start to notice how much brighter and happier your skin looks, but it can take time to see dramatic results for skin with certain concerns. Over time though, skin will become easier to manage, more balanced, and in a healthier and happy condition on a day to day basis.
If you have any further questions, or would like to know the ideal products for you, then please don't hesitate to contact us and we can help find the right products for you.
Clare Cockell, The Reef