Put your hand up if you are sick of paying for expensive facials. Even though they are beneficial to the skin, you can give yourself a spa-quality facial at home for half the price! But, do you know how to do a facial at home? Here, we have put up a tutorial on how to give yourself a relaxing facial given below at home. Follow the steps to give your skin some much-needed care.
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How To Give Yourself Perfect At-Home Facial: A Step-By-Step Tutorial
Take some time to prepare yourself for the facial and make it a better experience.
- Preparation: Create a relaxing atmosphere. Light a few aromatic candles. Keep all your electronic devices in “Do-Not-Disturb” mode.
- Skin Analysis: Identify the skin issues you want to address, like blackheads, whiteheads, signs of aging, acne, and sun damage.
- Products: Choose products according to your skin type. Learn more about different skin types. You can use multi-step facial kits or whip up DIY recipes for the facial. Once you are set, move on to the steps.
Step 1: Clean Your Skin
You Will Need
- Makeup remover or cleansing oil
- A damp cloth or cotton balls or wet wipes
- Face wash
Process
- Clean your face with a makeup remover or cleansing oil. Wipe all traces of makeup and dirt from your eyes, lips, and neck.
- Follow it up with a mild face wash. Avoid products with alcohol, artificial preservatives, and fragrances as they can dry and irritate the skin.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto the face with your fingertips in a circular motion for 30-60 seconds.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water.
Why?
It is essential to start with clean skin. Double cleansing removes all the traces of dirt, grime, oil, and makeup from your face. This allows better penetration of actives and serums into the skin.
Step 2: Exfoliate Your Skin
You Will Need
- Scrub or Enzyme-based exfoliator
- Steam machine or Hot towel
- Extraction tools
- Damp cloth
- Lukewarm water
Process
- Scrub your face and neck for 2-5 minutes. If you are using an enzyme-based or chemical exfoliant with AHA and BHA, apply it to your face, avoiding the area around your eyes, and leave it on for the stipulated time before washing it off.
- Moisten your face and steam it with a steam machine or a hot towel. Do not steam for more than 2-3 minutes. Avoid this step if you have sensitive skin.
- Extract whiteheads and blackheads using the extraction tools.
- Rinse your face and pat it dry.
Why?
- Physical and chemical exfoliants have a gritty texture that sloughs away the dead skin cells. However, be careful with both the exfoliants as overdoing them can damage the skin and affect its texture.
Related: How To Remove Dead Skin Naturally?
- Steam helps dislodge the dirt and debris from the pores and unclog them. It also helps soften blackheads and whiteheads for easy extraction. If you have sensitive skin, you may avoid steaming.
- Extraction is the process of removing blackheads or whiteheads using specialized tools. This needs a little patience and skill. Avoid this step if you are a beginner.
StyleCraze SaysIt is advised to avoid facials when you have pus-filled pimples as they may pop, spread, and cause infections.
Step 3: Massage
You Will Need
- Moisturizing cream or facial oil
- Gua sha scraper or jade/quartz rollers (optional)
Process
- Apply cream or oil to your face. Gently massage in a circular motion. Ensure to use enough product for a slip. Massage in soft, rolling swipes and increase the pressure gradually for a relaxing experience,
- Keep your strokes outward and upward. Repeat them 5-7 times for best results. Keep changing the motions. Use your fingertips, knuckles, Gua sha scrapers, or jade or quartz rollers. Pat your skin lightly from time to time.
- Knead the skin between your eyebrows with your knuckles and move them towards the hairline.
- Massage your chin with the knuckles, moving them upward and along the jawline. Contour your nose using your index and middle finger.
- Focus on your laugh lines and gently massage the area around the upper lip and lower nose.
- Place your palms underneath your cheekbones and massage towards the hairline.
- Finish with the neck. Massage in vertical strokes from the collarbone towards your face in an upward direction.
Why?
Facial massage stimulates the muscles and improves blood circulation. It boosts skin elasticity and firmness. Massaging feels relaxing and also allows better penetration of skin care treatments, improving skin hydration levels. This makes your skin soft and supple. Massaging also promotes lymphatic drainage, minimizing puffiness and fluid retention.
Related: Skin Elasticity: What Is It And 10 Ways To Improve It
Step 4: Face Mask
You Will Need
- Face mask (according to your skin type or issue)
- Lukewarm water
- Chilled cucumber slices or rose water-soaked cotton pads (Optional)
Process
- Apply the mask to your face. You can use peel-off masks, sheet masks, DIY masks, or bubble masks.
- Place the chilled cucumber slices or rose water-soaked cotton pads on your eyes.
- Leave on the mask for 20 minutes and wipe your face with a damp washcloth. If using sheet masks, avoid wiping. Let the serum dry on your face.
- Rinse off with water (avoid if using sheet masks).
Why?
Face masks contain ingredients to fight specific skin concerns like acne, fine lines, dark spots, and pigmentation. They may contain ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides to nourish, hydrate, tone, and brighten your skin.
StyleCraze SaysNever leave face masks on beyond 30 minutes as they can dehydrate your skin. Some instructions may ask you to leave them on till they dry, but it is the duration of exposure that matters.
Step 5: Treatments And Moisturizer
Finish off with treatment serums, moisturizer, and sunscreen (if going out). Use serums containing retinol, resveratrol, and lactic acid. You may also apply hydrating lip masks and under-eye patches in this step and use microneedle rollers and LED light therapy masks. However, avoid dermabrasion rollers if you have never used them.
At-home facials are the easiest way to pamper your skin. However, you need to take precautions and follow the aftercare tips to avoid any damage.
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Precautions And Aftercare Tips To Follow
- Always be gentle with your skin.
- Follow the instructions properly. Never leave the products on your skin for longer than the recommended duration.
- Try to allot 1-2 hours for a facial.
- Secure the hair with a headband before starting the facial treatment.
- You can wear an old T-shirt or a bathrobe to avoid any mess.
- Do not go outside for at least an hour after the facial. Ingredients like vitamin C and retinol make the skin photosensitive.
- Let your skin breathe and avoid applying makeup for at least an hour.
- Go for facials once or twice a month. The frequency depends on your skin type and concerns.
- Follow a dedicated skin care regimen to maintain your skin health.
Infographic: Face Mask Recipes
Doing a facial at home is a practical and affordable way to keep your skin glowing and healthy. Applying a face mask will address various skin issues and improve your overall skin health. Instead of using store-bought facial masks, you can make your own facial masks in the comfort of your home.
Check out the infographic below to know more!
Learning how to do a facial at home is practical and economical in the long run. Before you start your facial, identify your skin issues and use products suitable to your skin type. The first two steps require cleansing your face with a cleanser and exfoliator to remove excess dirt, dead skin, and makeup. Once this is done, massage your face with an oil or moisturizing cream and a face mask to boost blood circulation and hydrate your skin. You can finish the facial off with a moisturizer or serum to seal the moisture in your skin. Ensure that you avoid exposure to the sun for some time and follow a skincare routine to keep your skin healthy.
