Do it Yourself Facial

Pamper your Skin with an At-Home Facial

by Jaime Kite

Everyone loves the spa experience. A deep, thorough cleansing, gentle exfoliation and sleep-inducing facial massage is a great way to pass an afternoon. However, in this busy time and a strained economy, not every woman can make the space in her schedule and budget for a professional treatment. Fret not! Between spa appointments, treat yourself at home with a relaxing facial using your everyday skincare products.
1. Prep: Set aside 30 minutes for yourself, light a few candles and assemble everything you’ll need before getting started. Pull your hair back with a soft headband and change into comfortable clothes suitable for lounging.

2. Cleanse: Properly cleansed skin is the foundation of a good facial. Everything else you apply works more effectively if the skin is properly cleansed. After removing your eye makeup, pour a nickel-sized amount of cleanser into damp hands. Gel cleansers work best for combination and oily skin types while milky cleansers are best for dry and mature skin.

Massage the cleanser in small circles for two minutes, making sure to cleanse up to your hairline and down your jaw line. Completely rinse the cleanser and repeat. While the first cleansing removes surface imperfections, the second cleansing eliminates any deep, grimy buildup and helps prep your skin for the following products.

3. Exfoliate: A gentle exfoliation will remove dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin, reduce blemishes and the appearance of pores, leaving behind a more refreshed, glowing complexion. Using damp hands, gently work the scrub over your skin for two to three minutes. Make sure to concentrate on buildup prone areas such as the nose and chin. Your scrub should be light enough to be comfortable—if it hurts, you’re either using the wrong product or rubbing too hard. Remove the product with plenty of water and gently pat dry with a soft towel.

4. Steam: Steaming softens the pores and helps to enhance moisture retention in the skin. You can add a couple drops of essential oil for best results. Eucalyptus or tea tree is excellent for oily and blemished skin types and chamomile or lavender will help calm sensitive and dry skin. Boil a pot of water and pour the water into a medium-size bowl. The water should be gently steaming, but not so hot as to be uncomfortable. Drape a bath towel over your head and deeply breathe in the steam for five to 10 minutes.

5. Massage: Excellent for promoting circulation, the massage will also help relax tensed up facial muscles. Using a generous amount of moisturizer, massaging in a circular pattern, gently kneading your cheeks and jaw line and sweeping up and out toward your earlobes.

To help eliminate puffiness under your eyes, lightly press on the occipital bone under the eye area, moving outward from the inner corner of the eye. You can use your favorite eye cream in this area for best results. Massage until your fingers can no longer glide along the surface of the skin and then blot off any excess product with a soft tissue.
Although most steps of a facial can be done at home, never attempt to extract your own skin. The picking and squeezing you do on your own is not the same as a professional service. You will exert far too much pressure and can potentially damage your skin, leading to permanent scarring and spots. That little blackhead isn’t worth the risk—leave it for your next professional treatment.
In this busy, stress-filled world, taking time to regularly pamper yourself at the spa or at home will benefit not only your outward appearance but your mental health as well.
Jaime Kite is a licensed esthetician at Dolce Salon & Spa in Chandler, and is the Education Director for Dolce & Companies.

Infolink:
www.dolcesalonspa.com
www.affairsbydoco.com