Here is a simple step-by-step tutorial for doing an at-home facial. All you need are a handful of products, which you may already own.
Before you begin
Dampen a couple of washcloths or hand towels, fold them and roll them up. Place them on a microwave-safe plate and heat in 30-second intervals, turning them over, until they are hot to the touch. Cover with a dry towel to keep in the heat and keep them handy.
You can also steep two chamomile tea bags while you prepare the towels — you’ll use them during the mask step.
If you own a fan brush or foundation brush, wash it thoroughly so you can use it to apply product. No brush? Fingertips work just fine.
One more thing: remove makeup before washing your face so nothing sits between your skin and your cleanser. Micellar water, a makeup-melting balm, a microfiber cloth, or a plant-based oil all work.
Step by step
- Cleanse. Pick your favorite cleanser — products from the same line tend to work best together. Dampen your face, lather a nickel-size amount, and massage it in for 90 seconds, a third of the way down your neck. Rinse and pat dry.
- Tone (optional). Sweep a cotton pad lightly soaked in toner or witch hazel over face and neck to balance pH, then pat in with your fingertips.
- Exfoliate. Use your favorite gentle scrub. Massage a nickel-size amount in gentle circles for two minutes, from forehead down to neck — singing along to a favorite song makes it fly by. Rinse.
- Mask. Apply a sheet mask or your favorite mask with fingertips or a brush. Pro tip: do one half of your face at a time, from forehead to neck, for even coverage.
- Steam. Test a warm towel on your wrist, then drape it over your face and relax for 10 minutes — it opens pores and keeps the mask soft. Pro tip: place the cooled tea bags over your eyes under the towel for a soothing eye treatment.
- Remove. Wipe off the mask with the warm damp towels, rinse any stubborn bits at the sink, and pat dry.
- Serum (optional). Apply a dime-size amount over face and neck and pat in until absorbed.
- Moisturize. Finish with a nickel-size amount of moisturizer in gentle circles, patting it in until absorbed.
Want products chosen for your skin? Ask us for a consultation at your next visit.
