9 Steps for an At Home Facial

Hey Everyone !

It's no secret that I LOVE getting facials, but it can become an expensive habit. I recently shared a 9 step facial routine that I did at home. It took less than an hour and it left my skin glowing and hydrated.

Another reason I wanted to create a more in depth blog post on this topic is because we're going through a very strange time right now with the spread of the corona virus. I know we're all feeling anxious, and could likely use a distraction. If you've had to cancel an upcoming trip or are stuck working from home for the foreseeable future, treat yourself to a quick and easy facial. You deserve it.

Step 1- CLEANSE:

Any good facial starts by cleansing your skin. You want to start the process with a clean slate. If you're wearing any makeup, make sure you remove it first. I've been using and loving Summer Friday's Super Amino Gel Cleanser.

Step 2- STEAM:

Steaming your face is a crucial part of the process because it opens up your pores, making it easier to do any extractions. It also ensures that any products you use will really seep into your pores. I use a facial steamer that's $25 from Amazon. It's small but effective and I highly recommend ordering one for yourself. If you don't have a steamer, just boil a pot of water on the stove and let the steam hit your face.

Note: If you want to do any extractions, do them after steaming. Make sure you're using the correct tools or 2 cotton pads to lightly squeeze the blemish.

Step 3- EXFOLIATE:

The next step is to exfoliate your skin, which will also help clear out your now open pores. You can use either an exfoliating product or a tool such as the Foreo. I used the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, which is a smooth enzymatic cream exfoliator. I also love Summer Friday's Overtime Mask as another exfoliant option.

Tip: If you don't have an exfoliating mask, you can DIY it and make it yourself! Just mix together 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.

Step 4- CLAY/MUD MASK:

After you've exfoliated, it's time for a clay or mud mask. Clay masks work to detoxify your skin, help unclog and shrink the appearance of pores, oxygenate skin cells, and improve your overall complexion. I used Generation Clay's Brightening Purple Clay Mask.

Tip: You can create a DIY Mud Mask by mixing together 2 tablespoons of clay and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.

Step 5- TONER:

The next step is applying toner to help clarify skin, even out complexion, and fade dark spots or acne scars. I used Rodan + Fields Clarifying Toner.

Step 6- SHEET MASK:

For this step, give yourself the ultimate spa experience and grab your favorite sheet mask and facial roller. I wanted to add hydration to my skin and fade hyper pigmentation left behind by breakouts. So, I chose my Purlisse Green Tea + Vitamin C Brightening Mask and Rose Quartz facial roller.

I keep a lot of my sheet masks and facial rollers in a skincare mini fridge because the cooling effect feels amazing on your skin and really helps to de-puff.

Tip: Glide a facial roller (quartz or jade) over your sheet mask to enable the serum to soak deeper into your skin. Also, it allows for facial massage or lymphatic drainage.

Step 7- EYE CREAM:

We can't forget to take care of our under eyes ! During this step, apply your go-to under eye cream to hydrate and help combat fine lines or wrinkles. I used Juice Beauty's Anti Wrinkle Treatment.

Step 8- MOISTURIZER:

After the serum from your sheet mask soaks completely into your skin, apply a moisturizer for added hydration. I used my favorite moisturizer, Dr. Dennis Gross' Hylauronic Marine Moisture Cushion.

Step 9- LIP MASK/BALM:

For the last step, we can't forget to show some love to our lips. Lather on a lip mask, or just a heavy lip balm. I used Laneige's Overnight Lip Sleeping Mask. You can use Aquaphor, Vaseline, or Coconut Oil if you don't have a lip mask.

And that's it ! Let me know if you give this a try.

XOXO,

Caroline