These are strange times, and there is still a lot of uncertainty about how our lives will change after lockdown restrictions start to be lifted. It’s easy to forget things like self-care, especially when so much is in turmoil. However, focussing on small things you can do for yourself, like giving yourself a pampering facial, can really help to lift your mood.
Treatments you can do yourself at home shouldn’t be complicated, but they should leave you feeling relaxed and with healthier skin. To set the scene for a home facial, you’ll need to get the atmosphere serene and calm. Try an aromatherapy burner or diffuser, or scented candles with soothing scents like lavender.
If you are planning facial treatments at home, always remember these basic steps. Make sure that you have enough time to do all the steps of your treatment; there’s nothing worse than being interrupted with a face mask on!
Step 1: Start the treatment with a cleanser, to remove surface impurities. This can be a wash off cleanser, or one you can wipe off with cotton wool pads or reusable cloths. Massage the cleanser into the skin in small circles, and always avoid the delicate eye area.
Step 2: Once the cleanser has been removed, the next step should include a gentle exfoliator, for example salicylic acid, which you can use to ensure the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin can start to be dislodged. This will allow the next product in your facial treatment to penetrate better.
Step 3: Now you can apply a second exfoliating product to remove the surface layer of dead skin cells. There are some very gentle yet effective exfoliants and scrubs with natural ingredients like lotus seed or papaya enzymes, which aren’t harsh on the skin. Wash the scrub off after the recommended time. As an alternative to an exfoliating scrub, you could try a gentle glycolic acid peel for this step.
Step 4: After the scrub or peel, you might want to apply a moisturising mask, or use a sheet mask. This allows you to lie back and relax for about 10 minutes, while the mask deeply hydrates your freshly exfoliated skin. If your skin is oily, then use a water-based mask. If your skin is dry, then use a hydrating mask.
Step 5: After removing the mask, you should then apply a moisturiser to seal in the hydration. Take your time massaging the moisturiser into the skin, as this will improve the circulation and lymphatic drainage, which reduces the puffiness on the face, especially around the eyes. If you have an eye cream or gel, apply it at this stage. When applying an eye cream/gel, it is best to use the third finger of each hand in a gentle patting rather than rubbing motion. This will ensure that you don’t damage the delicate skin around the eyes.
Have some healthy snacks to hand for after your facial, for example a fruit platter, some vegetable crudités and a dip, or fruit and veg smoothies.
Lastly – music. You might not be in the mood for whale music or pan pipes but you need some mellow tunes to fix the mood. Find some nice chilled out tracks, and to make life easier you can make a playlist of your favourites.
If you’d like to have a facial at home but don’t know which products to use, message me to purchase a facial at home mini pack, with enough products for 2 treatments. You could even use the pack to share a facial at home with your partner as part of a Valentine’s Day date!