With prices skyrocketing, why spend money on expensive facials? Follow this advice to tighten, moisturize, and revitalize facial skin in your own home beauty spa.
Revitalize and Reinvent With an At-Home Facial
Begin with clean skin. All makeup should be gently removed with warm water. Next, exfoliate to slough off dead, dry flakes of skin and reveal the fresh skin below. Whether you use a gentle store-bought product or blend an exfoliator at home, exfoliation should be a weekly routine to keep skin glowing. Apply product to damp skin and exfoliate gently, moving your fingers in small, massaging circles. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Following exfoliation, you may or may not want to steam your skin. The heat and moisture of the steam opens the pores and prepares them for a facial mask. A steam treatment can be done at home with a sink or pan filled with steaming (not boiling) water. Try adding sprigs of lavender or rosemary to relax and calm the skin and mind. Simply drape a towel over your head and keep your face in the path of the steam for five minutes. Alternatively, a warm, wet cloth pressed to the face for two minutes accomplishes the same result.
Next, a facial mask is used to condition and balance skin. Once again, a store-bought item can be used or you can create your own at home, for less. Spread the mask over your face, avoiding the eye area, and let sit for up to twenty minutes before gently rinsing with lukewarm water. Note: an old t-shirt is the best attire for this project, as masks can drip and get messy!
Facial Ingredients: Check the Kitchen
Different foods or common pantry items can be combined to create a personalized facial for dry, oily, or normal skin. Creativity is an essential element in homemade facials—relax, experiment with assorted combinations of ingredients, and watch your skin’s condition improve.
- Eggs: Whites can soak up excess oil and tighten skin, while yolks will moisturize and condition.
- Yogurt: Unflavored yogurt is a terrific moisturizer and soothes tired skin; works great as a facial mask
- Mashed Strawberry: Slightly acidic for facial cleansing and contains a natural and gentle exfoliant: seeds
- Green Tea: Soothes irritated skin
- Honey: Softens, soothes, and moisturizes skin
- Finely minced cucumber: Cools and refreshes
- Mashed Avocado: a natural and soothing skin conditioner
- Ground Rolled Oats: Soothe irritated skin; can also be used as exfoliant
- Used Coffee Grounds: a cheap and easy exfoliant (also great for increasing circulation in legs!)
- Olive Oil: Works as a moisturizer and brightens skin
- Herbs: Fresh herbs, such as spearmint and lavender, relax or refresh the skin
- Sugar: White, raw, or brown sugar all work as a handy exfoliant
- Diluted Lemon Juice: Reduces excess oil
- Mashed Banana: These vitamin-packed fruits tighten and moisturize skin while revealing a fresh glow
Combine any of these ingredients or more. Try a simple mixture of yogurt and honey, combine banana and avocado, or try these refreshing recipes.
DIY Strawberry Mint Facial Exfoliator
- ½ cup sugar (white refined sugar is fine, though some prefer raw or brown sugar)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3-4 fresh average-sized strawberries, mashed with a fork
- 1 small handful of fresh mint, minced
Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl and mix. The result should be a wet paste; if too dry or too moist, adjust ingredients. DIY Quick and Easy Exfoliator 2 tsp. good quality olive oil 2 tsp. sugar Mix and gently exfoliate face. Olive oil is highly moisturizing and will leave residue. It is best followed by a mask.
DIY Banana Oatmeal Facial Mask
The following ingredients work to tighten and moisturize the skin, naturally!
- ½ ripe banana, mashed
- ½ cup unflavored yogurt
- 2 tablespoons unflavored, uncooked rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons honey
Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl and apply to face. This mixture is a little sloppy, but it is effective. It is also so mild that it can be used for consecutive days!
DIY Chamomile Relax Facial Mask
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tsp. finely ground corn meal
- 2 tsp. honey
- The contents of 1 chamomile tea bag
Combine all ingredients and smooth over face. Sit back and relax as you enjoying the soothing and moisturizing effects.
Also see: Do-It-Yourself Pedicure
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