While it’s quite the luxury to indulge in a facial performed by an esthetician at the day spa, the DIY version within the comforts of your own home can be just as effective and pampering. Not only do at-home facials help maintain healthy, hydrated, and glowing skin between professional appointments, they’re also a great way to carve out some time for all the body-mind-soul benefits of self-care. And, you don’t need to master any special skills: all you need for this skincare treatment is the right ambiance, products, tools, and regimen. Here’s our 9-step guide to the ultimate at-home facial, along with a play-by-play video tutorial with beauty guru Liz Kennedy so you can see it all in action!
While it’s quite the luxury to indulge in a facial performed by an esthetician at the day spa, the DIY version within the comforts of your own home can be just as effective and pampering. Not only do at-home facials help maintain healthy, hydrated, and glowing skin between professional appointments, they’re also a great way to carve out some time for all the body-mind-soul benefits of self-care. And, you don’t need to master any special skills: all you need for this skincare treatment is the right ambiance, products, tools, and regimen. Here’s our 9-step guide to the ultimate at-home facial, along with a play-by-play video tutorial with beauty guru Liz Kennedy so you can see it all in action!
- Set the mood: To create your own calming spa environment, get comfy, dim the lights, grab a fluffy towel, make a playlist of your favorite soothing music, and light up a fragrant candle to engage all your senses. Make sure your tools are lined up and ready to be put to use. We love the Beauty Magnet, a 5-in-1 magnetized set that has it all for easy access, including a Derma Roller, Rose Quartz Face Roller, De-Puffing Eye Roller, Comedone Extractor, and Precise Tweezer.
- Double-cleanse. Begin your at-home facial with most thorough face-washing technique, the double cleanse. Using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser ensures that every kind of grime, from old makeup and dead skin cells to sweat and excess oil, is removed from both your pores and your skin’s surface – all without stripping your natural skin barrier of its natural moisture. Our own cleansing duo includes NOURISH Oil Cleanser, formulated with 8 makeup-melting and pore-cleansing oils including Apricot Kernel Oil and Argan Oil, and REFRESH Jade Purifying Cleanser, which purifies your skin with moisture-balancing ingredients like high-alkaline Clean Jade Water, which is filtered through the fine white jade stratum deep within the mountains of Korea.
- Steam (Tweezing Optional): Now that your skin is clean and fresh, a gentle steam will help open up your pores and boost hydration, plus prep your skin for extractions and to better receive the products next in line. You can go the old-fashioned route by placing your face over a bowl of steamy water, or get more high-tech with a handheld device. We’re big fans of Vanity Planet’s Senia Hot & Cold Smart Facial Steamer, which has 6 different customizable settings, hot and cold steam modes, and even an aroma basket – try adding dried flowers or essential oils to amp-up your steaming experience. Since your skin is super-soft, It’s also a great time to tweeze any miscellaneous hairs from the eyebrows or face.
- Exfoliate: Next, you’ll want to shed dead skin cells and remove stubborn debris from your pores by exfoliating, which also helps refine your skin texture, fades discoloration, and boosts brightening. A gentle exfoliator is the way to go, as harsh exfoliating chemicals can cause irritation and redness. There are two different exfoliating ingredients in our GLOW Exfoliating Soft Peel: Papaya Fruit enzymes to dissolve build-up and plant-based Microcrystalline Cellulose to gently buff debris away, plus moisture-replenishing Sodium Hyaluronate and Lipidure® PMB.
- Extract: Since your skin is soft, it’s the prime time to banish any blackheads or whiteheads with a comedone extractor. You don’t need to be a professional to be successful! Liz recommends pressing gently around the sides of your nose, where these blemishes tend to gather.
- Mask: Now it’s time to luxuriate with a mask and massage. Simply apply the sheet mask targeted to a specific skin concern, such as acne or anti-aging, and let the serum soak in for about 15-20 minutes. This also sets the stage for some indulgent face-massing action, which helps the serum penetrate more deeply; lifts, tightens, reduces puffiness, and seals-in moisture; and even melts away the day’s tension. We love Vanity Planet’s Forever Young Hot & Cold Rejuvenating Facial Wand, which includes both hot and cold massage settings paired with gentle sonic vibrations for a face massage that will make you say “spahhh.” It’s also the prime opportunity to use your Rose Quartz facial roller over the sheet mask, which will help smooth in product while giving your skin a “lift.”
- Apply a Serum: Following your sheet mask, pick your favorite serum to double-up on a targeted treatment. You can also use your de-puffing eye roller to distribute your eye cream, or even the Forever Young Hot & Cold Rejuvenating Facial Wand – putting it on hot mode will help open your pores to better receive the serum.
- Smooth on Eye Cream: Don’t forget about the eyes! This area is often ignored as people think it’s “covered” by moisturizer, but in fact, the skin here is more delicate and requires special attention. The wand comes in handy again: in cold mode, it will help de-puff any under-eye bags.
- Moisturize: The very last step is to seal in all that facial goodness with a moisturizer. Not only does it keep skin supple, it protects your natural skin barrier from invaders, the elements, and signs of aging. Treat yourself to a moisturizer enriched with active ingredients. Our RESTORE Propolis Collagen Gel is formulated with protective and hydrating ingredients like Propolis, Hydrolyzed Collagen, and Honey, plus brighteners like Niacinamide to help repair, plump, soften, soothe, and brighten skin for glowing results. A Rose Quartz facial roller or the sonic vibrations of the Forever Young Hot & Cold Rejuvenating Facial Wand will help your moisturizer penetrate even deeper.
Now that we’ve armed you with everything you need to know for an at-home facial, it’s time to get glowing!!
-The Aloisia Beauty Team