How To Create DIY Facials At Home

You may not be able to emulate the distinctive touch of your favorite skincare specialist, but now more than ever is the perfect time to destress and give yourself a little TLC. Treating yourself to a spa-inspired treatment at home to address skin concerns and reduce stress levels can prove to be rewarding for your skin and boost your mental health. The experts at Courted are here to show how you can do it yourself with a relaxing facial from home. Take some time to allow yourself to disconnect, pour a cup of herbal tea or a nice glass of cucumber-mint infused water, and follow these steps to some serious self-pampering with a DIY facial.

For an at-home DIY facial, you will need:

·   Circular Facial Sponges

·   Cleanser

·   Toner

·   Exfoliant (physical or chemical)

·   Towel

·   Bowl

·   Steamed Water (you can place a pot of water on the stove to heat while you cleanse)

·   Facial Mask

·   Serum, Moisturizer or Facial Oil

Step One: Double Cleanse

The first step in a DIY facial is to dampen your skin with warm water. Starting from your neck and moving upwards, massage in cleanser using firm circular movements. As you move to your jaw-line, use your knuckles to massage the tension out your lower face. As you move upward, apply a bit of pressure from the sides of your ears underneath your cheekbones, up the sides of nose, top of eyebrow and forehead. Performing this method allows you to touch pressure points in the mid-face region. Continue up the sides of the nose, towards the forehead, move down to your temples circulating around your eyes. Repeat this process twice.

Use oil or cream-based cleanser to start for dry skin-types, that will cleanse but also keep the moisture barrier intact. If you use a cleansing oil/milk, allow your skin sip the water for the moisturizing benefits of these products to work their magic while also cleansing.

Next, choose a gentle gel or foam cleanser, focus on areas with the most congestion and massage well into corners of the nose. Remove excess product with lukewarm sponges or warm washcloth. Leave skin damp and continue to the next step.

Step Two: Exfoliate

Use an exfoliation medium to slough off the top layer of accumulated dead skin cells and excess congestion. This step ensures you get the most out of your products that follow.

Depending on skin type and tolerability, you can opt for a physical (granular) or chemical (enzyme) exfoliant. I recommend keeping your exfoliation limited to one product to avoid overstimulation. If you have sensitive skin, skip directly to step four.If you are a facial scrub fan, be sure your face and neck are dampened with warm water then apply product. This will give an effective exfoliation without abrading the skin. Starting at the neck and moving upwards, use gentle circular motions and avoid the eyes.

For more sensitive or acneic skin types, use a chemical exfoliant. Choose one that has a blend of active enzymes such as papaya, lactic, glycolic or mandelic acids. Swipe the exfoliant on at the neck and move upwards avoiding your eyes. Allow the product to work on the skin for 5-10 minutes.

Step Three: Steam

You don’t need a facial steamer in order to reap the benefits of steaming. All a DIY facial steam calls for is a bowl of hot water, which can be heated on the stove. Place a bowl on a table where you can safely sit or bend your head over top the bowl without the possibility of spillage.

You may choose to add essential oils, fruit peels or herbs to the water beforehand to assist in improving the skin and experience.

• Peppermint or tea tree oil is good for oily to acneic skin

• Rose-infused water is good for dry skin

• Lemon and orange peels are good for combination skin and discoloration

Fill the bowl with hot water. Position your head over the bowl and place a hand towel around your neck. As you bend over the bowl, lift the towel above your head and let the towel fall to the sides of your face. This promotes the “steaming” effect and allows your pores to open. Steam 3-6 minutes, depending on sensitivity. Remove with warm sponges or a washcloth.

Step Four: Tone

Toning completes the cleansing process and balances the skin’s PH, while clearing away remaining product, dead skin cells and oil. It also prepares the skin for the next steps.

Use witch hazel with calming ingredients if you have combination to oily skin. If you are more sensitive or dry, choose a toner with moisturizing and calming properties.

Step Five: Mask

Choose a face mask based on the current condition of your skin. 

• If it is oily and prone to breakouts, go for kaolin or bentonite clay masks with detoxifying and antiseptic ingredients like sulfur, activated charcoal, tea tree or willow bark.

• If your skin is parched and dry, use a face mask that has restorative ingredients to replenish hydration such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin or B5.

• For more sensitive and inflamed skin types, choose fragrance-free masks that have oatmeal, aloe vera, avocado or rose water.

Leave on mask for 5-10 minutes, then remove with warm water. Pat face dry, tone, then proceed to moisturizing.

 Step Six: Moisturize & Massage

After removing your mask, it is time to layer on your serum and moisturizer with the intention to hydrate and nourish. You should always apply your products working from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are great serum options for hydration and brightening respectively.

Next, apply your moisturizer by massaging it into your skin, boosting blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. You can use your fingers or a facial roller. Begin at the neck working in an upward motion. At the jawline, stroke in a circular motion outward towards the ears. Move fingertips in the hollow underneath cheekbones up to the corners and sides of the nose. This technique will help release sinus congestion. Continue up the sides of nose to the top of brow bone and follow with light pressure around to  the temples. Stop at the temples, apply light pressure and circular motions to relieve any tension there. Move back down to the neck area to repeat the massage strokes.

DIY Facial and Done

And voila! You’ve completed a DIY facial at home.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the team of experts at Courted on social media or via email at Courtedconcierge@thestjames.com. We’re happy to help you achieve your skincare goals at home.