Like I’ve said before, I’m a kitchen beautician. I usually don’t pay professionals for services that I can do myself. Don’t get me wrong though, being pampered by a stranger is very therapeutic, but there’s a certain bliss that comes from DIY’n it. I try to do an at-home facial at least twice a month. Here’s how:
1. Clean your face. Use your favorite cleanser and a deep cleaning brush. Olay has a motorized one for about $30 (you can often find coupons and get it on sale), but you can also use a baby hair brush. Earth Therapeutics sells a facial brush that looks like a baby hair brush for about $3.
2. Scrub your face. I like to mix my scrub with baking soda, but in the absence of a scrub, you can just use the baking soda mixed with water. You can also make a scrub out of oil and table sugar (my favorite oil is sweet almond, of course). Massage your face with the mixture or scrub for about 30-60 seconds, you don’t want to overdo it.
3. Apply a mask. Use a mask that’s geared towards your skin type. I LOVE the Bellaboo chocolate mask, but I’ve gotten pretty great results from the Queen Helene Mint Julep masque and the Yes To Cucumbers mask. You can also make your own mask. Find a recipe you like by doing a lil’ google search.
4. Steam your face. Fill the sink with scalding hot water and add a few drops of essential oil. I like peppermint oil for the summer. It also has antibacterial properties (ahem, acne-prone skin). If you’re lazy, like me, you can just run hot water on a wash cloth and hold it to your face until it cools a few times. If you’re fancy, you can invest in a genuine facial steamer.
5. Tone your face. Swipe (don’t douse) your face with an alcohol free toner. Thayer’s witch hazel toner with cucumber and aloe is perfect for the summer and doesn’t dry your face out. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with water (1 TBS vinegar to 1 cup of water) and use that as a toner. You can make your own rosewater toner, too.
6. Moisturize your face. Use your favorite moisturizer and go to town.
Skin and Juice 