Good DIY facials should take into account your skin type, health and any skin concerns you have. Even if you’re too busy or cash-strapped for a professional facial, we’ve put together this post to help you get some of the benefits of our advanced bespoke facials at home. In fact, we even advise our own clients to use these tips to create their own facials between visits. As with everything, time and the intimidating prospect of purchasing and applying a billion different products is what puts most people off. So, here is our low maintenance guide to getting healthier smoother glowing skin. Please remember to avoid the delicate eye area (apart from Step 1).
Bespoke Facials Step 1: Remove Make-up and Cleanse Skin (<5 minutes)
This does not need to be two steps and can be achieved with one product. Remove all make-up and grease from the face with a gentle cleanser and cotton pads.
Product: You can use something dual purpose like Bioderma Sensibio micellar water (£10.50 for 200ml) or any other similar product just make-sure it can remove make-up and is suitable for use around the eye area.
Make your own: Mix lukewarm water and either olive oil, castor oil or Argan oil at a ratio of 90ml water to 10ml oil in a clean water bottle then apply as usual with a cotton pad. You can experiment by adding different oils such as Jojoba and even substitute water for rosewater. Alternatively you can massage olive, Jojoba or Argan oil directly on to your skin. After that use cotton pads soaked in luke warm water to gently remove the make up and cleanse the skin.
Bespoke Facials Step 2: Steam your Skin to Open Pores (5-10 minutes)
Place hot water in a bowl and lean over it (careful not to touch or get too close) with a towel covering your head. Alternatively you can have a warm shower if you’re lacking in time and want to multi-task.
Bespoke Facials Step 3: Exfoliate Your Skin (1-2 minutes)
Product: Use a gentle but effective exfoliator like the GLŌ Therapeutics Pumpkin Enzyme Scrub (£30 for 60ml).
Make your own: You can mix raw sugar (fine granules) with a little oil (good choices are olive, argan or Jojoba oil) into a paste. Then massage onto your skin then rinse off. For sensitive or acne prone skin, mix finely ground oat meal with honey and yoghurt then massage onto face before washing off. Once a month, you can substitute this step with one of our homemade peel recipes.
Bespoke Facials Step 4: Apply Mask (15 minutes)
Product: This will depend on your skin type and skincare concerns. To clean pores and reduce inflammation in acne-prone skin, apply a good clay mask like the Aveda botanical kinetics deep cleansing herbal clay masque (£24 for 125g). Alternatively try the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (£25 for 100ml) or natural Ghassoul clay (mix with rose water for a luxe-treatment).
For sensitive skin, try something gentler like the Simple Kind to Skin Deep Cleansing mask (£3.99 for 75ml).
For dry skin, try an intensive rehydrating mask like the Aveda Botanical Kinetics Intense Hydrating Masque (£24 for 125ml) or Origins Drink Up (£24 for 100ml).
For those really short on time, you can combine exfoliating and applying a mask in one step with this dual purpose white mud exfoliating scrub & mask from Estee Lauder (£28 for 75ml).
Make your own: Beat an egg yolk mixed with olive oil for dry skin. If you have oily/acne prone skin and large pores, use the egg whites alone with a little lemon juice.
If you fancy something all together more delicious smelling then mash together a banana. Then add a spoon of honey to make a mask suitable for all skin types.
For dry skin, try mashing half an avocado with a teaspoon of olive oil. Yoghurt and blueberries makes a great mask for oily or acne prone skin. Finally rinse off with luke-warm water.
