How to Give Yourself a Facial

Cleansing and Exfoliating

1

Pull your hair back from your face. Use a hairband or hairpins to secure your hair away from your face, so your forehead is completely exposed. This way your entire face will benefit from your facial.

2

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Use your favorite facial cleanser to get your facial off to a great start. Wash your face with warm water (not hot or cold, since these temperatures are harsh on facial skin) and pat it dry with a soft towel.

• Make sure all of your makeup has been removed before you continue with the facial.
• For a luxurious twist, try using the oil cleansing method to wash your face. Rub coconut, almond, olive or jojoba oil into your skin, then wipe it away using a towel moistened with warm water. Rinse your face and pat it dry.

3

Mix up a facial scrub. You can use a store-bought facial scrub or mix one up using ingredients you have at home. A good exfoliating scrub contains sugar that will “scrub” away the dead skin without damaging the healthy skin underneath. Try one of these great combinations for your scrub:

• 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon finely ground almonds, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 tablespoon aloe
• 1 tablespoon finely ground oatmeal, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 tablespoon milk

4

Gently exfoliate your face. Apply the scrub in a gentle circular motion all over your face, from your T-zone down your nose, across your cheeks, and under your chin. Instead of pressing into your skin, let the scrub do the work for you and lightly lift away the top layer of dead skin cells.

5

Rinse away the scrub. Use warm water to rinse away the scrub, leaving your face fresh and gleaming. Pat your face with a soft towel to get it ready for the next step in your facial.

6

Consider using a dry brush or another exfoliating technique. If you don’t want to use a scrub, there are other ways to exfoliate your face. You can use a dry brush, an exfoliating cloth, or an application of an acid exfoliant such as glycolic acid. Any method is fine, but don’t use two methods in combination. Over-exfoliating the skin on your face can damage it.

• If you use a dry brush, purchase one made with very fine fibers and designed for the face, not the body. Start with a completely dry face and brush your face using a circular motion.
• If you use glycolic acid, allow it to sit on your skin for five minutes before rinsing.