As women, we often lament the lack of time to get down to a salon, and get a facial. Invariably, we get stuck in the lead up to a big event, and think that we really need to get our skin glowing, but don’t have time to get down and get anything done. There are options, and they don’t need to be scary. Here are secrets to a great facial at home to get glowing skin without the expensive salon price tags.
Design by Robert Kocis
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- Check out what’s already in your beauty cabinet. There’s no need to double up on products. See what you already have that you can use in your facial routine.
- Consider how much time you have available. If you’re going to be lucky to get 15 minutes to yourself, you need to plan your facial around that. If this is the case, use a multifunctional masque that will allow you to exfoliate and deep cleanse in one.
- On a tight budget? If so, consider spending a bit more money on treatment products such as masques and serums, and then perhaps if you need to save a bit, do this on your cleanser. Masques are going to be on your skin for longer than a cleanser, and are often more concentrated, so they will have larger effect on your skin. Serums can also have high concentrations of active ingredients, and will be placed directly on clean skin, underneath your moisturiser, and so can really pack a punch.
- Have all your products at hand before you start, rather than running around trying to find things mid-way through.
- Products in a single rangeare designedto be used together, and will often give great results if used together in an at-home facial, so consider investing in multiple products from a single range.
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- Follow a few basic steps, and you can get a salon quality facial at home.
- Cleanse: Use a nice gentle cleanser, as you don’t want to strip your skin before you even start.
- Exfoliate: Use a mechanical (using a bead based scrub) or chemical (something like a alpha hydroxy acid) exfoliation.
- Masque: Follow your exfoliation with a masque suited to your skin type, either hydrating for dry skin, deep cleansing for oily/pimple prone.
- Toner: Although this step often gets skipped, its worth keeping in, as it closes your pores, removes the last traces of masques and other products, and can balance the pH of your skin.
- Serum: Serums pack a punch with active ingredients such as anti-ageing ingredients, or antioxidants or brightening agents, and are really worth using. Allow the serum to settle for a few moments before adding your moisturiser over the top. If you have particularly oily skin, a serum can be used instead of a moisturiser, particularly in really hot weather.
- Eye cream: The eye area is quite sensitive, and is often drier (because there are fewer glands in this area), which leads to higher incidence of wrinkles, and dark circles.
- Follow these steps with either a day or night cream. An SPF is vital during the day, and a night creamis tailored to allow your skin to recover overnight, and detoxify itself.
Design by Tobi Fairley Interior Design
- Finally, its worth consulting a professional to help you get your routine sorted. If you’re confused, consult astockist of good quality products, or a beauty therapist. Even booking a facial, and then drilling them with questions about products, and what suits your skin typecan be worth the money if you can maintain and get greater results at home by consistently looking after your skin.
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For more articles on skincare and makeup you’ll like Photo Fabulous Beauty Tips, Beauty Secrets: Steal Skincare from Your Baby, and Getting the J-Lo Glow all here on Makeup Files
