How To Do The Basic At-Home Facial

There’s nothing better than getting a professional facial, but they can be expensive. To maintain your healthy skin between professional treatments or to do them yourself, try this basic at-home facial once a week. This basic facial works on oily, dry and combination skin. And don’t worry, I’m not going to make you whip up a batch of egg-whites & oatmeal.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 25-30 minutes

Here's How:

1. Cleanse the skin
You’ll want to wash the face to remove any grime or dirt. If you have oily or combination skin, try a foaming (but soap-free) cleanser like Eucerin Pure Purifying Foaming Wash or Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash. For dry skin, try a cream or milky cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser.

2. Exfoliate
Using your fingers, rub a gentle exfoliating scrub in a circular motion on your face. Concentrate on the areas around your nose and forehead or if you have combo skin, work harder on the areas that tend to be ‘greasy.’ Rinse your face well since exfoliating scrubs tend to be drying.

3. Steam Fill your sink with warm water, dip a washcloth in and press to your face. Repeat 2-3 times.

4. The mask
For oily skin, use a clay-based face mask. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask.
Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Keep it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. Want to go all out and make your own natural face masks?

5. Moisturize
Smooth on a soothing, basic moisturizer such as Crème de La Mer Moisturizing Cream or the less expensive Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.
Tip: Stay away from strong moisturizers containing retinols or acids. These will over-exfoliate your skin.

What You Need:

Gentle cleanser
Exfoliating scrub
Warm water & a washcloth
Clay-based or cream facial mask (based on skin type)
Basic moisturizer