How To Treat Yourself With An At Home Facial To Glow On The Go
getty Right now, an at home facial sounds like a luxury we could all use.
I personally love getting facials, but COVID-19 has forced me to be creative in keeping my skin intact. Fortunately, there are many household items you can combine for a home facial that will make a difference.
First things first, for an at home facial, take an easy skin test.
Feel your face. If it feels a little bumpy or dry, your first step is to exfoliate.
Now, it's time to exfoliate.
Exfoliating not only clears away dry, dead skin, but regular exfoliation increased our skin’s radiance, clarity, and youthfulness. And that’s not all.
Exfoliating unclogs your pores. You’ll essentially wash away dry, aging skin and surface debris that can still be there after you wash your face.
This will stop all of that from getting into your pores — thereby keeping whiteheads and blackheads at bay and preventing acne. Regular — twice a week — exfoliation will keep dead skin from sealing in debris, which causes skin blemishes.
It also helps other skincare products penetrate deeper. Your cream, serums, and moisturizers will have an express lane into your skin, making them that much more effective than putting them on top of dead skin.
Exfoliating evens your skin tone considerably.
As we age, we’ll see dark spots (sun spots), hyperpigmentation, red spots, and more. Exfoliating regularly will lighten all those spots — as well as the dark circles under your eyes — and give you a more youthful, even skin tone.
It boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage. Yes, this is a big deal!
This benefit detoxifies your skins, enhances overall radiance, and increases cell turnover for even more glow.
Exfoliating keeps your skin’s health cells at the surface by clearing away dead, dry layers for that dewy, baby-faced complexion. It also stimulates collagen synthesis, which gives you the plump texture for an overall younger look.
All of these benefits boil down to one thing: anti-aging.
Exfoliating helps remove the toxins we are exposed to every day, revealing clean, healthy, glowing, and youthful skin.
Now, for the easy DIY exfoliating recipes.
The basic ingredients include an exfoliant such as sugar or salt, oil or liquid such as olive or coconut oil, and a skin-enhancing ingredient like egg whites or honey.
For mature skin, ground almonds are probably the best exfoliant ingredient. They gently exfoliate your skin, and the almond oil is an excellent source of skin-vital vitamins A and E.
This also works as a facial, as you can leave it on for a few minutes just before showering.
Baking soda works for all skin types, but especially for oily skin, because it absorbs excess oil.
Ground rice is an exfoliant that's popular with Asian women to smooth the skin’s surface, reduce wrinkles, and lighten skin discolorations. It mixes well with olive oil for excellent skin treatment.
For sensitive skin, use oatmeal — whole or ground — to unclog and soothe.
Ground flaxseeds are equally good because they have strong anti-oxidants and hydrating omega-3 fatty acids. This is an ideal facial treatment if you live or work in a city.
Liquid ingredients.
Egg whites are terrific for aging or oily skin. Plus, they tighten, firm, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Yogurt has lactic acid that keeps skin clear and healthy while plumping up fine lines.
Aloe vera reduces inflammation and pain, making it ideal for sunburns.
Coconut oil has excellent moisturizing and skin-softening benefits. And because it’s an antiseptic, it helps maintain a healthy pH balance, too.
Little extras with big pluses.
Avocado. Mmm, I love avocadoes! They’re as good for your skin as they are for your body. Loaded with antioxidants and good moisturizing fats, they help combat the effects of aging.
Turmeric is nature’s golden child. Add this to the mix when you want to manage breakouts and acne scars.
Parsley can fade age spots and under-eye circles.
Honey is one of my favorites. Raw honey kills bacteria, so it’s good for cuts, inflammation, and irritated skin. It also acts as a humectant, so it draws in moisture.
Mix your ingredients.
Select your ingredients according to what you need and your skin type, and combine them all in a small bowl until it turns to a paste.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Wash your face well and apply your DIY facial to damp skin.
Gently massage the mixture into your skin for about one minute. Start at your jawline and work up slowly with two fingers in a circular motion. Avoid your eyes.
Rinse with lukewarm water. Then, apply your serum or moisturizer.
Get your glow on!
Maureen Cronin is the author of Happy Brain, Happy Life, a Reiki master, and an intuitive that understands the difficulties in overcoming trauma and loss. For more information, visit her website.