How to Give Yourself a Relaxing Facial at Home

 

Have you ever wanted to recreate the relaxing environment of a spa in your own home? So, you don't have professional grade skincare equipment or fountain in your bathroom, no biggie! You can still give yourself an amazing facial with things you probably already have at home (even if a certain global pandemic keeps you from the spa). Here are my tips for recreating a luxury spa experience with some tips and tricks I've picked up while working in a variety of spa environments- including a boutique, luxury hotel spa. 

This color-changing oil difusor helps set the mood and is safer than candles.

You will need: 

• Essential oils (Lavender and eucalyptus are spa favorites!)
• Calming music -if you don’t have a playlist, Marconi Union’s album "Weightless (Ambient Transmission Vol. 2)" is my go to and supposedly can trigger rem sleep, it works well for most of my clients. I also really like Epik High’s album "Sleepless in _________ " (there’s a song at the end that’s been proven to put babies and animals to sleep!)
• 2 Facial cleansers (oil or balm to loosen oils and any makeup and a foaming one for a deeper clean)
• Exfoliator (a facial scrub, or enzyme mask can be used or even just and exfoliating cleanser) 
• Toner (to keep the pH balanced depending on your cleanser or add hydration between final steps)
• Facial oil like jojoba or olive oil(this can be used several ways- oil cleanser, for facial massage, to make a mask, and to add moisture at the end of your facial) 
• Face mask (or make one with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp of honey or mix in 2 tbsp of ground oats (plain instant oats work fine) and add water to form a thick paste and a little aloe vera gel for rosacea or sensitive skin)
• Eye cream (if you use it) 
• Serums/spot treatment (as needed) 
• Moisturizer 
• Lip balm
• SPF (if it’s day time)
• 2-4 towels (wash cloths work fine, and you can always rinse and reuse them to save on laundry)

Some song recommendations for a relaxing mood...

Depending on your skin condition and what you have on hand you can customize this to fit your needs. Some options include, clay masks for oily/acne prone skin and sheet masks for dry or dehydrated skin. Avoid using scrubs on broken skin or with active acne because it can spread it and instead use an enzyme or acid-based exfoliant or just move onto the mask (the honey/olive oil combo is great for acne!). I recommend wearing an old tee shirt or spa wrap that you can easily wash so you don't have to worry about getting any product or water on your clothes.

A few of my current favorite products you'll need: jojoba oil for massage, a cleansing balm, and an enzyme exfoliating peel.

1. Put on music and if you have a difusor add a few drops of essential oil (or mix a few drops with a small amount of oil and apply directly to temples, wrists, and neck)
2. Take 3 deep breaths 
3. 1st cleanse w/ oil cleanser or balm- Massage well to loosen any oils, dirt, makeup, then with wet hands massage it in again to emulsify the oil, & remove with a warm wet towel 
4. 2nd cleanse w/ foaming cleanser -dispense to wet hand to create lather, apply to face and massage well with circular motions for 2-3 mins, and rinse thoroughly 
5. Tone (mist directly onto face or use cotton rounds)
6. Exfoliator -apply scrubs and massage in with circular motions for 2-3 mins, while for enzyme or chemical exfoliants apply and let sit like a mask for no more than 10 mins, rinse well or use another warm towel to remove 
7. Facial massage with oil- first using smooth upward strokes and flat hands to distribute the oil, next pull outward horizontally from the center of the face, trace around the eyes, across the forehead, and make small circles at temples. For a cooling sensation you can use a jade roller if you have one too -if your skin is oily remove the excess with another warm towel otherwise let it soak in.
8. Apply mask leave 10-20 mins- don’t let clay masks fully dry and crack or they with over-dry and dehydrate the skin. Use this time to relax the most, take a few more deep breaths, and listen to the music and smell the essential oils. You can also use this time to massage your shoulders or do some light neck stretches. Rinse and remove excess with warm towel- do NOT rinse after a sheet mask!
9. Toner (again for sheet masks you don’t want to remove the essence so don’t use anything astringent or with cotton, apply directly or skip this step all together)
10. Eye cream- apply with light tapping using your ring finger along the orbital bone of your eye 
11. Serum and/or spot treatments 
12. Moisturizer 
13. Lip balm and SPF 30 or higher (although you'll probably want to just go straight to bed!)

This is meant to be a relaxing facial to help nourish and calm your skin and mind. As an esthetician I don't really recommend doing a lot of extractions or any deep exfoliation at home, because it's easy to take it too far which can lead to scarring or damage your skin's barrier function (especially now as it may be hard to get into your esthetician or dermatologist for help). So remember to be gentle and take this time to treat yourself with care. Good luck!

Lash Help Series: How to Get Your Natural Lashes Back

As anyone who's tried eyelash extensions can probably tell you, the worst part is getting used to your natural lashes again once the extensions are gone. Whether it's due to irritation, lifestyle, or a certain deadly virus that shall remain nameless which has your lash tech out of work and unable to get you in for fills... you probably won't be able to keep your extensions up forever. That said, here are some tips for getting your natural lashes back on track for long, healthy, full eyelashes, regardless of their current condition.

A nice before and after that would work just as well the other way for post-extension goals.

1. If you still have a lingering extension (or four) that's just too stubborn to come off on it's own, please do not just rip it out! Not only will you lose the natural lash prematurely, but you also risk damaging the follicle which could later affect lash growth in that spot! Instead, try applying a little bit of coconut oil with a q-tip and gently working it off from the base. Whatever you do, don't cut them either because it will just make them blunt-looking and even more noticable.
***the first thing you learn when doing lashes is patience and this goes for removal too!

2. Nourish your natural lashes with coconut oil (I prefer this to petroleum jelly because it's more natural and works just as well for creating an occlusive barrier to lock in moisture and strengthen the hairs) or castor oil to boost lash growth. You can also try lash growth serums like Grandelash or the popular one from Rodan & Fields, but keep in mind these might cause subtle pigmentation or irritation along the lash line.

When the damage has been done and you're due for some serious re-growth!

3. For more damaged lashes, try to limit the use of your eyelash curler and mascara (especially waterproof or longwear formulas which can be drying) as the pressure and stimulation can cause even more damage. Opt for bare lashes as much as possible or try a more nourishing/strengthening mascara formula. I prefer mascaras from more natural brands like Jane Iredale, Tarte, Pacifica, or Neutrogena's Healthy Volume mascara.

4. If you're really missing your eyelash extensions try strip lashes instead. There are a lot of high quality ones available nowadays in a variety of styles that can even be reused if you keep them clean. Just make sure you attach them properly to the skin at your lash line and not directly on the hairs to avoid any damage.

A mini version of a lash pillow a picked up a trade show, it allows you to sleep on your side without crushing your lashes.

5. Lastly, remember to keep up your good lash habits. As tempting as it might be without your extensions, don't rub at your eyes! This is still just as bad for your delicate skin around your eyes and can harm your fragile natural lashes too, and it's another reason not to touch your face. The same goes for sleeping on your face (which can also cause premature wrinkles if you need one more reason to kick the habit).

So remember to be gentle and by being a little more accepting of yourself and your lashes, you'll see results in no time!