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How To: At-Home Facials

For many, a regular facial is a ‘must’ but while spa treatments remain off the menu, our Spa Beauty Manager Jane Hebditch, shares her 5 easy steps to mastering a facial at home. Discover how to recreate the treatment yourself using simple ingredients that you may already have in the cupboard!

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01. CLEANSING

To cleanse, start at the chin and work upwards, using small circular movements. Remove with warm water, rather than hot or cold water.

For a GENTLE cleanse on more mature skin blend yoghurt and lemon juice together. The high level of lactic acid in yoghurt gently exfoliates while cleansing the upper layers of the skin, while the Vitamin C in the lemons will help provide the skin with radiance.

For OILY skins use a raw honey with the yoghurt. Honey helps reduce oil and bacteria, while remaining gentle on the skin.

For DRY skins use either sweet almond oil or grape seed oil to boost moisture levels with the yoghurt.

02. EXFOLIATE WITH
FACE SCRUBS

As with cleansing, start at the chin and work up the face using small circular movements, not forgetting the lips. This can also be used on the neck and décolleté. This is my favourite part of a facial as it is so good for the skin. Cellular renewal slows as we get older therefore it’s important to removal dead skin regularly. Exfoliation leaves the skin super soft and smooth, and it also helps the skin tone and allows for further products to penetrate better and deeper.

For a GENTLE face scrub  – mix half a cup of uncooked oats with water, milk or yoghurt. Blend the ingredients together and apply to the skin.

For a MOISTURISING face scrub – mix 1 tablespoon of fine brown sugar with 1 tablespoon of preferably raw honey. Blend together and apply to the skin.

03. STEAM

Fill a bowl with hot water (hot enough so that it is giving off steam), add some fresh herbs or essential oil of your choice, then cover your head with a large towel and lean over the bowl keeping your face 10-18 inches above the steam for approximately 10 minutes.

Gently steaming the face is a great way to open the pores so that they are ready to soak up a mask.

You only need a few drops of essential oils -2 to 3 will be plenty. A few of my favourites:

– Rose or Jasmine (great for dry or mature skin)

– Tea Tree or Rosemary (good for acne prone skin)

– Geranium or Lavender (best for sensitive skin)

04. MASKS

Now that you have cleansed, exfoliated and steamed you are ready to start treating your skin with a mask. Choose the skin type which suits you best, mix ingredients together and apply to the face, leaving it to do its magic for 15 minutes. Remove with warm water.

Honey is the base for all the following masks as it is naturally anti-bacterial, high in antioxidants and helps combat harmful free radicals. It can help remove excess sebum (oil),  that for some can clog pores and cause spots and acne. It is also moisturizing, nourishing and gentle on the skin.

DRY SKIN MASK
2 tablespoons honey
half a mashed avocado

OILY SKIN MASK
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Moroccan clay
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar

SENSITIVE SKIN MASK
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon for sweet almond oil

ACNE MASK
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon baking soda

05. TONER

Often overlooked, toner is the perfect way to restore the skins PH balance. Apply after removing the mask using a damp cotton wool pad, prior to applying moisturiser.

ALL SKIN TYPES TONER
Mix  a small cup of cranberry juice with a few drops of either witch hazel or rose water. Rose water should be used for a more gentle toner, and rose water can be used on its own for sensitive skins.

SOOTHING TONER
Mix honey,  a cup of chamomile tea and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.

COMBINATION OR OILY SKIN TONER
Peel of an orange or lemon (or both), 1 tablespoon witch hazel and 1 small cup of baking soda. Mix together ,leave for a few minutes and then strain.

EYE SOOTHER
Soak cotton wool pads in chilled rose water and cover the eyes with the pads for 10-15minutes; very refreshing for tired or sore eyes.

06. MOISTURISER

Blend together a tablespoon of solid coconut oil with a cup of strong green tea. Simmer these ingredients over a low heat for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat, allow to chill and just before it sets, whip ingredients to form a light texture. This can be used on all skin types and is the perfect way to finish your DIY facial.

 

Now all you need to do is find some ‘me time’ when you can enjoy your facial routine and put your feet up while the mask is on!

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