by Alexandra Nicole Nuralam

SKIN SNACKS: DIY Facial at Home

Once you’ve ended your last Zoom meeting of the day, change into a fluffy bathrobe, tie your hair up in a messy bun, and put on some music. It’s time for a facial. Beauty parlours may seem like a distant dream for now, but there’s no rule that says you can’t recreate your own facial at home. Add in some scented candles and you’re good to go. Here’s how to get a home facial, with products on your shelf, kitchen, and fridge.

#1: Prep your skin

Start with a great cleanser, or double cleanse if your skin is on the oilier side. A rule of thumb: always pick a gentle, non-drying cleanser to do the job. 

This is where it gets fun. Add essential oils, dried flowers, or even tea leaves to a bowl of hot water. Drape a towel over your head and the bowl, and “steam” your face for five to ten minutes. It will open up your pores and stimulate circulation.

#2: Get rid of dead skin cells

Apply a thin coat of an exfoliating peel, and leave it on for the recommended time stated on the product, usually two to five minutes. Look out for ingredients like lactic, glycolic, or salicylic acid. It’ll even out the skin tone and eliminate any flakiness. Don’t worry if you feel a tingling sensation; it’s the acids working to dissolve dead skin cells by lowering the skin’s pH. Rinse well.

Once you rinse off, it’s time for the second exfoliation: apply a facial scrub and massage in tiny circles for 30 to 60 seconds. The second exfoliation step physically removes any excess dead skin cells that might have been left over from the peel. If you have fair, sensitive, or rosacea-prone skin, scrub very lightly when massaging over the skin.

#3: Masks

Masks are an important part of achieving healthy, beautiful skin, but they’re definitely not one-size-fits-all. A gel mask is great for hydrating, a clay-based mask works to absorb oils and tighten the skin, and cream-based masks help to deeply hydrate and plump up the skin.

If you’re feeling a little adventurous and have a little more time, you can try this three-ingredient mask that hydrates, soothes and prevents cell damage:

Apply a thin layer of a mask and let it dry for 15 minutes. Rinse well and proceed with your skincare routine.

#4: Layer on skincare products

The main goal here is to lock in all the goodness your mask left on your skin, so pat on a generous amount of toner (or you can mist it). Layer on a bunch of essentials such as serum, essence, and moisturizer.

#5: Roll and massage

For the last step, massage in a few drops of your favourite face oil. Facial massage is just as much a part of your skincare as the products themselves—it boosts circulation and lymph flow, and ensures that the products penetrate deep into your skin. Gently massage your products into your skin in a circular motion, and switch to light tapping with your fingers on the area around your eyes. You can also use tools like a jade roller or gua sha to boost your complexion even more.