Looking for an easy yet effective way to do a facial at home? Search no more. In this post you’ll learn the exact steps to a luxurious skincare ritual—from steam to mask—packed with quick tips for a lush and safe experience.
Ever since I partnered with an esthetician to build her beauty blog in Spanish, I learned useful hacks to take care of my skin—in an easy, safe, and inexpensive way. That’s why I’m sharing with you today the exact steps on how to do a facial at home.
This ritual is perfect for your weekly skincare routine, to relax after a rough week, to prep your face for makeup, or to bond with your special one.
If you’re ready to unlock your skin’s radiance, let’s get started.
To make the most out of your at-home facial experience and stay safe, read the following tips.
Disclaimer:
This is not medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor first to confirm that this ritual is suitable for your health needs.
Tips to a Luxurious facial experience
- Set aside time. Allot about 1.5 hours for this self-care ritual. Remember that relaxation is key. So, it’s important not to rush the process.
- Know your skin type. Understanding your skin type is crucial to select the right products and routine for your skin needs.
- Prep your essentials. You’ll need a clean towel, skincare products, a headband or hair tie to keep your hair away from your face, and a low-neck t-shirt or tank top—so you can also apply products to this area.
- Create a spa-like atmosphere. Elevate your experience by playing relaxing music and setting an oil diffuser with a relaxing scent.
- Stay hydrated. Have a glass of water at hand. Hydrating from the inside is just as important for a healthy and glowing skin.
Safety tips
- Everyone’s skin is different. If you have a skin condition or concerns, ask a dermatologist for a skincare routine that suits your needs.
- Monitor skin reaction. If you experience any adverse reaction or discomfort, stop the process immediately.
- Ensure hygiene and product quality. Use clean tools and avoid using expired products—their effectiveness diminishes over time, potentially harming your skin.
- For adults only. As this skincare ritual involves careful handling of ingredients and tools, it’s intended for adults. Ensure children are kept safe and do not participate in it.
Now that you’re armed with the essentials to an enjoyable and safe DIY facial experience, let’s discover how to do a facial at home.
It’s glow-time!
How to Do a Facial at Home: From Steam to Mask
Step 1: Cleanse your skin
Use a gentle face cleanser to remove the dirt from your face and neck. And if you were using makeup, remove it first with your favorite makeup remover, then cleanse again to remove any residue.
Recommendations:
For cleansers, you can use a fragrance-free neutral soap for skin, or Cetaphil’s cleanser.
For makeup remover, you can use coconut or jojoba oil (find these at the skincare aisle at drugstores).
Step 2: Gently exfoliate (optional)
Remove dead skin cells from your skin and prepare it to better absorb skincare products by gently exfoliating it. Be careful not to overdo this, it may dry or even irritate your skin.
Recommended product:
Cetaphil’s Extra Gentle Daily Scrub for All Skin Types
You may also love: How to DIY a Salt Exfoliating Scrub for Soft Hands and Feet
Step 3: Steam your face (optional)
Facial steaming helps to open up your pores to better absorb skincare products. It is recommended to do it once a week maximum. You can steam your face simply by taking a shower. But for optimal results, you have two options:
- Wet a clean towel with warm water and place it over your face for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Use an at-home facial steamer. If you decide to purchase one, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The process typically involves filling up your steamer with distilled water, pressing the button, leaning your face over it at 30-35 cm for 5-10 minutes. My personal recommendation is the LONOVE face steamer.
What are the benefits of facial steaming?
Besides helping to prepare your skin for a facial, facial steaming helps to increase blood flow to the skin, hydrate it, and even free excess sebum that causes acne (Source: WebMD and Healthline)
Step 4: Extract blackheads (optional)
If yoy choose to extract blackheads and whiteheads at home, do it after steaming your face. You can either:
- Use a sterile extraction tool such as a looped blackhead remover. Make sure to follow the instructions that come with it.
- Extract them manually. Use your clean fingers (or two q-tips) to squeeze them out. If the blackhead or whitehead doesn’t come out, it’s wise to leave it. Wash your hands after the extraction, then cleanse the extracted area with a cotton pad soaked with a bit of toner. Discard this cotton pad afterwards.
If you have severe acne problems, visit a dermatologist to perform this step.
Step 5: Apply Toner
Use a toner to balance the pH of your skin, remove the remaining dirt, and prepare your skin to absorb the nutrients from the face mask more effectively. Dab a cotton ball with your favorite toner and gently pass it over your face and neck.
Recommended toners:
You can prepare this Star-anise, or this rose water with glycerin toner. Alternatively, you can buy Thayers’ witch hazel toner. All of these are gentle toners that suit all skin types.
Step 6: Apply Face Mask
Choose a face mask suitable for your skin type and concerns. Apply it evenly over your face and neck, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. Leave the mask on for the recommended duration (usually 10-20 minutes). Make sure not to exceed this time.
In the meantime, read a book, drink some water, or just close your eyes, breathe and relax. This is an opportunity to refill your cup!
When the time is up, rinse off your mask with warm water. To remove a thick mask, damp a clean face towel with warm water and gently pass it over your face. Gently rinse with lukewarm water and delicately pat your face dry with a clean cloth.
Step 7: Moisturize
Apply a good moisturizer to hydrate your skin and lock in the benefits of the face mask. Then, finish off your luxurious at-home facial by gently massaging it—this will help to increase circulation, lymphatic drainage, and even de-puff your face.
And if you plan to go out in the daylight, apply sunscreen to protect from sun damage.
Recommended products:
My favorite moisturizers are jojoba, rosehip, or coconut oil (you can find these at drugstores at the skincare or cosmetics).
As for the sunscreen lotion, my favorite is one Neutrogena’s Sheer Zinc sunscreen—for its gentle formula it is convenient even for senstive skin.
Let’s recap!
Following a weekly skincare routine can help your skin to stay healthy, radiant and youthful. If you’ve decided to do a facial at home, remember to prep your essentials and set a spa-like atmosphere for a luxurious experience. But most importantly, knowing your skin type and taking the necessary precautions will be key to get the results you want in all safety.
Let’s recap the process on how to do a facial at home step-by-step:
Begin by thoroughly cleansing your skin to remove makeup and impurities. Optionally, you can gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. Steaming your face is also an option to open up the pores, followed by the careful extraction of blackheads and whiteheads if needed. Next, apply a gentle toner to balance your skin’s pH and prepare it for the face mask. Finally, apply a good moisturizer to both your face and neck, ensuring your skin is hydrated and nourished.
When done right, a DIY facial can be a relaxing, fun, and inexpensive way to care for your skin and treat yourself.
Enjoy your new glow! ✨
Have you tried doing a facial at home? Share your experience in the comments below!
References used for this post:
Healthline, WebMD
Images:
Via Canva
