The Ultimate Do It Yourself Facial

How to give yourself a relaxing, purifying facial at home

You needn't spend a bundle in order to reap the benefits of a facial (but who are we to stop you from indulging diva-style?). These tips for giving yourself an at-home facial will help you score a clearer, more radiant complexion and unwind from the daily stressors that drive you craaazy. Print this article and revisit the tips once a week for beautifu, calm skin.

Create an atmosphere for unwinding. Slip into your coziest pajamas before bed and tie your hair back with a headband to prevent mess from getting into your hairline. Find a spot where you will be uninterrputed for at least 20 minutes, put on some meditative music, then throw some plush (and freshly washed) pillows on the floor and cover them with an old towel. This is where you will put your head while you relax with your facial treatments on. You will also need a pot of water to prevent you from having to get up to rinse (being horizontal is part of the luxury of a professional facial). Fill a pot with hot water so that as it cools it will become a comfortable temperature and keep two washcloths and a bag of flat cotton rounds handy. Cover your chest with a towel to prevent the skincare products from getting onto your clothes.

Before your head hits the facial pillow, be sure to remove all traces of makeup on your eyes and face while standing over your bathroom sink. A clean face, neck and chest are critical to the facial process. Once you feel like your skin is clean, put your head to the pillow and take several deep breaths. Now you're going to cleanse a second time, this time with an emphasis on slow, relaxing massage. A cleanser with a creamy or milky consistency will feel more luxuriant on the skin than a watery gel formula for this purpose.

Saturate a flat cotton round with liquid eye makeup remover that you have stored in the freezer for about 15 minutes (or store it in the refrigerator permanently). The cold sensation will relieve puffiness and it feels amazing on parched skin. Dip your washcloth in the pot of water and proceed to to eliminate every last trace of facial cleanser. Always err on the side of rinshing to much since leftover skincare products can clog pores and cause breakouts. Saturate a flat cotton round with toner and sweep it over your face, being sure to get every nook and cranny from your hairline to your chest.

Exfoliate with gentle facial beads, again using a firm but gentle motion and concentrating on areas that may be prone to blackheads, such as the nose, forehead and chin. Rinse with tepid water, then tone your face.

Masking is a must when giving yourself a facial. Choose a formula based on your skin's mood. Does it feel dry? Oily? Both? If you have combination skin, you can spot treat your face by applying a hydrating mask on your cheeks and an acne-fighting or oil-absorbing mask on your T-zone (translation: forehead, nose and chin). Never leave a facial mask on for longer than 20 minutes, unless the instructions say to do so. Certain facial masks, especially those that are clay-based, have a tendency to draw impurities from the skin and make proverbial mountains out of mole hills. In other words, they can bring zits to the surface or dry-out the skin if left on too long. Peel-off masks are a fun alternative since it feels like new skin is revealed underneath as you peel the dried mask away. Breeeeathe deeeeeply during this treatment to de-stress. Rinse with tepid water and tone your face.

Finish by applying a cooling eye gel to your undereye area, followed by a cream, which you should apply with your ring fingers and apply in a circular patting motion, following the bone under the eye and working from the outside in. Moisturize as usual, but be sure to first warm up the product between your palms before applying it to your face and press it in. A bit of massage works to soften wrinkles and combat the first signs of fine lines. You'll find an at-home facial can feel just as luxuriant as a pro facial, and yield equally glowing results. --Stephanie Simons

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