Reveal Your Best Face With Inexpensive At-Home Facials

Skip the expensive treatments! You can give yourself a celebrity-style facial for under $20 using very inexpensive, simple products. Get ready to pamper yourself for pennies!

A facial cleans, exfoliates and nourishes the outer layers of skin to reveal, young, well-hydrated cells. Acne, age spots, wrinkles and a dull complexion all arise out of neglected skin cells. Depending on the type, facials can either focus on deep cleansing, deep relaxation, intense hydration, age or acne management or a combination of all of the above.

Facials tend to your mind, skin and spirit. For your mind, they deeply relax, for your skin, they deeply cleanse, hydrate, and reveal newer softer cells, and for your spirit, a facial gives you the excuse to nurture and rest.

I recently had a luxurious facial at a resort here in Colorado Springs. The aesthetician was gentle and thorough. She did a lot of massage along my neck, shoulders, and arms, which I did not expect. An at home facial will not include this massage aspect but if you have someone who is willing, ask them to lend a hand (or two!)

Allow 30 - 40 minutes for a properly relaxing facial.

There are five basic steps to a good facial: cleanse, exfoliate, steam, mask, & moisturize.

• Step 1: Cleanse. Wash your face to remove any grime or dirt. If you have oily or combination skin, try a gentle, oil-removing cleanser. Harsh cleansers can strip away precious nourishment which leave skin feeling tight and uncomfortable. If your skin is dry, use a cream or milky cleanser with natural lipids to loosen dead cells.
• Step 2: Exfoliate. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, revealing the younger, softer, more hydrated cells underneath. Using your fingers, rub a gentle exfoliating scrub in a circular motion on your face. Concentrate on the areas around your nose and forehead or if you have combo skin, work harder on the areas that tend to be 'greasy.' Rinse your face well since exfoliating scrubs can be drying. An excellent at home scrub can be made by mixing one tablespoon of soured milk with one teaspoon of white granulated sugar. The milk has acids that eat dead skin cells while the sugar provides a gentle healing scrub. You can also substitute finely ground oatmeal for the sugar. Just make sure to rinse into a sink that can accommodate the course oatmeal.
• Step 3: Steam. Steaming opens the pores and makes cells more plump. Try adding rose or lavender essential oil to your steam water. Rose oil is extremely beneficial to the skin, especially skin that has lost its resiliency. Have you ever noticed how a rose petal resembles velvety soft skin?

  Fill a basin with hot water, add a drop of rose or lavender essential oil, and cover your head with a towel and let the hot steam penetrate your facial skin for 5 - 7 minutes. Another option is to dip a washcloth in hot water and lay it over your face. Repeat when the cloth cools. Steaming while laying quietly is very relaxing.

• Step 4: Mask. A mask can draw out impurities, tighten pores, or add moisture. For oily skin, use a clay-based face mask or, simply apply some egg white or plain yogurt. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask. Coconut and olive oils are simple and hydrating. Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. To remove an oil-based mask, wipe with a mixture of rose oil and witch hazel to prevent clogging pores.
• Step 5: Hydrate and Moisturize. Soft, supple skin is hydrated skin. A hydrating liquid infuses cells with moisture. These substances, such as glycerin and polymers, are called hydro- and lipophilic, which attract other water- and fat-based liquids. Once cells get their fill of plumping substances, moisturizers, which contain more than 25% lipids, help seal the skin to prevent it from prematurely drying out.

  
  

  
  

For Dry or Aging Skin, Try:

• Rose or myrrh essential oil
• Sour Cream
• Olive Oil
• Honey
• Mayonnaise or whipped salad dressing
• Avocado

For All Skin Types, Try:

• Honey
• Egg white
• Cucumber

For Oily Skin, Try:

• Lemon juice
• Clay-based masks
• Plain yogurt
• Grape juice or wine