Beauty knows no pain, but those who have suffered for beauty, skin care, to defy the effects of age, or to conquer the plague of acne, sometimes getting to beauty no only is a pain in the physical sense but often in the wallet as well. Salon facials can be painful, and cost several hundred dollars, and require multiple visits to the salon.
Here are some simple techniques to get that salon feel, with out the pain or drain on the bank account. The products are wallet and skin friendly (even on the most sensitive skin) and they are easily found at your local grocery store. So plan an afternoon of pampering with a friend, your significant other (yes, men can enjoy the benefits of a facial too) or maybe even your acne prone teenager. And Enjoy.
Some things need:
- Eggs
- Oatmeal (old fashioned)
- Honey
- Your favorite moisturizer
- Your favorite facial cleanser
- Powdered Clay (I like the Indian Healing Clay aka Bentonite or the White Clay aka Kaolin both can be found at the drug store or health food store)
- Kosher Salt
- Witch Hazel or your favorite facial toner
- Cucumber Slices or gently used chilled tea bags
- Essential Oils (Nice but not required, look for calming scents like lavender, lemon balm, or chamomile)
- Rose water or Orange blossom water (available at some drug stores or middle eastern markets) or make your own Rose Water – optional
- Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (available at health food stores) optional
- Cotton balls/pads
Things to have on hand:
- A comfortable space to work
- Relaxing music
- Towels
- Wash cloths
- Large bowl
- Lots of water
Step 1 – Setting the Stage
The really great thing about the spa or salon is that it is relaxing. Sometimes home isn’t. Here are a few hints to get that spa/salon feel at home:
- Send anyone not having a facial away, arrange a play date for the kids, schedule a bath/grooming for the pet dog, cover up the parakeet’s cage, send hubby to the hardware store (that should keep him busy for a bit if he isn’t part of your facial day)
- Unplug the phone/and turn off the cell. As soon as you get a mask on you can count on a phone call, just do it.
- Put on some relaxing music, it doesn’t have to be meditation music, try classical, light jazz, instrumental light rock, what ever helps you relax
- Light a few scented candles (I like the jars, you don’t have to watch them so diligently)
- Lock the door (no interruptions)
- Clear space to work, it isn’t relaxing having to work around the homework spread out on the table, or not being able to get to the sink, because your delicates are soaking.
- Have a stack of clean towels, and wash cloths ready and easy accessible.
- Prepare ahead of time the recipes needed for your facial, and have cleanser, toner and moisturizer at hand.
- Have a light snack ready, facials are demanding, you’ll want to refuel on something light like fruit and cheese plates.
- Think hydration, Mix up a gallon of water with some fruit slices in it, or cucumber slices) Have it waiting icy cold in the fridge, make sure you have some straws on hand (again the mask thing)
Step 2 – open the pores
To thoroughly cleanse your face, you need to open the pores, you will need; a large bowl or if you’ve already got one a facial steamer, Essential Oils if desired, hand towels, water and facial cleanser. With bowl setting on a heavy placemat (or towel) to protect the surface of your furniture, add very hot (not boiling water). A few drops of calming essential oil may be added lavender or chamomile are excellent choices). Apply a thin coat of facial cleanser on face and neck, do not wet face first. Lean over bowl with hand towel draped over your head (keeps all that wonderful steam in) and relax for 10 to 15 minutes. The steam with open the pores, allowing the cleanser to seep deep in lifting impurities out.
Alternately- You can dip the hand towel into the hot water and relax on the bed, recliner or chaise with the towel over your face, make sure to circle it so you can breathe… Be careful, most people’s hands can tolerate much warmer water than the skin of the face and neck can, and you don’t want to start your facial with a burn.
Step 3 – Gentle Exfoliation
You will need:
- 1 recipe Oatmeal Exfoliate
- Wash cloths, towels
With face still warm from steam, gently rinse with warm water, using your finger tips and a gentle circular motion and working from the center outward massage face with Oatmeal Exfoliate. Don’t forget your neck (it shows your age more than your crows feet ever do.) Rinse well, you will probably need the wash cloth here, using warm water. Pat dry with towel.
*See Note for Acne Treatment*
Step 4 – Detoxifying Mask
Have ready in small lidded container, your choice of clay, mixed with water or Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, or a mixture of both (the vinegar, gives a nice tingle to the mask, but may be too much for a first time use. It’s ok to experiment before hand to see what you like on your skin). To mix, use approximately equal parts liquid and clay mix until a smooth spreadable paste consistency is achieved. You will also need a clean wash cloth; cucumber sliced or chilled tea bags. Now is the time to have that hydrating water ready.
Apply clay about a ¼ inch thick (so you can’t see the skin through the clay) to face, and neck, avoiding the eye area, nostrils and lips.
Get comfy in your bed, recliner or chaise (you might think about laying a towel under your head (just in case – you don’t want to worry about getting clay off the upholstery). Place cucumber slices or chilled tea bags on eyes.
Allow the Clay to dry it will tingle and pull as if your face is tightening, this is normal, and the clay is working to remove toxins from your skin.
Sip at your hydrating water, as you relax. It will take the clay 20 minutes to 30 minutes to dry completely. BTW if you smile or talk, be prepared to be showered with dried clay bits as it cracks!!
When dry the mask can be rinsed off using a wash cloth, and warm water. Pay close attention to your hair line, and around your ears, as the clay likes to cling to creases in the skin and your hair. Do a final rinse with cool water. Gently pat skin dry.
Step 5 – Toning Mask
You will need small bowl and 1 egg white, beat egg white with fork or whisk until foaming. (You may need to beat it several times during the application, as you will be using the foam portion of the egg whites. Wash cloths, facial toner or witch hazel, cotton balls/pads.
With finger tips, using foamy part of the egg whites, cover face and neck, avoiding eye area, and lips. It will be cool against your skin, and as it dries, it will begin to close your pores.
Relax, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to dry (your face will not be sticky but slick and shiny when dried). When dry rinse with cool water. Pat dry with clean towel. Follow with your favorite facial toner applied with a cotton ball/pad, or witch hazel.
Step 6 – Hydrating Your Skin
Liberally apply a facial moisturizer o face and neck. Use a moisturizer specifically designed for your eyes, around your tender eye area, and lips (a soothing balm may be applied to lips).
Step 7 – Rejunevate and Refuel
Pull out that snack, have hydrating water, and relax a bit more, before life intrudes on your party.
DON’TS:
- Don’t follow up a Facial with makeup, give you skin a rest from makeup for 24 hours.
- Don’t forget to laugh, laughter may cause laugh lines, but they are much more attractive than stress wrinkles.
- Don’t sweat the little details. If you don’t have lemon in your water, the world won’t end, if all you’ve got is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to nosh on it isn’t a crime. And if you can’t find an ingredient, no one will know but you. This is supposed to de-stress you not distress you. Ya Know.
- Don’t over scrub your skin, harsh exfoliating can damage skin, use gentle hand, and remember this is the painless facial.
*Note* Between the Exfoliating and the Detoxifying steps if you suffer from acne, you may want to use a honey mask. Honey as well as being sweet and sticky has antibiotic properties, and is great for use in fighting acne. Simply smear honey on face with finger tips. Then press finger tips to face and quickly pull away (like pulling off a bandage), repeat over entire face and neck area, will give skin a nice tingle. Rinse well with warm water, and pat dry.