You don’t have to go see a professional or go to the spa to pamper your face and get the best glowing skin you've ever had. Giving yourself a dreamy facial can be achieved at home for a fraction of the price. It’s simple, chemical free, and will give you healthy, glowing, clear skin!
I have been doing at home facials for years, and while going to a spa is certainly a treat, I find that I can take care of my skin just as well without having to go in and get high-end treatments. once you get the hang of things and have chosen your unique routine, taking care of your skin at home can be a super relaxing experience where you can enjoy some much deserved me time.
How to Pamper Your Face for Clear Skin
Before you begin, read through the steps below so that you can make the necessary preparations. This will ensure that you have the most relaxing experience and aren't spending your time running around trying to get things ready.
1. Cleanse
Fill the bathroom sink (make sure it's clean!) with very warm water and throw in a nice facial cloth. Alternatively, you can use a clean dish to do this.
Turn on some soothing spa-esc music or any music that allows you to relax and forget about your stress and problems.
Before you begin pampering, you need to have a clean face with no grime, sweat, or makeup. The most natural way to do this is to use oil (don’t worry, it won’t clog your pores or break you out). I like to use coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil, but you can use most any oil to cleanse your face that is natural and cold pressed like almond, sesame, jojoba, or grapeseed oil …etc. Apply a small amount to your fingers.
Massage the oil into the skin in a circular motion to break up any makeup. The oil will even break up the most resistant mascara, just make sure to keep your eyes tightly closed. I recommend cleansing your eyes last if you need to remove makeup to lessen the chance that you might accidentally open your eyes.
Massage the oil into your skin for at least a minute, focusing on problem areas like dry skin, puffiness around the eyes, blackheads, and acne (just be gentle here). Make this an enjoyable experience, you’re pampering yourself after all =)
After cleansing, reach into the sink and grab your face cloth. Wring it out a bit and gently wipe your eyes first, then the rest of your face. Your skin will be clean and glowing already! But we’re not done yet!
To ensure that everything is off your skin, you can repeat this step with fresh oil and use the clean side of the facial cloth. The key is to remove all the stuff in your pores.
2. Herbal Facial Steam
This is a really relaxing and luxurious experience and is one of my favorite parts of pampering my skin.
All you need is:
• A nice big bowl of very hot fresh water (try to avoid tap water as it isn't nearly as nice to use)
• 2 TB of your favorite fragrant herbs like chamomile, rose, lavender…etc or a few tea bags of herbal tea
• A few drops of your favorite essential oil. You can use whatever strikes your fancy like eucalyptus, lavender, sweet orange, lemon, peppermint, etc. (Where to Buy 24% Off)
• A big towel
• Some way to keep your hair out of your face
Tie up your hair, and fill the bowl with very hot water (be careful if you’re using a glass bowl) ¾ of the way to the top. Add your herbs and oils. Get comfy somewhere (I like to just lay on my stomach on the floor or sit at the dining table) and put your face over the steaming herbal tea and put the towel over your head to create a tent that traps in all that glorious fragrance and cleansing steam. Leave a small opening for air flow, and steam your face for at least 10 minutes. Go for as long as is comfortable.
Your pores will open and release toxins, oils, and bacteria, allowing the nourishing plant oil vapor to penetrate and cleanse your skin. Steaming will really help with our next step because you want to pores as open as possible.
3. Exfoliation
Now that your pores are all nice and open, it’s time to gently scrub away blackheads and dead skin cells. Reach into your spice cabinet and grab some cinnamon and then the pantry for some almonds or oat bran. Grind up the almonds until they are fine but still have a little grit, you need this to exfoliate. Alternatively, you can, of course, use your favorite facial scrub.
Cinnamon is cleansing and anti-inflammatory and will help kill acne-causing bacteria. If you have any broken though, be aware that it stings! If this is the case, just use the oat bran or some ground oats.
Oat bran/ground oats are both known to be soothing for the skin without stripping its natural oils. It also calms redness and infammation.
Mix 1 TB ground almonds or oat bran with ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon powder. Add 1 drop of essential oil like lavender or tea tree and a small amount of water or tea. You need just enough water to make it moist. Dab a cloth into your herbal steam bowl and gently wipe your face clean of the impurities from steaming. Apply some homemade scrub to your fingers and massage into your skin in a circular motion. Focus on blackheads and dry skin areas. I don’t recommend scrubbing too hard because it will aggravate acne and oil production. We’re shooting for clear skin here!
Rinse the scrub thoroughly and pat dry.
If you are curious about what essential oils are best for your skin type, check out my article here.
4. Clay Mask
Applying a nice facial clay after clearing away blackheads and impurities will allow the clay to tighten and minimize the appearance of pores. It will also make sure that you can suck out any last remnants of dirt, makeup, sebum, and any other stuff that may be hanging out in your pores.
If you’re not sure which facial clay is best for your skin type, check out some of my articles on:
Bentonite Clay
Moroccan Clay
White Kaolin Clay
French Green Clay
To begin this step, mix a small amount of clay with water or herbal tea until liquid but not too runny. I like to mix clay using this method.
Apply the clay with your fingers or a fan brush in an even layer and let the clay dry completely before rinsing.
Clays masks will absorb toxins, stimulate nourishing circulation, and deep clean the pores. It is one of the best ways to achieve clear skin.
5. Flower Water Toner
So here we talk about one of my favorite skin products ever….rose water! If you haven’t read my article about The Benefits of Rose Water, go check it out to see just how awesome this stuff really is. You can also learn how to make rose water at home here.
Using a floral water after a facial mask will balance the PH of your skin, hydrate it, and make it glow. The astringent properties of rose water will tighten the pores, making them appear smaller, and seal in moisture for a smooth and supple look.
All you have to do is liberally spray the rose water all over your face, breathe deeply of its heavenly fragrance, and press it into the skin with your fingertips.
6. Facial Oil Moisturizer
We began with oil and now we will end with oil. Using a facial oil like jojoba, rosehip oil, argan, tamanu, or almond oil will deeply moisturize and smooth the skin. They also happen to protect and balance the skin, making them the perfect one ingredient moisturizer. If you’re not sure about which oil is best for your skin type, check out my article on the subject here.
Simply apply a few drops to your fingertips and massage into your skin. I like to apply it while my face is still wet with rose water for best results. This will prevent dragging the skin and allow for even application.
Once you’re finished, your face should be bright and fresh! I hope you take the time to pamper yourself and enjoy this luxurious at-home facial.
What have been your favorite at home spa treatments? Please share them int he comments!
You may also enjoy reading:
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
The Comedogenic Rating of 300+ Skincare Ingredients
Essential Oils for Scars and a Scar Healing Serum Recipe
Homemade Serum for Acne Prone Skin
Rejuvenating Rosehip Facial Serum
The Best Facials for Acne
Exfoliating Make-Up Remover
Homemade Skin Brightening Mask
Natalee says
Can you mix tea tree oil with the rose water for hybrid toner? I was thinking to use that and then moisturize with Hemp & Lavender.
Tash says
Yes! You can 🙂 Just shake well before use!