If you’re looking to keep your skin in check at home between facial appointments, then I’ve got a treat for you! For today’s post I went straight to the professional – my old colleague, friend, AND esthetician, Allison Mockett. She’s sharing 10 easy steps to give yourself an at home facial.
With over 11 years in the beauty industry, it’s safe to say Allison knows a thing or two about achieving great skin. If you live in the Los Angeles area, bookmark Allison and her studio, No Filter Beauty.
Before you begin, here are a few things to note:
- You can do an at home facial once a week
- It’s better to do them at night because your skin naturally repairs while you sleep, but if you only have the morning or the middle of the day, then go ahead
- If you don’t have all of the products in the steps below, remember that the three key steps to healthy skin are cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing
Here’s what Allison recommends for glowing skin at home:
1. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted
Make it feel as relaxing as possible, just like the real thing. Light a candle, diffuse essential oils (lavender and ylang ylang are Allison’s frequent go to oils at the studio) and even dim the lights if possible, to create a spa-like experience for an at home facial.
2. Wash your hands
You don’t want to be wiping all of the day’s dirt onto your face, do you?
3. Double cleanse using an oil-based cleanser first
Make sure to work in circular upward motions with light pressure and cleanse your skin for at least two minutes. Next, cleanse again for 2 minutes using a gel or cream cleanser. Use a facial steamer during both cleanses to open up your pores. If you don’t have a facial steamer, take a warm shower to prep the skin. You can also boil water in a pot, cover it with a towel, and carefully place your face over it for a minute or two.
ALLISON’S PICKS: Cosmedix Purity Clean (oil cleanser) and iS Clinical Cleansing Complex (gel cleanser)
4. Perform necessary extractions
Extractions are best meant for the professional but since you’re stuck at home now is the time to do them. Your hands and face are both clean, and if you were using steam your skin is softened enough that you won’t need a lot of pressure while extracting. This is the key to not damaging your skin.
Use the pads of your index fingers to gently create a mound around the area you are extracting. Do not push down! Instead wiggle your fingertips with light pressure. Once you have extracted the area, wipe down and away from the face. Repeat where necessary, but don’t force anything.
5. Exfoliate
Use an at home peel or exfoliating product that contains AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid). These ingredients help to unclog pores, slough off dead skin cells, and allow new skin cells to regenerate.
ALLISON’S PICKS: Cosmedix Pure Enzymes mixed with Purity Detox Scrub for both chemical and physical exfoliation.
6. Use a toner
A toner balances the skin back to normal after exfoliation.
7. Mask
Instead of using your fingertips, use a fan brush or a foundation brush (that’s been cleaned) for a more luxurious feel. Choose a detoxifying charcoal mask if you’re experiencing breakouts or a soothing hydrating mask if you’re feeling dry. If you have a sheet mask those work, too.
PRO TIP: Get a jade or other facial roller and leave it in fridge. Roll it over the sheet mask to penetrate ingredients further.
8. Apply serums
Choose one that is specific to your concerns.
ALLISON’S PICK: Cosmedix Surge Hyaluronic Acid Serum. (I use and love this serum too!)
9. Apply eye cream
Be sure to use your ring finger and pat – don’t rub – the cream under your eye area. Your ring finger is your least dominant finger, so it’ll put the least amount of pressure the area of your face with the thinnest skin.
10. Finish your at-home facial with facial massage using a face oil, then moisturize
Always use upward motions and work your way from the chest and neck to the forehead. Once you’ve completed your facial massage and the facial oil has someone penetrated into your skin, apply your favorite moisturizer.
Be sure to follow Allison on Instagram for the latest and greatest; you can also shop her online store by a support a small business here.
