Salons are officially back open, calling for a no-excuses champagne toast country-wide.
I mean, honestly, how have we survived this long without our usual beauty treatments? I think I speak for the entire nation when I say that I can’t wait to get back in that chair to be preened and pampered. LVL lashes, HD brows, massage, manicure, pedicure…you name it, I want it all.
But I have to say, if there’s one thing that lockdown has really taught me about beauty treatments, it’s that a lot of our favourite procedures can actually be done at home.
Whilst enduring my much-detested separation from the salon, I took it upon myself to research the various different treatments I could perform in the comfort of my own home.
Needless to say, some were more successful than others. But one thing that I have really enjoyed doing and learning more about is doing at-home facials.
As my regular readers will already know, I am hugely passionate about skincare, which is why it’s probably one of (if not my most) talked about topic on my blog.
But I genuinely feel as though I’ve learned so much more about skincare since the start of the pandemic.
I’ve dedicated time to really understanding my complexion and pinning down what ingredients are best for my skin. But not only that - how to apply skincare products properly.
It’s been a major learning curve, for sure. And one that I feel so many of you would love to know more about.
So, for this blog post, I thought I would share my top tips on how to do a facial at home. I hope you enjoy!
Top Tips For The Perfect At-Home Facial
- Take the time to understand your skin type
First and foremost, you absolutely must understand your skin and what it does and doesn’t like. Everybody’s skin is different, but in general, our skin is categorised as one of the following - oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, normal skin or mature skin. And the reason why it is so important to get to grips with this is because each of these skin types requires different ingredients in order to leave it looking and feeling its best ever. I’m going to share more about how to find out your skin type in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled for that coming up very soon. - Invest in products that will enhance your skin
I love discovering all the new, best skincare products that the world has to offer - but if I had to name just one or two brands that have really revolutionised my skincare regimen and transformed the look and feel of my skin, it would have to be Facetheory and The Ordinary. - Take time when applying products and be gentle with the skin
If you’ve ever been for a proper facial before with a professional facialist or skin expert, then you’ll know that the entire process takes time. Going for a facial is such a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and part of this enjoyment comes from the fact that the facialist is so gentle with our complexion, really taking the time to work those products into the skin for the best possible results. When we’re at home, on the other hand, as much as many of us love applying our skincare products, the temptation is to rush through the process.
And let’s face it, a lot of the time, we can’t afford to be spending 45 minutes applying our lotions and potions.
However, every once in a while, when you really want to treat yourself and truly recreate that authentic, salon experience, it’s essential that you slow things down. When we rush, without even meaning to, we can end up being quite rough with our skin as our movements aren’t as fluid, so we need to avoid this as much as possible.
- Create a soothing atmosphere by lighting candles and playing calming music
Another way to emulate that spa-like experience when performing an at-home facial is to play relaxing music and light a couple of candles or wax melts (scent wise, I always opt for something super soothing like lemongrass or lavender.) If you have an Alexa or a Google Mini, ask it to play spa music or rainforest sounds - that’s what I do! - Be careful to apply your skincare products in the correct order
I am actually in the process of creating a blog post all about what order to apply your skin products in, so I'll link that here soon. This is actually really important as some products can’t penetrate through others, and so if you’re doing things in the wrong order, you won’t benefit from the product at all. - Use electronic beauty tools
Electronic cleansing devices are great for helping maximise the power of our skincare products - encouraging our skincare must-haves to penetrate further into the skin. I swear by my Magnitone XOXO Silicone Cleansing Brush. To find out more about this device, you can read my Magnitone XOXO Silicone Cleansing Brush review, here. - Invest in a rose quartz roller
Facial rollers are all the rage right now, and rose quarts face rollers in particular continue to be praised for their skin-loving benefits.
Designed to promote lymphatic drainage, your new rose quartz facial roller will help naturally contour the face, all whilst reducing pore size and improving skin texture.
The BeautyBio Rose Quartz Roller is £75 from Selfridges - a splurge, for sure, but most definitely a great investment. However, if you're looking for something a little more affordable, the Well Done Crystal Facial Roller from Anthropologie poses a fabulous, purse-friendly alternative.
What Are The Best Skincare Products for Facials?
Everybody wants to know what are the best skincare products for doing facials at home, but truthfully, there is no ‘one size fits all answer’ to this question.
As we all have different skin types, the attention our skin requires varies, too. For me personally, my favourite skincare brand discovery has to be Facetheory.
I first came across the Facetheory brand when browsing on Instagram, and I just instantly fell in love with everything the brand is about. As well as being priced affordably and packaged sustainably, Facetheory is also an entirely cruelty-free, vegan skincare brand. I’m going to share more about Facetheory in a separate blog post very soon, so stay tuned for that.
For now, though, let’s talk about the types of skincare products that you should be investing in when performing at home facials.
Must-Have Skincare Products For At-Home Facials
1. Exfoliator
First and foremost, I highly recommend investing in a good quality facial exfoliant. Facial exfoliators now come in many different forms - physical, liquid, electronic…the list goes on. For me, though, a good microdermabrasion scrub works wonders when really sloughing away those dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, more youthful looking visage. I highly recommend the Botanics Radiant Youth Microdermabrasion Polish - this is the one I'm using at the moment and it's fab!
2. Clay Mask
Another product that’s well worth buying is a clay mask. Well, unless you have particularly dry skin, in which case you may wish to skip this step.
Clay masks are great for drawing out impurities and extracting any nasties. So, if you suffer from any form of acne or your skin is particularly oily, they can be very beneficial indeed. I love the L'Oreal Pure Clay Bright Mask - it's brilliant, and so affordable.
3. Cleanser
Cleansing is such a pivotal part of any skincare routine, and so it only makes sense that we give our skin a good old wash when indulging in a lovely facial at home.
As with all skincare products, facial cleansers arrive in many different forms - creams, foams, gels, liquids…the list goes on. The trick of course is pinning down a cleanser that really compliments your skin and gives you that fresh, youthful glow that we all long for.
I’m currently using the Facetheory Vitamin C Cream Cleanser & I couldn’t recommend it enough. It’s great.
4. Toner
I am always so surprised to hear how many people don’t bother with toner - I couldn’t be without mine! And there are honestly so many reasons to use toner.
As well as leaving the skin feeling fresh and flawless, toner is also known to refine pores and minimise excess oil.
Of course, some toners are gentler than others, meanwhile others are much more powerful. If you’re looking for the best toner for sensitive skin, then I’d recommend trying something more soothing, like the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner. If on the other hand, you’re looking for the best toner for acne prone skin, I’d give the Origins Zero Oil Purifying Toner a go, instead.
My skin sits somewhere between normal and combination, and I’m finding that the Facetheory Glycolacsal Toner works amazingly for me.
5. Retinol
I’m still fairly fresh on the retinol bandwagon myself, but I’ve got to say, if there’s one ingredient that’s truly revolutionised my skincare regime of late, then this has to be it.
I’ll be forever mad at myself for not experimenting with retinol sooner, as I knew so much about it before I ever took the plunge. And now, I couldn’t imagine my skincare regimen without it!
I will be sharing a blog post all about the various different benefits of retinol on my blog very soon, so keep an eye out for that. But off the top of my head, reduced fine lines and wrinkles, smoother skin surface texture and a more even skin tone are just a few of the very many reasons to give it a go. I love it.
6. Serum
I love facial serums, but even I have to admit that shopping for face serums is a bit of a minefield.
There are just so many options when it comes to finding the best face serums, and each different serum on the market poses its very own list of benefits & reasons to buy.
When shopping for serums for the face, I always look for the best serums for glowy skin, and so ingredients such as retinol and glycolic acid are usually the ones that catch my eye.
I love the Facetheory Exaglow Serum and the Facetheory Regenacalm Pro Serum. Both are beautiful.
7. Face Oil
Facial oils are one of my favourite things to apply to my skin as they’re just so deeply nourishing, which I love. I adore the decadence of a good oil for the face and as you can probably imagine, I’ve tried and tested many over the years.
I’m a really big fan of the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil and the Clarins Lotus Oil is a favourite of mine, too. Right now, though, I’m really loving cold-pressed rosehip oil. You can buy this from loads of different skincare brands, but the one I’m currently using is the Naissance Rosehip Oil.
8. Collagen Eye Masks
I don’t always have a stash of eye masks in my skincare basket, but if I’m planning on a little at-home facial, then I am sure to stock up. I keep these on for as long as possible (I’ve even been known to sleep with them on. For those interested, when you wake up, they are completely dry, but at least you know you’ve maximised their potential!)
I’m not going to sit here and say that I genuinely notice a drastic difference in the appearance of my eyes when I use these, because I’m still only 29 and the skin around my eyes is still fairly fresh and supple. However, I would definitely say that my skin feels more moisturised and possibly looks a bit plumper, too.
9. Eye Cream
I used to regularly skip eye cream, but there’s no way I could go without it anymore. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become so much more understanding of my skin and if there’s one part of my face that I know needs extra TLC, it’s the skin around my eyes.
The skin around our eyes is actually the thinnest skin on our entire bodies, which explains why so many of us suffer from dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles in this area. To find out more about getting rid of dark circles under the eyes, check out my blog post 'How To Get Rid of Dark Circles.'
My advice would be to invest in a good eye cream and use it not only when doing a facial, but every single morning and night, no matter what. I’ve tried and tested many gorgeous eye creams (the Kiehl’s Avocado Creamy Eye Treatment, the CeraVe Repairing Eye Cream and most recently the Facetheory Ocuwake Eye Cream - all of which I would highly recommend.
Every once in a while, we just have to treat ourselves to a facial in our favourite salon or spa, but it’s great to know that we can indulge in a much-needed preen and pamper in the comfort of our own homes, too.
I really hope that you all enjoyed this blog post and I look forward to sharing more with you all soon.
Lots of love,
Grace x
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