How To Do The Basic At-Home Facial

There’s nothing better than getting a professional facial, but they can be expensive. To maintain your healthy skin between professional treatments or to do them yourself, try this basic at-home facial once a week. This basic facial works on oily, dry and combination skin.

And don’t worry, I’m not going to make you whip up a batch of egg-whites & oatmeal. If you want natural, do-it-yourself recipes, see ‘Make Your Own Face Mask.’

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 25-30 minutes
Here's How:

1. Cleanse the skin
You’ll want to wash the face to remove any grime or dirt. If you have oily or combination skin, try a cleanser like Clinique Wash Away Gel Cleanser Compare Pricesor Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash Compare Prices. For dry skin, your best bet is a cream or milky cleanser such as Cetaphil Compare Prices.
2. Exfoliate
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 tend to be drying. Clinique makes a simple, but excellent face scrub Compare Prices.
3. SteamFill your sink with warm water, dip a washcloth in and press to your face. Repeat 2-3 times.
4. The mask
For oily skin, use a clay-based face mask. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask.
Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Keep it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. Want to go all out and make your own natural face masks? Here, I show you how.
Jason (not a guy, but a company) makes great clay masks Compare Prices

Here's a list of hydrating masks at all prices Compare Prices
5. Moisturize
Smooth on a soothing, basic moisturizer such as Crème de La Mer Moisturizing Cream (very expensive) Compare Prices or the less expensive Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion Compare Prices.
Tip: Stay away from strong moisturizers containing retinols or acids. These will over-exfoliate your skin.

What You Need:

* Gentle cleanser
* Exfoliating scrub
* Warm water & a washcloth
* Clay-based or cream facial mask (based on skin type)
* Basic moisturizer