Your weekly at-home facial need not be elaborate. It simply needs to address your current skincare needs. Don’t be too habitual and get locked into the same routine week to week, particularly if you notice changes in your skin. Always do an assessment and ask — what does my skin need now? Also, think about treatments you may have applied to your skin during the week. This will help you to come up with a facial that compliments all of your prior good skincare work. Conversely, if you’ve been slacking on your daily skincare, the weekly at-home facial is a great way to give your skin a big boost and jumpstart your results.

Felicia’s At-Home Facial Steps and Products

I’ve been fairly consistent with my daily skincare. My big daily focus has been retinol. As we are currently under COVID-19 Shelter in Place guidelines, I have been using it as an opportunity to go hard on my retinol treatments. So this week’s at-home facial is designed to compliment that — the goal is to simply calm, soothe and hydrate.

First, a gentle cleanse with La Mer Micellar Water. I have a travel size handy, and since travel isn’t happening anytime soon, I said to myself — Risk it all, Fe!

My next step is to double mask with GM Collin Glow Mask and Aqua Mask….applying Aqua (packed with Hyaluronic acid) to my forehead and Glow (which contains Vitamin C for brightening) everyplace else. This double masking is a great example of giving your skin what it needs, where it needs it. Don’t be afraid to mask in zones.

While masking, I also applied Peter Thomas Roth Hydra Gel Patches. These slippery little sheet masks for eyes contain so many of my favorite ingredients for tired eyes….Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen for intense hydration, Caffeine to reduce puffiness, Niacinimide, Glycerin…whew, too much sauce!

After removing the masks, next is Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid — aka, new skin in a bottle. This gentle 2% BHA liquid exfoliant works to unclog congested pores, improve surface texture, enhance even tone of the skin and smooth fine lines.

With a focus on improving circulation around my eyes, the next step is Sulwhasoo Bloomstay Eye Cream with the metal-tipped applicator. The antioxidant-rich jelly-like formula is just what my eyes needs. The metal-tipped applicator is nothing short of pure joy and like 30 seconds of ecstasy. It seriously feels like reflexology for the eyes.

The next few steps are all about laying down and locking in the moisture my skin so desperately needs. I apply @PauseWellAging Collagen Moisturizer to my entire face and Perricone MD Cold Plasma Sub-D/ Neck to my neck and décolletage.

Pause Well Aging Collagen is one of my all-time favorite moisturizers because it nourishes skin so deeply and has a way of bringing my skin back from the brink of dryness. I use Drunk Elephant Marula Oil to seal everything in and complete my routine with Primera US Lip Mask.

Christene’s At-home Facial Steps and Products Used:

This week was a very simple facial for me. I focused on cleansing, mild extraction using a skin scrubber, gentle exfoliation with a leave-on exfoliant and restoring moisture.

I started with the Marla Rene Raw Honey Cleanser. It’s a honey-based cleanser that can be used as a mask for mild exfoliation. I massaged it on dry skin for a couple of minutes, then used a wet sponge to emulsify and remove it.

My second step was the Cleure pH Balanced Toner. It’s a simple toner formulated without fragrance, colors, dyes and other skin irritants. I did a couple of spritzes on my face and used a cotton pad to wipe away any residue that may have been left behind by the cleanser. I want my face clean and ready for the next step.

If you’ve been following along for Friday facials you know that the steaming step is my favorite. Steam opens the pores, detoxifies the skin and allows for easier extraction. It also prepares the skin for your skincare Products. As always, I used my Panasonic Steamer for about 10 minutes. The exact version I used seems to have been discontinued. Here’s a well-reviewed alternative.

After steaming I did another spritz with the Cleur Toner to ensure my face was wet enough for the Skin Scrubber. The skin scrubber gently vibrates as you glide it across the skin. This vibration loosens all the dirt and oils, as well as superficial black and whiteheads. (It’s not supposed to hurt.)

I followed with another spritz of toner before moving to my favorite skincare product of all time - Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid. It is a gentle leave-on exfoliant made with 2% salicylic acid. It unclogs pores, exfoliates, and with continued use, brightens and evens skin tone and texture. BHA or Beta Hydroxy Acid not only works on the skins surface, it breaks through oil and works inside pores. It’s a great option if you want to reduce the appearance of pores and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. It works on all skin types, tones, and textures.

Following the BHA liquid, I used the Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum, it hydrates skin, leaving it with a juicy glow. Moisture is the key to glowing skin. While oils give you that instant shine, you can’t add moisture to your skin without a water-based product. In addition to other benefits such as brightening skin and refining pores, a serum is often your first layer of hydration. (See Skincare 101: Serums)

The last product I applied was the Elta MD Barrier Renewal COMPLEX. It is a very well rounded moisturizer that leaves my skin feeling supple and moisturized without feeling too greasy. It’s recommended for dry skin. Though I have combination oily skin, my skin has been responding well to this cream. It contains ceramides, niacinamide, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, antioxidants, and other skin-nourishing ingredients. I massage it all over my face, including my under eye area. (Yes, you can use your regular face moisturizer under your eyes.)

Still have questions about at-home facials? Leave them below!

We’ll see you next Friday for another #FaceFlawlessFacial! 😘

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