Home Facial Kit

DIY facials are an easy and affordable alternative to expensive spa or salon treatments. Get a home facial kit or use ingredients around the house to get cleaner, more radiant skin with an at-home facial.

• First, cleanse. Mix one or two tablespoons of warmed whole milk and a couple of drops of olive oil to make a cleanser to remove makeup and debris and moisturize the skin. With clean hands, gently massage the homemade cleanser onto your face and neck with sweeping, circular movements to stimulate circulation. Rinse off with warm water.
• Next, steam to hydrate and soften the skin. If you don’t have a facial steamer, boil a quart of water in a large pot (if you want, you can also infuse the water by wrapping up a fragrant herb such as chamomile, eucalyptus or lavender in gauze and placing it in the water). After the water reaches a boil, remove it from the heated stove. Bend over the pot to get your face as close to the steam as you’re comfortable, and put a clean towel over your head to create a tent for a mini steam bath. Steam for about five minutes, then pat your face dry with a clean towel.
• Exfoliate. To make your own exfoliating sugar scrub, combine ½ cup of granulated sugar, ½ of firmly packed dark brown sugar, ½ cup of sweet almond oil, 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract, one tablespoon of ground oatmeal and one teaspoon of ground nutmeg. For a simpler exfoliant, mix a ½ cup of dry, fine or ground oatmeal (whole oats may be too abrasive, especially for sensitive skin) with a ½ cup of powdered milk (some recipes use baking soda, which also may be too harsh for sensitive skin). Mix the dry ingredients with enough warm water to form a paste. Gently apply the mixture using circular motions (avoiding the eye area), then rinse off.
• Mask. A mask will help deep-clean and hydrate your skin while stimulating circulation. To make an easy homemade mask that works for most skin types, mix the whites of two eggs with two tablespoons of plain yogurt (you can add ½ tablespoon of honey if you have dry skin). Apply it onto the face and let dry for 15 to 30 minutes or until the mask feels tight. Rinse off with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.
• Tone. If you want to make a homemade toner, mix one part witch hazel with two parts rose or orange-blossom water. Sweep the toner across your face and neck with clean cotton pads. Skip this step if you have extremely dry skin.
• Lastly, massage and moisturize. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer on your face and neck, concentrating on areas on the cheeks, mouth, forehead and around the eyes as these facial muscles tend to be the most overworked.