Skincare can take many forms and looks different for and on different people. A basic routine consists of washing, moisturizing, and SPF protection, while more elaborate processes involve multiple steps, products, and, in some cases, devices.
Weekly, monthly, or even yearly treatments may play a role in your skincare and be considered a bit of self-care.
Winter usually prompts me to review my skincare and self-care, changing things up to better meet the needs of a colder, drier time of year. Winter is also the perfect time to add at-home facials to the seasonal skincare routine.
Here’s a look at giving yourself an at-home facial and some potential products you may still have time to add to your Xmas gift list.
First up, cleanse your face to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. Cleansing creates a blank canvas and preps your skin for the various steps of a facial. You can certainly use your regular daily cleanser, but if you’re looking to pamper yourself, check out Wild Rose Cleanser from Honor MD. This product, which is on sale as of this writing, boasts rosehip seed oil and vitamin-rich seaweed to support collagen production. It also leaves you with a light, natural rose scent, creating a spa-like atmosphere in your bathroom.
After cleansing, you’ll next want to open your pores, soften the skin, and prepare it for deeper treatment. Ideally, you’d use a face steamer like Pure Daily Care’s NanoSteamer 3-in-1 Nano Iconic Facial Steamer available at Best Buy and steam for about 10-15 minutes. You can repurpose a warm-steam vaporizer or humidifier, or go the DIY route by pouring hot water into a bowl and covering your head with a towel to clear your sinuses while you open your pores. You could also let your shower run for a full-body steam, but that’s a waste of water unless you can time your facial for when a kiddo is having a bit of an asthma attack, then the steam relieves their lungs while it opens your pores. Whichever approach you choose, consider elevating the experience with a drop of your favorite essential oil or an aromatherapy tablet. There are specific ones for facial steamers available on Amazon.
In a salon or spa setting, the step after steaming is extraction. That’s when a professional uses a thin scalpel-like tool to remove blackheads and whiteheads. And while extraction tools can be purchased, unless you are trained, do not do this at home. You risk irritation, infection, or scarring. That being said, there are tools out there for at-home extractions with less risk, like Shark Beauty’s FacialPro Glow, a handheld device that sucks impurities out of your pores. This is a top-of-the-line investment item with a price tag of $399. Instead of extraction, consider exfoliation a more realistic alternative. A mask like Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is a budget-friendly alternative to the FacialPro. It can be a bit drying, but the additional steps of the facial will counteract that tight, dry feel.
After you exfoliate, spritz on a toning mist to refresh and prep the skin for maximum absorption of the products you’ll layer on. Bright Body’s Ayurvedic Universal Toning Mist is an all-purpose facial toner made with plant-based antioxidants to reduce redness and support circulation. Spray this over your face and neck, and then start applying serums. This is when you can customize the facial to your specific skin needs.
There are all kinds of serums at various price points to explore. It depends on your skincare needs. Are you dealing with eczema, irritation, acne, wrinkles, dullness? All of these can be treated with a serum. Tata Harper’s line of serums addresses dark spots, brightens, and purports to help firm and lift the skin. Ere Perez’s booster serums are more affordable options, especially the Grape Water Eye Serum, which comes in a roll-on. I like COSRX’s Snail Radiance Dual Essence serum for anti-aging and dull skin. Yes, I put snail mucus on my face, and I look fabulous!
Next up are lips. Lip exfoliation and treatments are considered add-ons at most spas; at home, they are included in the package. Start with a lip scrub to exfoliate, then treat with a mask. You can find a simple sugar scrub at most drug stores. For masks, check out Mario Budescu’s Mini Lip Mask Collection to get a sample of flavors, or gift yourself a set like Colleen Rothschild Beauty’s Kiss & Tell Lip Care Duo that features a scrub, a moisturizer, and a velvet pouch.
After lips come eyes. If you’ve already applied an eye serum, consider doubling down with under-eye masks like grace & stella’s restoring purple eye masks, firming white eye masks, or moisturizing pink eye masks. Or there’s Mighty Patch’s Tired Eyes Patch to moisturize and energize the undereye. Eye masks can also be part of your getting-ready routine, as well as at-home facials. For special occasions, apply an eye mask for 10 or so minutes before your moisturizer and makeup primer.
The last step for facials is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. By all means, use your daily lotion, but also consider stepping things up with products like Mary Kay’s Intense Moisturizing Cream or Osea’s Advanced Protection Cream for deep hydration. You can layer on multiple products, or just one with multiple applications. Once you’ve moisturized, then you get to clean up your bathroom and may probably need to do a load of towels. That’s the tricky thing about incorporating at-home facials into your skincare routine, you have to find the time, the energy, clean up afterwards, and hopefully not be disrupted during the process. If you can get all of those elements in place, then your skin will thank you this winter.
