How to do a facial at-home according to the experts
Many of us are enjoying a low-maintenance moment when it comes to our beauty regimes, as our costly beauty-boosting activities have been replaced by DIY manicures and home hair removal methods. But if you’ve found your at-home attempts aren’t quite cutting it when it comes to your skin, it might be time to turn to the experts. We sat down with TONIC15 founder Jin Kwon to get her top facial tips, so you can use all of this extra downtime to perfect your complexion…
Step the mood
‘First things first, set the mood – whether you’re doing your skincare in the bathroom or the bedroom, taking the time to create the right, relaxing atmosphere will make the whole process more therapeutic,’ says Jin.
‘I like to prepare a hot herbal tea – make sure it’s caffeine-free if you want to de-stress before bed – and light a candle. The Huxley Moroccan Gardener Candle fills a room with the most delicious aromatic scent, it will help transport you from your bathroom to a Hamman spa in a distant city.’
‘You could also add relaxing jazz music, throw in a guided meditation or even listen to your favourite podcast in the background.’
The double cleanse
‘Any facialist worth their salt will tell you the importance of the double cleanse. The first layer will remove any makeup, while the second layer will remove dirt, dead skin cells and any other impurities,’ explains Jin.
‘Pick the cleanser best suited to your skin type. If you don’t have any makeup on skin, say you’re doing your facial first thing, then I love the Sioris Cleanse Me Softly Milk Cleanser which can be used as a standalone cleanser. It has a luxurious milky texture that whisks away all impurities and leaves the skin feeling hydrated.’
‘If you have dry skin try the Dr. Ceuracle Oil Cleanser which is infused with Sunflower Seed, Jojoba and Meadowfoam Seed Oils as well as probiotics to support the skin’s barrier function. The brand new I’m From Fig Cleansing Balm is also a great choice for all skin types. It transforms from a balm to an oil and then a milk to deeply cleanse while maintaining the pH balance and comfort of skin.
Whichever first-step cleanser you plump for, really take the time to massage it into skin. Not only will this boost blood circulation, it allows the product enough contact time with skin to allow it to do what it needs to – remove dirt and impurities.’
‘Your second cleanse will further remove grime, dead skin cells and any further oil or dirt on skin. I love the Sioris Day by Day Gel Cleanser but Dr. Ceuracle Pro-Balance Night Enzyme Wash is a great before-bed second-cleanse. It contains charcoal powder and mild exfoliating enzymes which means you can skip the exfoliating step in your at-home facial. Lather and gently massage in with fingertips before rinsing off with lukewarm water and patting your face dry with a clean towel. If you’re not sure which cleanser is right for you, you can always email me and the team at pamper@tonic15.com – we love to help out!’
Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
‘The other option is to use a toner to remove any residue, hydrate and condition the skin and prep it for the next step. Oily skin will love the Sioris Feel So Fresh Toner which helps to regulate sebum production, while Aromatica’s Tea Tree Balancing Toner works hard to remove impurities and ‘de-gunk’ the pores without irritating skin. Simply soak a cotton pad and swipe it over skin.’
Mask it
‘It wouldn’t be an at-home facial without a mask making a different appearance, my favourite approach is multi-masking using different wash-off formulas.
‘Assess the different areas of your face and really think about giving skin what it needs. For areas that have broken out try Dr. Ceuracle Match Clay Mask – it deeply cleanses and tighten pores while also control sebum production. For dry, flaky and dull areas, the I’m From Honey Mask injects moisture and radiance, while sensitive spots will benefit from the Mugwort Masks which soothe, calm and detoxify.’
Steam Ahead
‘I always add in a steaming step to my facials at home which really helps to open up the pores for a deeper treatment. All you need is to fill a bowl with hot water and either some sliced citrus fruit or perhaps an aromatherapy oil or you could add a couple of spritzes of the Beaudiani Mists,’ suggests Jin.
‘Apply your mask and then position your face over the bowl with a towel over your head to keep all of that lovely steam. It can really help to amplify the effect of your mask to give you a softer, smoother complexion. Steam for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off your mask with lukewarm water and gently pat your face dry.’
‘I would then use a mist or toner to rehydrate and get the skin ready for the next step. Again, the Beaudiani Damask Rose Mist or Neroli make great choices for relaxation as they have an aromatherapeutic qualities as well as Carrot Seed Oil to replenish the skin’s barrier. I would also recommend Sioris Time is Running Out Mist or Dr. Ceuracle’s Hyal Reyouth Toner for dry or more mature skin.’
Target your treatments
‘Here’s the fun bit where you get to be a bit of a mixologist. I like to use a sheet mask now to really treat and transform skin. The Franz Microcurrents Mask is a real multi-tasker. It contains Retinyl Palmitate – the gentlest form of retinol – to boost collagen production as well as Oligopeptide-68 to brighten and smooth skin, as well as help with acne, acne scars and minimising pores.’
‘You could also try By Wishtrend Natural Vitamin 21.5% Enchancing Sheet Mask if you’re concerned about skin’s tone and texture or Dr Ceuracle Royal Vita Propolis Anti-oxidant Mask if dullness is your main concern.’
After your sheet mask, it’s time for essence and serum. Use fingertips to butterfly-pat sebum-regulating Dr Ceuracle Tea Tree Purine 95 Essence into oily skin. More mature skin will love Dear Klairs Midnight Youth Activating Drop which is packed with Dual Peptides and EGF to fight the signs of time. A sort of moisture bomb, I love the Aromatica Lively Superbarrier Cica Panthenol Serum at this point when my skin is feeling dry. It’s formulated with five molecular sizes of Hyaluronic Acid to deeply hydrate skin from within.’
Add a hit of hydration
‘Finally, as the last step in your facial, it’s time to lock in all of that moisture. Either use the Huxley Oil ; Light and More if you have dry skin. It’s rich in oils such as Jojoa Oil and Prickly Pear Seed Oil to replenish skin. Oily or blemish-prone? The Sioris You Look So Young Night Cream makes a great before-bed pick. It’s enriched with Tamanu which helps heal and soothe skin.’
‘Really take the time to gently massage your formula into skin – it’ll relax you further whilst also leaving you with a rosy glow.’
Now you know how to treat your skin at home with Jin’s top facial tips, we’d love to hear how you found this facial. Let us know on our Instagram channel or email us with how your skin looked – and felt – after.’