Five Easy Steps To Your Next DIY Facial.
Love starts with loving ourselves first!
Irrespective at what point of your life’s journey you are at, we all can probably agree that at this point of the summer, the skin on our face most likely needs major TLC. As often time by about Labor Day, it can start looking dull from the summer sun exposure even if you are diligent about your sun protection. A good and regular facial usually does the trick. Ideally it includes a good cleanse, exfoliation, massage, mask, and follow-up with facial serum and/or moisturizer.
You are never too busy for a facial! Yes, I said it.
Professional facials are always a nice treat and ideal, but it is important to ensure that you maintain your skin in between appointments so it stays hydrated, glowing and healthy. No time for a professional facial? There is never a better time to start than NOW. Your skin will thank you five, ten years or even one year from now. It does not have to be anything complicated. Start with small steps at home. Most likely you already have many of these ingredients in your very own kitchen:
Five Simple Steps To Keep Your Skin Healthy And Glowing.
Step 1: Cleanse.
Prepare your skin by cleansing it properly and making sure that any excess make-up, dirt, and debris are removed. Massage the cleanser of your choice be it a facial soap or facial oil cleanser gently but thoroughly for about 2-3 minutes. Rinse off the cleanser and gently dry off your skin, leaving it slightly damp.
Step 2: Exfoliate.
Once the skin is clean, you can remove any dead skin by exfoliating it and leaving it softer and glowing. It will also allow the mask to work better now that you removed the dead skin cells.
Here is one of our favorites: Quick and Gentle Facial Scrub.
Note: For maximum benefit, do not use soap to wash off any excess oil from the facial scrub. Simply rinse your skin off with lukewarm water, gently towel off and let the oils soak in.
Step 3: Steam your face.
My favorite step as you can create different variations with or without herbs being part of the blend.
For start, let’s just keep it simple. Most likely, you already have these at home:
· 2-3 lemon peels,
· 1 green tea bag,
· 2-3 drops total of geranium or lavender essential oil.
Do not have these essential oils? No problem! Simply add 1 tablespoon of dry lavender or 1 tea bag of lavender tea.
Mix all the above ingredients in a small heat resistant bowl (stainless steel or Pyrex will do). Pour hot water over the ingredients. Lean over the bowl to steam while keeping your face about 8-10 inches away from the steam so you do not burn your skin and put an old towel over your head, so the steam is trapped. For the next 10-15 minutes, simply breathe in and enjoy the benefits of this facial steam to the fullest. Facial steams help our skin to open our pores and purge some of the harmful toxins.
Step 4: Facial mask.
DIY Facial Mask Option #1:
2 tablespoons of cacao powder. This powder contains healing antioxidants plus it is also hydrating. It is great for dry and sensitive skin. Add 1 tablespoon of water or rosewater, and 1 drop of geranium essential oil. This essential oil is ideal for all skin types. If you have it available, also add 1 drop of lavender essential oil which is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and contains antioxidants.
Mix all the above ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to skin with clean fingers. After 10-15 minutes remove the mask with warm water and face cloth.
DIY Facial Mask Option #2:
Here is another of my favorites: Got yogurt? Apply a thick layer of yogurt and leave again on your face for about 10-15 minutes. Obviously, you might want to be in a horizontal position for this.
Step 5: Hydrate and Moisturize Your Skin.
Finish off by applying hydrosol along with either facial oil or moisturizer. Depending on the time of the day and the season, I might apply my hydrosol and facial oil. Yes, during the day my go-tos are our Rodina Botanicals Botanical Glow facial oil and one of our Hydrosols: soothing Rose Hydrosol, refreshing Wild Meadows Hydrosol (clary sage) or calming Botanical Glow Hydrosol (calendula), unless my skin asks for more. If I carry out the above routine in the evening, I might switch from facial oil to Rodina Botanicals Botanical Glow Night Cream.
Make sure you also apply your eye cream.
Listen to your skin!
Step 6: Simply Drink More Water! Keep Hydrating!
This is an unofficial step but still a very important one. Make sure that you drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated 24/7.
Treating your skin with care is not another chore, RATHER it is something to look forward to. Something you get to do RATHER than you have to do!
Most importantly, have fun with it!
You prefer to use your own favorite mask recipe and facial steam, or prefer only professional facials, I get it. But it somehow still just does not happen? Do yourself a favor, open your calendar right now and just schedule your “METime” facials into your calendar. Ideally, a quick mini at home facial once a week would be great but if you know that is not going to happen but feel confident that twice a month or even once a month is something you can commit to, please add your “METimes” to your calendar between now and end of this calendar year, RIGHT NOW!
Our skin is our largest body organ that does a lot of heavy lifting for us and protects us from various environmental factors. Love your skin, be kind to it and treat it well!!!
You can always find more DIY recipes including a scrub for your feet and hair mask on IG @rodinabotanicals in our highlights under Zero-wasteskincare.
Remember, be kind to yourself and your skin.
Until next time,
Anita
LESS IS MORE!,
in product ingredients +
application.
Anita is a founder and owner of Rodina Botanicals. Rodina Botanicals is a maker of small-batch, clean skincare products for the entire family.
We at Rodina Botanicals:
want our clients to enjoy their life to the fullest and not be distracted by mosquito bites, dry cuticles, eczema, or dry and cracked skin.
make all our products in Barrington, IL, U.S.A.
use eco- and travel-friendly packaging.