An At-Home Facial that Will Leave Skin Glowing
Taking the best care of your skin requires a multi-faceted approach.
Even the best skin care products, treatments and lifestyle habits can’t work in isolation. Combining these components to create a well-rounded skin care routine allows each factor to support the others.
For example, did you know that at-home facials can support your skin in between cosmetic treatments? However, it comes down to choosing the right skin care products to get the most benefit from both.
How often should you get a facial?
Let’s start by talking about how amazing an in-clinic facial can be. If you haven’t yet experienced one at Skin Pharm, schedule aconsultation with one of our skin care providers to discuss your options.
From Gold Infusion facials to broadband light photofacials, we have options to treat a variety of skin concerns. The frequency at which you schedule your facials will vary depending on your skin type, unique needs, and goals.
For Gold Infusions, the frequency will depend on the main skin concern you want to target. For melasma and scarring, it is recommended to receive treatment every four to six weeks with four to six treatments total for best results. For anti-aging, you'll want to schedule treatment every 12 weeks for a total of four to six facials for best results.
Consulting with a skin care provider is crucial to help you understand your skin, find the right facials and schedule them at the most beneficial cadence. You don’t have to take care of your skin on your own — we’re here to create a custom treatment plan for your skin’s unique needs!
While in-clinic treatments will offer the best results, there is room for at-home treatments to keep your skin glowing. But first, let’s explore what makes skin glow in the first place.
What makes skin glow?
One of the most crucial factors in skin radiance is hydration status. Hydration is essential for keeping the bonds that hold the skin together and keep it firm and strong. When the skin lacks moisture, it can become dehydrated and far more vulnerable to damage.
Radiant, glowing skin also relies on a healthy, strong skin barrier. When the skin barrier breaks down, the skin is far more vulnerable to environmental factors (like pollutants, impurities and UV radiation from the sun). A strong skin barrier can also help the skin to appear firmer and more youthful.
How do I do an at-home facial?
Regardless of the products you choose for your at-home facial, there are a few steps to follow to make the most of them.
Read on for a step-by-step guide to performing your best facial yet.
Step 1: Cleanse your skin
The first step to performing an at-home facial — like our gently exfoliating Clay Time charcoal mask — is to start with fresh, clean skin. This allows the active ingredients in your products to reach deep inside the pores.
Start by cleansing your skin. If you’re wearing makeup, consider double cleansing (using two different cleansers to ensure the skin is as clean as possible). Rinse your face thoroughly, using warm water instead of hot water, then pat your skin dry with a microfiber towel or clean washcloth.
Avoid rubbing your skin, as it may cause irritation in sensitive skin.
Step 2: Apply your products
After your skin is clean and dry, it’s time to apply your at-home facial products — charcoal and clay masks are some of the most at-home friendly. These products can be used quickly to help create a spa moment in the comfort of your home.
If you opt to use a sheet mask, you can elevate your facial experience by using a gua sha to apply it. The idea of gua sha comes from traditional Chinese medicine and helps decrease facial puffiness, increase blood flow and promote lymphatic drainage.
Use light to medium pressure and upward, circular motions when applying the sheet mask onto your face. In addition to the benefits involved, adding in a facial massage just feels amazing.
Step 3: Rinse off the facial
When it’s time to rinse off the facial, use the same technique you used to rinse off the cleanser. As nourishing as facials are, leaving them on too long or not thoroughly washing them off can lead to clogged pores and an increased risk of breakouts.
Certain at-home facials can also cause irritation if left on for too long, especially for people who have more sensitive or reactive skin.
Step 4: Apply a toner or serum
At this point, your skin is open and ready to accept additional skin care products deeper into the pores. Applying a toner or serum like our Youth Serum after a facial can increase its effectiveness even further, so consider what active ingredients would be the most beneficial.
If you plan to apply more than one serum in your routine, pay close attention to two things.
- Active ingredients:Not all active ingredients work well together, so if you combine them, make sure they complement each other. If you’re unsure, check with a skin care provider for more specific advice.
- Product consistency: As a general rule, start by applying the serums with the thinnest consistency first and then move on to thicker serums. Applying serums in this way helps increase the potential for absorption, allowing more product into your pores.
Step 5: Moisturize your skin
The final step in an at-home facial routine is to apply a skin moisturizer, such as Face Whip. This daily moisturizer includes hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane to leave your skin hydrated, plump and smooth.
All skin types require moisture, not just people with dry skin concerns. People with oily skin can benefit from the right moisturizer, as excess oil production can be a sign of troubled skin.
In addition to treating your skin, Youth Serum acts as a moisturizer, too! It's packed with hydrating ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid, which help strengthen and replenish the skin barrier.
Other ways to get glowing skin
If glowing skin is the goal, an at-home facial will only take you so far. At-home facials are best when used to support your skin in between more targeted cosmetic treatments performed by a skin care provider.
If you’ve got extra downtime, chemical peels are a great place to start. Chemical peels can help exfoliate the skin on an even deeper level and minimize the visible signs of aging.
As a high-powered chemical exfoliant, they not only clear dead skin cells from the skin’s surface but also improve skin texture and reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. They contribute to a brighter complexion by supporting cell turnover and collagen production, which can reduce dullness.
Microneedling is another cosmetic treatment that can help improve the look of your skin’s tone and radiance. We use a microneedling device to create small, purposeful injuries to the skin, which prompts a healing response and promotes collagen production.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a great add-on to enhance your microneedling treatment. PRP harnesses the power of your own healing cells in the areas you’re hoping to improve.
In summary…
At-home facials are an excellent way to keep your skin looking and feeling its best, especially between in-clinic treatments. However, to get the most out of an at-home facial, you need to ensure you’re using the right ingredients and products.
Book a skin consultation at one of our skin care clinics — we’ll get to know your skin goals and discuss the best product and treatment options for you!
SOURCES:
Microbiota and maintenance of skin barrier function | Science
