3rd May | Beauty | Posted by Megan Bromley
I know we’re all missing the salon, but you can still keep your skin in tip-top condition at home. Continue with your routine daily but add this in every three to four weeks for a “just had a facial” glow.
Step one: Cleanse.
For a deep cleanse, use a cleansing milk such as the Decleor Neroli Bigarade Cleansing Milk or the Clarins cleansing milk. Massage the cleanser all over your face and neck concentrating on areas of congestion including forehead, nose and the chin. To remove use a warm damp muslin cloth or if you don’t have one of those use two cotton pads that you have dampened and squeezed out under a warm tap. For the ultimate deep cleanse, repeat this step twice.
Step two: Tone.
Use an alcohol-free toner such as the Decleor Neroli Bigarade Toner or the Clarins Toning Lotion. Use two cotton pads to apply the toner all over your face and neck, starting from the neck and finishing at your forehead, don’t miss this step as it’s very important. Toning removes any last traces of makeup or dirt and grime, that the cleanser has left behind, it also closes the pores to prevent blemishes forming and pores getting blocked.
Step three: Exfoliate.
My all-time favourite exfoliator is the Decleor Phytopeel. It is micro-bead free and suitable for all skin types. It helps remove dead skin cells and stimulates the cellular renewal process. Apply a layer to the face and neck, leave on until it’s nearly dry and over the sink use your fingers to gently rub the skin in upwards movements to remove. The exfoliating cream starts to peel and reveals the softest, smoothest glowing skin. Remove excess with toner.
Step four: Mask.
Choose your mask dependant on your skin type. If you are oily, you’ll want a mask that sets to deep cleanse your skin and draw out excess oil and impurities, such as the Sence Beauty Peel Off Sparkly Gold Face Mask. If your skin is dry and dehydrated, use a non-setting like the Decleor Neroli Bigarade Hydrating Oil Mask, which hydrates and plumps the skin or alternatively try the W7 Super Skin Superfood Banana Blast Sheet Mask for a softening and nourishing glow. If your skin is a combination of these skin types use two masks and apply the setting mask to your oily areas and the non-setting mask to your dry areas. Remove any excess with toner.
Step five: Serum/ Moisturise.
Now you have pampered your skin to the max, you can apply your face serum. My favourite serum at the moment is the Decleor Green Mandarine Aromessence Glow Serum. This serum is suitable for all skin types, smells amazing and is 100% natural, it gives you a beautiful glow and helps with anti-ageing. Serums are amazing for treating the skin on a deeper level. Because of the finer texture of a serum they can penetrate deeper. Apply this all over the face and neck and breathe in the scent of the essential oils for a real spa experience.
Now apply your moisturiser. Choose your moisturiser depending on your skin type. Those of you with oily/ combination skin types would benefit from using a gel-cream or gel moisturiser. These are fast absorbing and don’t leave a greasy feel on your skin. I would recommend the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel or the Clinique Moisture Surge which is also oil-free. Those of you that have more normal/ dehydrated/ dry skin, I would recommend the Decleor Neroli Bigarade Rich Day Cream or choose the Decleor Neroli Bigarade Light Day Cream if you prefer a lighter texture. Those of you who want a more luxurious and anti-ageing product, I would recommend the Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Ageing Power Cream, or for the ultimate treat, try the La Mer Moisturizing Cream.
Step six: Eye Cream/ Lip Balm.
Lastly, apply your chosen eye cream. Apply this around your eye contour, concentrating on the area that crows feet form. You can also use your eye cream around your lips, in the same way, to treat and prevent more of those unwanted vertical lines around the lips. One of my favourites is the Eve Lom Radiance Antioxidant Eye Cream. It comes in a pot which means you can use every last drop.
My favourite lip balm is the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick SPF15. This is one of the best hydrating lip balms I have ever used and I love the added bonus of SPF15.
This is my tried and tested facial routine I would recommend to my clients for at-home maintenance. After working in the industry for many years as a Level 3 Beauty Therapist and Skincare Specialist, this routine always gave my clients great results. I hope that this inspires you to start giving yourself facials from home. This is something that I try and do as regularly as I can to keep my skin in the best condition possible.
