How to do a Facial at Home with Ingredients from Home

Natural facial products can be found in your pantry or refrigerator.

A facial serves four main purposes: cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturizing your skin. While you may cleanse and moisturize your skin every day as part of your hygiene routine, a facial provides a deeper clean, which can help you eliminate blackheads, splotchy skin and fine lines. Many local spas and beauty salons offer facials, though they are typically expensive. In addition, a number of facial products are available in major retail stores at a high sticker price. If you are interested in saving money, you can perform an effective facial at home, using ingredients that you already have around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Clean washcloth
• Water
• Tea kettle or pot
• Bowl
• Honey
• 1 large avocado
• Baking soda
• Chamomile tea bag
• Cotton balls
• Olive oil

Instructions

1. Boil approximately 5 cups of water in a tea kettle or in a large pot. Remove from heat and pour water into large bowl. Put the clean washcloth into the hot water and let soak for about 20 seconds. Remove the washcloth from the water and let cool slightly; the cloth should be steaming but should not burn your skin. Place the washcloth over your face until the cloth completely cools; your pores should now be open and ready for cleansing.

2. Apply a generous amount of honey onto your face; cover all facial skin for a thorough cleansing. Let the honey dry on your face for 15 minutes. Mix a 50/50 solution of baking soda and water while waiting for the honey to dry.

3. Apply the baking soda and water mixture over the dried honey. Rub gently in a circular motion for about 45 seconds in order to exfoliate skin and remove blackheads. Dip the washcloth in water and wash both the honey and baking soda mixture off of your face.

4. Boil about 1 cup of water. Steep a bag of chamomile tea in the water. Dip a cotton ball into the tea and swab over your entire face in order to tone your skin. Repeat with new cotton balls as needed.

5. Mash up an avocado and apply the paste to your entire face. Let sit for 20 minutes for deep moisture. Remove the paste with a wet washcloth. Apply a thin layer of olive oil to your entire face; do not remove.

Tips & Warnings

• Test a small amount of each ingredient on the inside of your wrist in order to ensure that your skin will not react in a negative manner. If skin gets red or itchy, do not use that particular facial ingredient.

• If at any point during your facial you experience discomfort or a burning sensation, wash your skin immediately to halt an allergic reaction.

References

• Power to Change: At Home Facials Step by Step; Donna Maria
• The Beauty Brains; How to Tell If You Need a Facial; January 2007
• Tip Nut; 11 Easy Food Facials: Homemade Recipes; May 2007
• Healthrecipes.com: Homemade Beauty Recipes

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Facial Skin: Home