Give a Facial

While professional spa facials are a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, they can also be costly. Fortunately, at-home facials are an affordable alternative, removing impurities and dead skin cells, balancing oily or dry areas, promoting circulation, and relaxing and renewing tired, stressed skin. You'll probably find all the products you need in your medicine cabinet, and you can experiment with natural treatments using pantry staples. This article walks you through how to give a facial to someone else; for instructions on giving yourself a facial, click here. Try swapping facials with a friend so you both have a chance to feel pampered!

Steps

Cleansing the Skin

1. Start with clean hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water. Bacteria and dirt on your hands can cause breakouts or irritation.
   • Avoid fragranced soaps and perfume if possible. Many fragrances are allergens that can irritate sensitive skin or cause an allergic reaction.
2. Tie your friend's hair back from the face. Using a ponytail holder, pull back long hair. A headband can hold bangs, wisps, or short hair away from the face. You want the facial skin to be completely exposed for effective treatment.
3. Have your friend lay down on their back with their head facing you. Prop a pillow under their head, ensuring that they are comfortable and relaxed.
   • Consider limiting distractions by switching off the television and cellphones. Play some relaxing music if you choose.
4. Remove makeup. Apply makeup remover to a cotton ball and remove any makeup from the eyes, lips, face and neck. You may need to use several cotton balls for this step.
   • As with all steps in the facial, never tug at the skin. Use gentle strokes, particularly around the eye area, where the skin is very thin and delicate.
5. Apply a mild cleanser. The cleanser you use should depend on the skin type (oily, dry, sensitive, normal, acne-prone, aging). Dermatologists recommend using one without alcohol, which can irritate the skin. Put a generous amount on your palm and run your palms over each other to evenly distribute the product for easy application. Start at the chin and work the cleanser into the face with your fingertips using a circular motion.
6. Use a sonic brush with the cleanser. If you have the money to invest in a sonic cleansing brush, use it to deep clean. These battery-powered brushes are gentle enough for facial skin, and use sonic technology to exfoliate and remove deeply-lodged impurities. Follow the product's instructions, as these may vary.
7. Remove the cleanser. You can do this with a clean, damp washcloth or a cotton pad.
8. Pat the skin dry. Use a clean, dry towel. Never rub the skin when drying, as this can irritate it.

Exfoliating the Skin

1. Apply an exfoliating scrub. Put a generous amount of a gentle exfoliator into your palm, and wipe your palms together to distribute the product as you did with the cleanser. Apply the scrub in a circular motion onto the face and neck, but avoiding the eye area (nothing south of the eyebrow or north of the eye socket). Use a very light touch; you do not need to press the product into the skin.
   • Exfoliators get rid of built-up dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. The purported results are a smoother, fresher appearance thanks to the exposed healthy cells.
   • If you don't have an exfoliating scrub, you can make your own with a gentle cleanser (it's fine to use the one from Part 1 again) and one teaspoon of granulated sugar mixed in.
2. Make a natural enzyme peel as an alternative to exfoliators. In a blender, mix about six strawberries with 1/4 cup (60 ml) of milk. Massage into the face as directed in Step 1.
   • The enzymes from the strawberries break up dead skin cells, and the milk soothes the skin.
   • Do not use the enzyme peel and an exfoliator together, as this could over-exfoliate and damage the skin.
3. Steam with a hot washcloth. Put a clean washcloth under very hot water. Place it over the face and let it sit for five minutes.
   • For rosacea or sensitive skin, you may want to skip this step. Steam can exacerbate these conditions.
4. Rinse the skin. Use a soft, clean washcloth dampened with room-temperature water or a cotton pad.
5. Pat the face dry. Use a clean towel.

Deep Cleaning with a Mask

1. Apply a facial mask. Cover the face with a light, even layer, avoiding the delicate eye area. There is a broad range of masks available; select the mask based on your friend's particular needs. You can use a store-bought product or make your own at home.
   • For oily or acne-prone skin: mash 1/2 cup (about 50 g) of blueberries with a fork, then blend with 2 tablespoons of yogurt (with active cultures), 1 tablespoon of rice flour, and 1 tablespoon of witch hazel. Let the mask sit 15 minutes.
   • For dry skin: mash half a ripe avocado and blend with 1 tablespoon of yogurt (with active cultures), 1/2 teaspoon of honey, and 1/2 teaspoon of oil (olive, coconut or almond). It should sit about 10-15 minutes.
   • To shrink pores, make an egg white mask by mixing one raw egg white with 5 drops of lemon juice and a little dab of mayonnaise. This mask sits for about 20 minutes.
2. Let the mask sit. This should be approximately 15 minutes, but may be more or less, depending on the type of mask.
   • Add chilled cucumber slices to your friend's eyes to soothe and reduce puffiness.
   • Do let the mask dry, but not to the point that it cracks and crumbles.
3. Steam with a washcloth. As with the exfoliating step, run a washcloth under hot water and then place it over the face. Let it sit for about five minutes.
   • As stated above, skip the steam if for skin with rosacea or high sensitivity.
4. Remove the mask. Dampen a washcloth with room-temperature water and gently remove.
5. Pat the skin dry. Use a clean, dry towel. Leave the skin just slightly damp.
6. Tone the skin. Dampen a cotton pad with a small amount of toner and gently sweep across the skin. Toners restore and repair skin with antioxidant and nourishing ingredients. They remain on the skin after cleansing and before applying moisturizer. There are many toners on the market, as well as homemade alternatives. You'll need to select a toner that works for your friend's skin, but whatever you choose, make sure it is alcohol-free. Alcohol can cause free-radical damage, which may actually diminish the skin's ability to produce healthy collagen.
   • For oily skin, you can opt for plain witch hazel.
   • For dry or sensitive skin, try applying almond oil as a toner.
   • For acne-prone skin, make your own toner by mixing 3/4 cup (177 ml) strongly brewed green tea and 1/4 cup (60 ml) raw apple cider vinegar. The green tea is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, while the vinegar restores the skin's natural pH.

Finishing with Moisturizer

1. Apply a moisturizer using upward strokes. Use your friend's normal moisturizer, but take care in how you apply it. Use upward strokes, massaging the skin as you go, working upwards from the base of the neck to the forehead. This encourages circulation, and the moisturizer should lock in the moisture from your treatments.
   • Dermatologists recommend using a moisturizer with a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30), which may be particularly advisable if going outside. If not, try giving the skin a break from chemicals by using a moisturizer without SPF.
2. Have your friend stay indoors for at least one hour. Their skin is sensitive after the treatment, so it's a good idea to let it rest without exposure to sunlight, weather, pollutants, etc.
3. Tell your friend to avoid applying makeup for the rest of the day. As mentioned above, the skin is in a sensitive state following a facial. Allow it to enjoy a day without makeup so it can breathe and rejuvenate.
4. Repeat this facial once every one to two weeks. In combination with a daily face-care regime, regular facials promote the skin's well-being.

Tips

• If giving the facial at your home, have your friend bring products they use and like, such as cleanser and moisturizer. This helps avoid unexpected irritation from new products.

Warnings

• Schedule the facial well before any special events. Your friend's face may be red or sensitive after the treatment, so it's best to do it at least a day in advance.
• Be aware if the skin has a reaction to any new product, including natural treatments. If your friend experiences pain or discomfort at any point, rinse off any product in lukewarm water and let it rest.

Things You'll Need

• Hand soap
• Facial cleanser
• Facial exfoliating scrub (commercial or homemade)
• Facial mask (commercial or homemade)
• Skin toner (or witch hazel or almond oil)
• Facial moisturizer
• Headband
• Washcloth
• Cotton balls and/or pads
• Towel

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Sources and Citations

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