Maybe its because I'm from the Midwest, but I love a snow day. Not because I still go sledding or drive my mother so crazy that she hides in the basement with a beer, but because it forces me to control my control-freak over-active-type-A tendencies and just hang around my apartment. Which is a great opportunity to give myself a facial.
Disclaimer: I've never had a spa facial, so no comments about how Bliss or whoever does a facial. I've worked this routine out based on years of practice on myself, my mother, my sisters, and my entire dorm floor.
Start with clean skin, and then exfoliate. Use a scrub, a gommage, an enzymatic mask, or a mild peel. (Heavy stress on 'mild' for that last one.) Personally, I like an enzymatic mask for a facial, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. If you're a regular retinol or glycolic acid user, make sure you read the labels and don't leave a peel or enzymatic mask on too long, particularly if you haven't taken any time off from retinol in a while.
Next, identify your issues, and pick step two. Blackheads? Periodic break-outs? Nothing really beats a clay-type mask. If you have combination skin, you can even just use it on your t-zone. Tip: steam between steps one and two if you have blackheads. DON'T use boiling water, DO tent with a towel, and I love to throw fresh rosemary and mint into the water bath. Stay under there for a few minutes, no more. When done, leave your skin damp, and pile on the clay. Downside of most clay-type masks is that they can take a long-ass time to dry. But then again, who cares? Its a snow day! You've got Netflix, you've got a DVR!
Step three (or two and a half, depending on your skin type) should probably be a firming mask, with an eye treatment done at the same time. Don't forget your neck and the underside of your chin and jaw! If you're a fan of electrocurrent or infrared, use these gadgets during this step.
Finally, finish with a hydrating mask, remove with a damp washcloth after ten minutes, moisturize, and then....go back to your Thai takeout. Because its a snow day.
Disclaimer: I've never had a spa facial, so no comments about how Bliss or whoever does a facial. I've worked this routine out based on years of practice on myself, my mother, my sisters, and my entire dorm floor.
Start with clean skin, and then exfoliate. Use a scrub, a gommage, an enzymatic mask, or a mild peel. (Heavy stress on 'mild' for that last one.) Personally, I like an enzymatic mask for a facial, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. If you're a regular retinol or glycolic acid user, make sure you read the labels and don't leave a peel or enzymatic mask on too long, particularly if you haven't taken any time off from retinol in a while.
Next, identify your issues, and pick step two. Blackheads? Periodic break-outs? Nothing really beats a clay-type mask. If you have combination skin, you can even just use it on your t-zone. Tip: steam between steps one and two if you have blackheads. DON'T use boiling water, DO tent with a towel, and I love to throw fresh rosemary and mint into the water bath. Stay under there for a few minutes, no more. When done, leave your skin damp, and pile on the clay. Downside of most clay-type masks is that they can take a long-ass time to dry. But then again, who cares? Its a snow day! You've got Netflix, you've got a DVR!
Step three (or two and a half, depending on your skin type) should probably be a firming mask, with an eye treatment done at the same time. Don't forget your neck and the underside of your chin and jaw! If you're a fan of electrocurrent or infrared, use these gadgets during this step.
Finally, finish with a hydrating mask, remove with a damp washcloth after ten minutes, moisturize, and then....go back to your Thai takeout. Because its a snow day.
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