Facial Skin Care

Facials the process by which one cleans and conditions the skin care most often done by professionals. I think it's a great idea to see a professional skin care technician or specialist at least once a year, and getting a facial is the perfect opportunity. These professionals will help you to understand your skin and teach you how to treat it at home. A good skin care technician will not make you dependent on her she will help to make you the best expert on your skin.

Having a facial is a private, totally relaxing procedure where a licensed expert will spend more than one hour going over your skin with the utmost care. The process includes special and deep cleansing of the pores (including steaming your face); removal of blackheads; brushing with an electric brush and a scrub to remove the dead cells; massaging the skin to increase circulation; applying a masque to close the pores and tighten the skin; using a warm masque to moisturize dehydrated areas; and a final oil or moisturizer as the finishing touch. When it's over, you will feel rejuvenated, as if someone has given you a new skin.

Such facials are excellent for the skin but can be considered a luxury. Although I do have professional facials occasionally, I have developed a method to do them for myself at home.

THE HOME FACIAL

1. Begin by steaming my face with a portable steam machine. You can also take a warm to hot, soaking wet washcloth and apply it to your face to open the pores of your skin. If you have an enclosed shower, you can get a similar effect by letting the steam build up.

2. Now use your facial scrub, as described earlier, cleaning your entire face (except for the eyes). Be sure to include your "lip line" blackheads often hide there.

3. While your skin is moist and your pores are open, you can try to remove a blackhead that seems to be near the surface of your skin (leave the others alone!). Take your fingertips and gently squeeze the blackhead first from two directions, then from the other two directions. Don't squeeze hard or you'll end up with broken capillaries. If you can't get the blackhead out, leave it alone.

4.Now use your cleanser.

5. Use either a masque or put warm oil on your face, for added moisturizing.

6. Splash on some cold water to close your facial pores.

7. End with a light moisturizer on your face, and your eye cream around your eyes.

That's it. Your home facial should take about thirty minutes. Set aside this private time to take special care of your skin. Do it when you are home alone, when you aren't in a hurry. Turn on some soothing music; don't answer the phone. Enjoy your moments alone and heal your skin at the same time. If you have the time and inclination to give yourself a facial once a week that's great. For others, once a month is much better than a poke in the eye, as they say.