Yahoo Lifestyle We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals.
How to give yourself a spa-quality facial at home, according to an expert
I've sat through hundreds of world-famous facials. Here's everything you need to DIY.
In the early 2000's, when women's magazines were still thriving and editors were afforded somewhat leisurely, slower-paced roles with highly specific "beats," I had a job where all I covered was New York City spas and spa trends. The position (literally, the title was "Chill Out Editor") required that I write weekly reviews of facials, all of which I received for free. I was a broke kid, still in my 20s. I made $35,000 a year, but the perks meant I often indulged in treatments that would've otherwise cost a month's rent. One winter, while reporting our annual "Best Spas" issue, I tested so many different types of facials — oxygen, lymphatic drainage, plasma-infused, gold-flake, you name it — that by my 15th appointment the esthetician looked upon my raw, over-exfoliated visage and refused to work on it.
What I learned in all those years of steaming and cleansing and extracting is this: If your budget is tight, most spa-quality facials (aside from cosmetic procedures like Botox or laser therapies) can be performed at home at an entirely reasonable cost. You just need to understand the basic order of operations and invest in a few completely affordable tools. Here's how to do it.
Step 1: Double-cleanse
Never in my many years writing about beauty have I advocated for anything close to a "double cleanse." Hell, I barely even wash my face! But we're in luxury mode now, we are TREATING OURSELVES, and that means it's time to go all-out. Plus, for best results in any facial, you want to start with squeaky-clean skin. The first step begins by massaging an oil or oil-based cleansing balm into dry skin — this will remove any surface makeup or grime. For best results, gently wipe away the product with a damp microfiber cloth. Next, cleanse a second time with a light foaming gel. Rinse, but do not repeat.
Though Elemis makes the gold standard cleansing balm (and if you want to splash out it's totally amazing — but also $69), E.l.f.'s highly rated vegan and cruelty-free formula is a solid swap. It's made with sunflower oil along with potent skin hydrators like hyaluronic acid and anti-aging ceramides and peptides to not only quickly dissolve makeup and remove dirt but plump and smooth your complexion as it does.
This beloved Japanese face oil (with nearly 20,000 5-star reviews on Amazon) utilizes both olive oil and rosemary leaf oils to target skin impurities and break down even the toughest-to-remove waterproof makeup. Bonus: The addition of vitamin E means your skin is left with extra protection again free radicals, not to mention extremely soft.
I, too, thought microfiber face towels were an unnecessary indulgence, if not a total scam. That is until I tried these extra-soft, fast-drying cloths which manage to help lift dirt off one's visage without leaving behind cotton fluff debris or rubbing against delicate eye skin in a way that's far too harsh. This set of six is ultra-absorbent, chemical-free and machine washable.
I've recently become obsessed with foaming face washes for their ability to leave skin seriously clean with zero residue. These gentle yet powerful cleansers not only unclog pores and wash away gunk but also hydrate your face without stripping it of essential oils — especially when they contain natural skin-calming agents like rice extract, as in this top-notch product from beloved K-beauty brand The Face Shop.
Step 2: Steam
The most important goals of any facial are to open up and clean out pores and leave skin clear, hydrated and soft. Steaming helps achieve both, bringing loads of moisture to your face and loosening the hardened oils of clogged pores — particularly the grime found in blackheads.
And, while you could simply boil hot water, let it cool a teensy bit and hold your head over the steam while covered in a towel; a facial steamer is safer, more effective and just more glamorous. It also helps with stuffy noses and sinus infections and is great for winter skin and dry climates of any kind — I use mine much more often than I would have ever imagined.
Ez Basics
In just 10 minutes, this compact, highly efficient face steamer deeply moisturizes skin and not only unclogs your pores but opens them making your skin-care routine absorb better. The steam is especially soothing and relaxing — especially when you add a drop or two of a favorite essential oil and enjoy an aromatherapeutic good time. Face steamers are an estheticians' secret from way back — most facialists use them — and you cannot beat this price.
Step 3: Exfoliate
Now that your pores are open, it's time to remove the dead skin cells. This not only brightens your complexion but will improve the absorption of the rest of the products used in your facial. There are two types of exfoliators: Physical (like scrubs or dermaplaining blades) and chemical (like glycolic acids). Your preference here will depend on your age and skin type — for example, thinner, older, drier skin tends to respond better to chemical exfoliants. I myself love a natural enzyme exfoliating mask, like this old-school pumpkin iteration from Bliss, which after just 10 minutes packs a serious, glowifying punch.
This pumpkin enzyme mask has been a favorite of beauty editors for decades, and for good reason: It's a powerful at-home exfoliating treatment that truly wakes up your skin and gives it a serious glow. It uses enzymes from pumpkin, which are similar to alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid except a lot more gentle. This makes it an ideal exfoliant for those with sensitive skin.
Additionally, pumpkin is hydrating and packed with antioxidants like beta-carotene that can help nourish skin and soften wrinkles.
Step 4: Massage
This would be the point in the facial where an esthetician would do a thorough extraction of your most stubborn blackheads — essentially a professional pimple popping. But I'm going to recommend you skip that step as it is both painful and, if done incorrectly, can lead to permanent scarring. Instead, after rinsing off your exfoliant, give your face a thorough massage — with tools or without. "Techniques like jade rolling or facial massage can improve circulation, tone facial muscles and give a temporarily lifted appearance," says Boston facial plastic surgeon Dr. Akshay Sanan.
After applying a thin layer of your preferred face oil, start from the base of your neck and massage in upward motions all the way to your forehead, carving out the cheekbones and avoiding your eyes. Pay particular attention to the forehead and jawline. Take as long as you like — but no shorter than five full minutes.
Face rolling is a facial massage technique that's been used for centuries to reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation, giving skin a plumper, more radiant and younger-looking appearance. The most popular face rollers are made of jade, but I prefer rose quartz versions like this one, which stay cooler to the touch. Apply a serum or face oil first, which will allow the roller to glide more easily. Some believe that this tandem process helps your products sink in.
If you're in the market for a soothing, ultra-mild face oil, you can't do much better than this stellar rose-hip-seed-infused formula. It's meant to smooth uneven skin tone and support skin elasticity, has a beautiful, light-floral scent and feels amazing on your skin.
I like to use this high-quality oil from K-beauty brand CosRx because it's a sneaky way to add retinol into my facials. You just need a few drops for your entire face and neck. The addition of vitamin E and squalane keeps things ultra-moisturized too.
Step 5: Mask
If you're not in a rush, this is the point of the facial where you can add a sheet mask, play a meditation app or some calming tunes and lie back and relax. If you're in a hurry or just getting bored with the entire enterprise, you can skip to step 6.
Dr. Jart puts out some of the best face masks money and can buy and this brightening, vitamin-C infused sheet is no exception. If your pre-facial skin was looking dry and dull, these work to deeply penetrate and hydrate skin in just a few minutes leaving behind a dewy glow.
If I could, I'd buy every person I know a bottle of CosRx snail serum — it's truly a favorite product, one of the most effective skin-care items for complexion smoothing, skin softening and dark-spot lightening I've ever tried. But, because handing over a bottle of snail mucus might seem a wee bit strange, these sheet masks are a quality alternative.
They contain the award-winning snail slime, are highly hydrating and work for most any skin type. Users report they help with skin inflammation and even rosacea, and this pack of 10 is a solid introduction to this famous K-beauty line.
Step 6: Moisturize
At this point in life, you probably know how to moisturize, but since this is a special occasion — a party for your face — you'll want to go the extra mile with an additional layer of thick lotion that can really lock in all the moisture you've been building in steps 1-5. The thing about face moisturizers is you don't need go fancy. Most every expert I've spoken with over the years has recommended basic drugstore creams over spendier brands.
Vanicream
This dermatologist-beloved option is great for you sensitive-skin types. It's free of dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens and more, reducing the potential for irritation. It's also versatile, as you can use it on both your face and body, and it won't clog your pores. Best of all, it's seriously hydrating — among the best products I've found to instantly quench extra-dry skin — without leaving your skin feeling greasy. It's also noncomedogenic and can be used on the face or body.
Embryolisse
If you want to elevate your final facial step and feel a little fancy and French, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré is a good bet. The silky, hydrating cream has kept French women's skin soft and supple for nearly 70 years. It's lightweight, innocuously scented and quick-absorbing. More than 20,000 Amazon reviewers have given it a full five stars and it's such a beauty staple in France that it's often sold out.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
