Tuesday, July 3, 2012

At Home Facial

I remember the days when I was carefree and “spend happy” as I wanted to be.  Not too many bills and definitely no baby expenses.  Now…that has all changed and my number one priority is baby and then after baby, it’s saving for baby.  So there went my facials, frequent massages, weekly pedicures, etc.  Don’t get me wrong, I still indulge in those luxuries, but not as much and not so often.  However, I have found ways to pamper myself.  I recently posted a picture on facebook via instagram of me teaching my little sister how to do her own facials.  A few people wanted to know what I used, so I decided to include it in my blog.  What fabulous mommy whether single or not wouldn’t want to know how to do an amazing facial!  
Giving yourself an “at home” facial is all about just dealing with the proper steps of cleaning and exfoliating your face, meaning you need to wash, unclog, exfoliate, and moisturize.  There are so many products out there, but with me being careful how I spend my money, and not having sensitive skin, I’m not limited to what I can put on my face.  Below is what I use:

1)      Wash.  The first thing I do is wash my face.  I use pure organic oatmeal soap. Honestly, someone gets the soap for me from an African-descent salesmen who sells at a local flea market.  I’ve also tried black soap, but I like the oatmeal soap because it cleans and moisturizes my face and makes it feel so good.  I use this daily, but it is still part of my facial.
2)      Exfoliate.  To exfoliate my skin either use a store bought solution or I use some things out of my kitchen.  If I go the store bought route I use St. Ives exfoliation scrub.  It does a great job of getting all the dead skin cells off without leaving my skin feeling “abused”.  Plus it’s pretty cheap, like maybe $4. If I use things out of the kitchen, I use olive oil and sugar.  What I do is take the oil and rub it on my face, and then I take some sugar (brown sugar) and rub it on my face the same way I would do St. Ives.  I focus on my nose, chin, and forehead.  Once I’m done I rinse it off really good with warm water.
3)      Unclog.  For this step I use witchhazel.  I take a cotton ball, soak it, then gently apply it to my face, wiping away any excessive oil and dirt.
4)      Mask.  Depending on how I’m feeling, I can again use something store bought, or use something out of my kitchen.  For store bought I use a clay mask by Freeman (pretty cheap stuff).  I let it dry and usually by this time, I am in a bubble bath, really relaxing! Once its dry and I’m done enjoying the moment to myself, I wash it off with warm water. If I am using products in the kitchen, I use either honey or avocado.  With honey, I just apply it to my face and let it sit for about 15 minutes.  If I use avocado, I peel it, mash it, then apply it to my face and let it dry for about 15-20 minutes.  I then wash it off with warm water.
5)      Moisturize. I only use one product to moisturize…100% Shea butter.  Some people may disagree and say this clogs their skin, but I LOVE this product! Where do I get it….where else…another pick up from the flea market! And when I say  100% raw, I mean “scooping it out of the tree” and putting it in a plastic container raw.  I only use a little but it goes a long way! Honestly I use this all over my body, including for my hair after I wash it.  It’s my number one beauty secret.
There you have it! I absolutely love giving myself a facial; it truly gives me a little bit of “me” time.  Now, please remember, I’m no expert on skin.  This is strictly what I use because I know my own face.  So be sure to consult with your doctor or test a small portion of skin out before you indulge in smothering something that could be a potential FAIL all over your face!!!  Good luck and enjoy!

Cris :-)