Self-care you can (Yes you can!) do at home.

I bet you never take time for yourself. These hectic days as the season changes, I am urging you to nurture yourself with a little self-love. Instead of focusing entirely on flaws to fix and what you need to do to prepare, how about taking a little time each day to nurture yourself back to balance with a few simple, grounding steps? For the next weeks, slow down a bit and take some time to breathe deep breaths. Stand still outside a moment and absorb some sunlight. Remember to do things that inspire you. Take ten minutes to read each day. Cook some simple nourishing meals instead of grabbing fast food. Find your balance each day and then you will be able to give back to your community and our world through moving, giving, creating, and loving. Follow simple, mindful, intuitive principles that you know will lead you to a calm mind, connected spirit, and balanced body. 

If your first thought is you "don't have the time" to treat yourself, chances are you're incorrect. If you have even 30 minutes to spare, you have plenty of time to indulge in a super sensory and satisfying facial. The truth is that taking a few minutes out of every day is so important for health and well-being. These brief moments can make or break your relationship to the most important person in your life: you. Self-love can be built through self-care, little by little, day by day.

Today, I am going to share with you how I, as an esthetician, would do an at home mini, relaxing facial. I will give you the steps I swear by for my clients and favorite products for the best, most glowing skin!  

So, put away the Instagram feed and Facebook posts, reclaim your time and give your face a little TLC! Here's how:

Gather materials needed:

**Suggestions for products and some DIY ideas will be discussed in each section.

*3 warmed, wet and wrung out face towels or large washcloths heated in a sink with hot water or even better, left in a crock pot on warm or low heat. 

*A larger towel to drape over the head for steaming

 *A mild facial cleanser and an oil suitable for facial skin

 *Some type of gentle facial exfoliant

 *Pot of water on the stove for steam

 *A facial mask or ingredients for a DIY mask

 *Gentle facial toner

 *Your favorite skincare treatment products

 *Relaxing music

 *A cup of herbal tea

 *Candles

 *Mirror

 *Bowl of warm water

 *A comfortable sitting or lying space

 *Arrange things in the best way to minimize having to keep getting up and down except for the facial steaming.

1. Cleanse the Skin.

When it comes to cleansing, oil removes sebum buildup, dirt, and makeup more gently. To oil cleanse, rinse your face with warm water using facial sponges or cotton pads. Use about a quarter-size amount of oil and take a full minute to work it into your face. Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil or an oil blend such as Shamarwyn’s Rose Body Therapy Oil will work well for this step. When you're done, drape a warm washcloth or use facial sponges over your face and, thoroughly and gently, remove the oil.

Follow with a mild cleanser such as Shamarwyn’s Creamy Botanical Rose Face Wash which is suitable for all skin types including sensitive.

Wipe face with damp facial sponges or washcloth.

2. Exfoliate 

Once your skin is cleansed, it's time to exfoliate. I like Shamarwyn’s gentle scrub with aluminum oxide crystals that are used by professionals. It will get that winter flakiness right off the surface. It's not intense or too much and smells like roses! Use one of the hot towels to drape your face and wipe away the exfoliant.

 3. Follow with a facial steam.

Of course, be very careful with this step. The last thing you want is to burn yourself on spa day! Bring water to a boil in a face-size pot and add either some chamomile tea bags, a few drops of essential oils, herbs or simply steam without any additions. Once the water cools enough (test it on your wrist), pour it into a bowl or leave it on the (now turned off) stove. Hover at least a foot away from the bowl, tent with a towel over the back of your head and sit for a few minutes with the steam.

4. Pick the right mask for your skin type.

This is as simple as asking: What is my skin like today? If it's feeling dry, try a hydrating avocado or honey mask and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes on your face before taking it off.

If you're feeling oily or like you need a detox, try a clay mask, but don’t let these types of masks dry out! You can pick up French clay from the health food store or order online. Use matcha (ground green tea) in a paste for a great detox ingredient in your mask. Use a spray bottle to spritz your face while resting or your damp washcloth to blot, keeping your skin hydrated. Now would be the time to put those cool cucumber slices on your eyes! Remove the mask after 15 to 20 minutes.

My favorite mask, developed for all skin types is the Hydrating Caffè Mocha Masque with Dead Sea Mud, Coffee Absolute and Cocoa Extract. This mask will detox, super cleanse and leave your skin tingling and glowing from within!

Remove mask with a hot towel draped around your face or wash cloth.

5. Finish with a gentle toner and your favorite treatment products. 

Finishing with your regular skin care routine.

I recommend a gentle toner like Rose Facial Toner using cotton pads to remove any residual product from the skin and refine your pores.

Follow with a good eye cream such as Botanical Hydrating Eye Crème with hyaluronic acid, green tea and pomegranate and a facial moisturizer like Botanical Hydrating Face Crème with hyaluronic acid, rose, aloe and Vitamin E.

Hyaluronic Acid is a botanical extract that holds up to 2,000 times it’s weight in moisture leaving you with plump, firm, dewy skin!

A few drops of your favorite facial oil will complete your facial! Moroccan Rose Face Serum is light and absorbs quickly and works well under or mixed with makeup. Neroli Oil is just simply the nectar of the goddess! It will absorb after a bit and leave your skin flawless, erasing fine lines and redness. Neroli Oil is good for all skin types including mature and acne prone.

Welcome to cleaner, happier, well-loved skin!

Try to avoid sunlight for a while but be sure to use a good mineral spf sunblock or makeup such as Jane Iredale with sunscreen if you go out!