5 Skin Experts Tell You How to Get a Spa-Quality Facial at Home
Hoping for complexion perfection, but don't have the time (or budget!) to jet over to the salon for a spa session? We spoke to the pros to create the ultimate at-home guide to gorgeous, glowing skin. These tips and tricks are easy enough to DIY—plus, they save you the hassle of mixing of a million different ingredients. Go ahead, treat yourself!
Photo: Imaxtree1/6Cucumber eye masks optional.
Photo: Courtesy of The Organic Pharmacy2/6Remove the grit and grime.
We know how much you adore your primers and powder foundations, but the key to a complete spa-worthy experience is starting with a clean slate. Remove all your makeup—including your mascara!—with a gentle cleanser, like The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser. Packed with antioxidants, this creamy formula dissolves all visible traces of makeup, plus the not-so-visible pollution particles that accumulate on the face in one simple step. An added bonus? It doubles as a hydrating lip balm.
Photo: Courtesy of Mario Badescu3/6Eoliate.
Before jumping right into the more heavy-duty stuff, you need to prime skin cells for what’s next. Opt for an eoliator that won’t irritate skin—our pick is Mario Badescu Kiwi Face Scrub. It’s gentle enough to use up to three times a week, says the brand’s head esthetician, Elena Arboleda. Save it for the occasional bathroom spa session, or add it to your weekly skin care routine.
Photo: Courtesy of Joanna Vargas4/6Or opt for a mask.
Want to even out your skin tone, but your habitual use of toners post-shower never seems to work? Or perhaps you’re hoping to treat breakout-prone skin once and for all? No matter your primary concern, there’s a mask for you. If you’re aiming to even out your tone and deal with acne spots simultaneously, try Joanna Vargas Eoliating Mask. After cleansing and eoliating, simply apply the creamy white formula to the face, wait 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Or go to sleep with it on—after it dries, of course. "It flattens any blemishes or bumps that you might have," Vargas says. "It also evens out pigment in the skin, so you look bright and fresh in the A.M."
Photo: Courtesy of Renee Rouleau5/6Apply a peel.
What’s a spa session without a peel? An acid-packed version sloughs off the dead cells that rest on the surface of your skin and give your complexion a dull appearance, says celeb facialist Renee Rouleau. By removing these dead cells, you’re exposing newer ones—in other words, your skin will look more glow-y than ever. We’re obsessed with Renee Rouleau’s Triple Berry Smoothing Peel, which instantly brightens—and smells as yummy as it sounds!
Photo: Courtesy of Cecilia Wong6/6Whatever your choice, moisturize afterwards.
Follow any mask or peel with a barrier-boosting moisturizer, like Cecilia Wong Replenishing Face Moisturizer. This helps to seal in moisture for newly surfaced, sensitive skin cells. Plus, you’ll have a beautiful sheen post-application.
