A Sunday Well Spent, brings a week of content

The lockdown has started to take its toll on us all, our skin is drying out from spending more time than usual in central heating and we are all missing visiting the salon for that one hour of bliss, the only time for you.

 

We have laid out a step by step at-home facial so that you can help your body and mind eliminate stress and tension whilst giving your face a beautiful glow.

 

Once dinner is cleared away and the kids are in bed, take an hour for yourself. Make yourself a cup of tea, change into your pyjamas, lock the bathroom door and you are ready to begin!

 
What you will need:

• Facial Mitts or Flannel
• Cotton Wool Pads
• Headband or Hair Clip
• Facial Roller (or hands!)
• Cleanser
• Toner
• Exfoliator
• Face Oil
• Mask
• Face Serum
• Eye Cream
• Night Cream

Tie your hair back with a headband or hairclip.

 

1. DOUBLE CLEANSE

Possibly the most important but overlooked part of any at-home skin treatment is a thorough cleanse, twice!

For your first cleanse we would recommend Clarins Cleansing Milk or Extra-Comfort Cleansing Cream because it's texture will melt away make up, debris and skin oils.

• Warm the cleanser between the palms of your hands
• Apply using the entire surface of the hands. Do not apply pressure. Lay the hands flat on the face and neck and remove hands briskly as if the skin were burning hot.
• Repeat 7 times: the cleansing milk will thicken and sponge away make-up and impurities
• Dampen your facial mitts or flannel with warm water before wiping away the cleanser

Your second cleanse, preferably a Gentle Foaming Cleanser, can now work much more effectively as it really cleans the skin itself.

• Work a 10p size amount of the cleanser into a lather in your hands
• Massage onto the face and neck using circular motions avoiding the eye contour area.
• Rinse thoroughly using facial mitts or flannel

 

2. TONING

Toners are often misunderstood, most people don't know if they should use one or how to use one. Always use a toner after you cleanse to remove any remaining traces of your cleanser and to rebalance the PH of the skin. We recommend Clarins Toning Lotions, available for different skin types.

• Dampen two cotton pads with your chosen toner
• Sweep gently across the face and neck

 

3. EXFOLIATE

This step removes the barrier of dead skin cells clogging the skin and uncovers fresh new cells. It also opens the way for serums, oils and face creams to penetrate deeper into the skin, which will make them more effective. Our favourite is Clarins Comfort Scrub which has a gel-in-oil formula and upon contact with water turns into a silky, milky texture!

• Warm a 50p sized amount of scrub between your hands
• Without rubbing or applying pressure, gently massage onto your face and neck avoiding the eyes
• Focus on the commonly congested areas such as the nose and chin
• Rinse with warm water and facial mitts or flannel

 

4. FACIAL MASSAGE

Yes, the very best part of the facial. You may not currently be able to enjoy the magic touch of a trained therapist, however this part can still be as relaxing at home. We would recommend using Clarins Blue Orchid Oil to revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin.

• Warm 1- 2 drops in the palm of your hands
• Bring your hands to your nose, close your eyes and take two deep breaths in to enjoy the aromatic benefits of the plants and essential oils
• Use your hands to lightly press the product evenly on your face and neck
• If you have a Rose Quartz Roller, Jade Stone Roller or other massage tool, use this to stimulate and aid lymphatic drainage. Push and roll upwards from your chin to your ears, then nose to your temples and upwards to the forehead. Use the small part of the roller around your eye contour area. Push and roll either side of your neck, from front to back, and up and down the sides.
• If you do not have a massage tool, follow the same steps as above using your fingertips and a sweeping motion.
• Continue until the oil has absorbed into your skin

 

5. MASK

It is important to use a mask to suit your skin type. You don’t have to use just one mask, you can have some great fun 'multi-masking' by applying different products to different areas of the face. For the t-zone you may want to use Clarins SOS Pure Mask to rebalance and draw out impurities. For the eyes, Clarins Hydra Essentiel Eye Mask to hydrate dryness and fine lines, and on the cheeks and neck Clarins SOS Hydra Mask or Extra-Firming Mask to revitalise and boost, dehydrated skin.

• Apply the face mask in a thick layer avoiding the eye area
• Apply your eye mask thinly around the undereye and lid area
• Leave your mask on for 10 to 15 minutes. Use this time to listen to a relaxing podcast, your favourite music or read a magazine - make the most of every minute of peace!
• Remove the mask using your facial mitts or flannel
• Soak two cotton pads in your toning lotion and sweep over the face and neck

 

6. SERUM

Now it's time to apply your treatment products. Clarins Double Serum wins the vote from us every time. It is a Complete Age Control Concentrate, formulated to work on the 5 vital skin functions for visibly younger, brighter looking skin. Each bottle has a rotating push button to deliver a made-to-measure small or large dosage of serum - for best results, we would recommend using one large pump in the evening for an intensive treatment.

• Warm the serum in your hands before applying
• Using your fingertips, gently apply pressure from your nose up towards your forehead, using sweeping outward motions to the sides of your face, down to your chin, jaw and neck
• Finish by gently smoothing over your face with your hands, pressing the last drops of product into skin

 

7. EYE CREAM

When treating concerns around the eye, it is essential to use a product formulated especially for this area. The reason being is the delicate skin here is 10 times thinner than the rest of the face which makes it’s more permeable (or likely to absorb product) and it shows deep veins and fine lines more clearly. Our favourite is Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate which banishes lines, puffiness and dark circles.

• Pump half a pea sized amount onto your ring fingers
• Gently dab onto the eye contour and eyelids, smooth between the eyebrows and on the temples.
• Rest your index fingers onto your lashes for a few seconds
• Sit down with your elbow on your knees and bend your head forward, covering your eyes with the heels of your hands. Stay here for 15 seconds

 

8. NIGHT CREAM

The final step to seal in all the benefits of your treatment. Choose a night cream to suit your skin concerns. We love Clarins Extra-Firming Night Cream, containing extract of Kangaroo Flower which helps to put the spring back into your skin.

• Using a 20p sized amount of cream, warm the product in the palm of your hands
• Use pressing motions, working from the centre of the face outwards and down to the neck.
• Lift your cheekbones with your fingertips to bring back your skin's natural radiance

 

TOP TIP - Finish your treatment with a drop of facial oil on the inside of your wrists, take a deep breath and you are ready for bed!