How To Perfect Your At-Home Facial, As Told By An Aesthetician
This may come as a shock to you, considering the line of work I’m in, but I’ve never had a professional facial. As someone who is still prone to breakouts, the fear of a flare-up in the aftermath has always made the activity feel incredibly daunting! Having this conversation with Jahnelle, I asked her expert advice as an aesthetician on what steps she recommends taking to achieve spa-level facial results at home.
If you haven’t yet met Jahnelle, she’s the newest member of the Bellacara team! Before recently moving to Northern Virginia, Jahnelle spent the past four years as a practicing aesthetician working in a medical spa. Her knowledge of skincare is vast, and the living proof shines right through her radiant complexion!
Skin envy is a real thing… and I have it! So, when Jahnelle offered to walk me through the skincare steps of a professional facialist, coupled with product suggestions tailored to my skin type, I was all ears!
Step 1: Remove Makeup - Clarins Total Cleansing Oil ($35)
Step 2: Cleanse - Alchimie Forever Purifying Gel Cleanser ($43) With any type of facial, starting with a double cleanse is a must in order to prep the skin. Jahnelle suggests starting with an oil cleanser to break down makeup and SPF, followed with a cream-based or foaming cleanser to remove any remaining oil and impurities.
Step 3: Treat - Chemical OR Physical Exfoliant
Chemical Exfoliant: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads ($88) combination of alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids removes dead skin cells for brighter, smoother skin
Physical Exfoliant: Coola Pacific Polish ($32) ultra-fine, mineral-rich marine sea salts lightly exfoliate dull skin and impurities from facial surface
Whether you choose to go the physical or chemical route (depending on your skin type), proper exfoliation aids in removing the top layer of dead skin cells, ensuring better product penetration in the following steps.
Step 4: Tone - Augustinus Bader The Essence ($90) part toner, part hydrating essence purifies and neutralizes skin while enhancing moisture retention
Step 5: Mask - Alchime Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask ($60)clay/cream hybrid mask that soothes, hydrates, brightens, and protects skin
Choose your face mask based on what issues your skin is currently facing. As an aesthetician, Jahnelle utilizes face masks to address concerns such as dehydration, dullness, sensitivity, breakouts or oiliness, lack of firmness, and sun damage.
Step 6: Ice Roll - kitsch ice roller ($18) best used if kept in freezer; depuffs and massages skin to help with lymphatic drainage and blood flow in face
Step 7: Serum - SkinCeuticals HA Intensifer ($106) highly concentrated, pure-hyaluronic acid serum that increases skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by 30 percent and improves skin’s texture
Step 8: Lip Care - lip whip Lip Perfector Scrub ($18) lip scrub and mask; preps your lips for smooth application of balms, sticks, glosses
Step 9: Eye Cream - Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift ($69) doubling as a mask and eye cream, this eye treatment energizes skin to reduce visible signs of stress while cooling down any puffiness and reducing dark circles
Step 10: Moisturize - Advanced Response Complex ($125) *meant to be used on both face and neck*; encourages skin’s own response mechanism to regenerate, firm, brighten, smooth, and reduce fine lines/wrinkles
Ready to take your at-home facial to the next level? Using this step-by-step guide, we can help customize your routine with products that best address your skin’s needs and concerns! We hope you’ll swing by to say hello to Jahnelle and welcome her to Old Town!
