Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step one: Double cleanse</strong></h2>



<p>Whether or not you’re wearing makeup, cleansing is the only way to start a good facial – not only is it therapeutic to start the process with a good massage, it means all your other products will work twice as hard. Ideally you’d start with an oil-based balm or cream cleanser to dissolve any makeup, dirt and debris (lovely), before following up with something lighter to cleanse that freshly-washed skin, but if you only have the one cleanser to hand, then simply washing your face with it twice will do the trick. We love&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/goddess-cleansing-ritual-duo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Cleansing Ritual</a>&nbsp;(£32.50) and&nbsp;<a href="https://pixibeauty.co.uk/products/double-cleanse?variant=35471444234" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pixi Double Cleanse</a>&nbsp;(£24) for easy-peasy 2-in-1 systems.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Pixi-Double-Cleanse.jpg" alt="Pixi Double Cleanse" class="wp-image-29226" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step two: Steam</strong></h2>



<p>Ahhh, our favourite step – and it’s pretty much unchanged since our teen years. It’s a long-held beauty myth that steam opens pores, but what it&nbsp;<em>does&nbsp;</em>do is loosen up any stubborn sebum and allow products to penetrate. If you’re feeling fancy, you can invest in a&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.sarahchapman.com/pro-hydro-mist-steamer/" target="_blank">pro steamer like this one</a>&nbsp;from facial queen Sarah Chapman (£119), but you can pretty much get the same job done by filling a bowl with hot water and draping a towel over your head, or just applying a warm flannel directly to your face for five minutes. Not too hot, though – we’re going for energised glow, not burnt tomato.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Sarah-Chapman-steamer.jpg" alt="Sarah Chapman steamer
" class="wp-image-29227" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step three: Exfoliate</strong></h2>



<p>First things first, put the St Ives Apricot Scrub down. If you’re opting for a physical scrub to slough off any dead skin cells (blergh), then something gentle like&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.dermalogica.co.uk/products/daily-microfoliant" target="_blank">Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant</a>&nbsp;(£55) is going to get the job done without being too rough on your face. Even better though, is a chemical exfoliant. AHAs are ideal for reducing fine lines, wrinkles and improving cell turnover, while BHAs work best for reducing inflammation and clearing out any stubborn maskne breakouts.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-bha-liquid-exfoliant-m2010.html" target="_blank">Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant</a>&nbsp;(£28) is our top pick for blemish-prone skin, while&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.beautypie.com/all-skincare/dr-glycolic-pore-purifying-glow-toner--1000" target="_blank">Beauty Pie’s Dr Glycolic™ Pore-Purifying Glow Toner</a>&nbsp;(£11.46) is a fab all-rounder with niacinamide for reducing dark marks and scarring.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Beauty-Pie-Dr-Glycolic-Pore-Purifying-Glow-Toner.jpg" alt="Beauty Pie Dr Glycolic™ Pore-Purifying Glow Toner" class="wp-image-29229" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step four: Mask</strong></h2>



<p>These days there’s a face mask for every skin type and issue imaginable, so this step can be as complex or as simple as your patience (and budget) allows. A clay mask like&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://uk.sandandsky.com/products/porefining-face-mask" target="_blank">Sand + Sky’s Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask</a>&nbsp;(£41.90) is great for balancing oily areas or clearing blemishes (plus it comes with a wholly unnecessary but lovely-feeling brush to apply it with, which definitely ups the spa-at-home factor). We’d pop this on the T-zone, then apply a moisturising or soothing mask to the rest of the face (hello, multi-masking). Our favourites include&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/peter-thomas-roth-rose-stem-cell-bio-repair-gel-mask.html" target="_blank">Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Gel Mask</a>&nbsp;(£45) for all skin types, the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.clarins.co.uk/sos-comfort-face-mask/80030995.html" target="_blank">Clarins SOS Comfort Face Mask</a>&nbsp;(£30) for drier skins, and the altogether more budget-friendly&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.boots.com/no7-instant-results-nourishing-hydration-mask-10239449" target="_blank">No7 Instant Results Nourishing Hydration Mask</a>&nbsp;(£10). Top tip: sheet masks may be fun to buy (and make for hilarious selfies), but they won’t do the job any better than anything out of a tube – in fact, they can be more wasteful as half the product stays on the mask. Ditch them and be done, we say.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Peter-Thomas-Roth-Face-Mask.jpg" alt="Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Bio-Repair Gel Mask" class="wp-image-29234" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Step five: Moisturise</strong></h2>



<p>Now to seal all that goodness in. If you’re not going anywhere after your at-home facial (one bonus of lockdown – silver linings and all that), then an oil is perfect for this step. A couple of drops of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.boots.com/superfacialist-rose-miracle-makeover-facial-oil-30ml-10144878" target="_blank">Superfacialist Rose Miracle Makeover Facial Oil</a>&nbsp;(£16) is great for dry skin types, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kiehls.co.uk/skin-care/category/facial-oils-serums/daily-reviving-concentrate/KHL497.html?dwvar_KHL497_size=30%20ml">Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate</a>&nbsp;(£40) is more lightweight, so good for oily or combo skins. If you don’t get on with oils, or you’re headed out, then slap a good intensive moisturiser on instead.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://uk.elemis.com/superfood-cica-calm-hydration-juice.html" target="_blank">Elemis Superfood Cica Calm Hydration Juice</a>&nbsp;(£40) is a great gel formula that cools and calms even the shiniest of foreheads, while&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.glossier.com/products/priming-moisturizer-rich" target="_blank">Glossier Priming Moisturiser Rich</a>&nbsp;(£29) is plumping, buttery and sits beautifully under makeup. Whichever one you choose, whack a load of it on ready for the next step…</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Super-Facialist-rose-oil.jpg" alt="Superfacialist Rose Miracle Makeover Facial Oil " class="wp-image-29238" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Step six: Massage</h2>



<p>The only way to finish a fantastic at-home facial is with an extra pampering massage step. It’ll improve circulation and blood flow (hello, extra glow), sculpt and tone and generally feel fabulous. You can easily do this with your fingers, following a tutorial – experts like&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/noyskincare/?hl=en" target="_blank">Danna Omari</a>&nbsp;of New York-based Noy Skincare do plenty on Instagram, or you can even pay £10 for a Zoom-based facial massage class with specialist masseuse&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.beata.website/" target="_blank">Beata Aleksandrowicz</a>. Having said that, tools are fast becoming the new must-have skincare item, with everything from jade rollers to traditional Chinese gua sha taking the Western market by storm. We’ll be treating ourselves to this&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.beautybay.com/p/mount-lai/the-rose-quartz-facial-spa-set/" target="_blank">Mount Lai Rose Quartz Facial Spa Set</a>&nbsp;(£47) and using the whole of November to perfect our technique ready for the holiday season.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mount-Lai-Facial-Massage-Set.jpg" alt="Mount Lai Rose Quartz Facial Spa Set" class="wp-image-29240" /></figure>


How to give yourself a DIY facial at home

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