How to dazzle through this season and beyond with home makeovers

The coronavirus outbreak has had an epic effect on our day-to-day lives. Everything has changed. Beauty salons being shut, should not deprive your skin of its nourishment.

Do not be impacted by the usual skincare routine you pamper yourself with at the salons. Learn how to do a facial at home. A good facial leaves your facial skin smooth, bright, and flushed. It's fun to get a facial at a spa, but you can get the same great results in the comfort of your home without spending any money. And this can be a set ritual – scheduled suitably as part of your me-time.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how you can give yourself a facial at home, and also a quick guide on easy makeup at home.

Step 1: Cleansing and Exfoliating Your Face

-Pull your hair back from your face- Use a headband, hair band, or bobby pins to pull back your hair and get ready for an at-home facial.

-Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Use your favourite facial cleanser to remove make-up and wash your face. Use warm water, instead of cold or hot, since warm water is the best temperature for delicate facial skin.

-Use a facial scrub or another exfoliant. Dead skin cells build up on the face and leave it looking a little dull. Ex-foliating your skin to brighten it up is an essential part of any facial routine. Use your favourite facial scrub to gently rub away the dead skin. If you don't have a scrub, you can make your own. Try these simple combinations:

1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 teaspoon milk

1 teaspoon ground oatmeal, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground almonds, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 teaspoon water

Rinse your face and pat it dry. Give your face a final rinse to remove all traces of your facial scrub.

-Give yourself a facial massage. Massage increases circulation, leading to brighter, healthier skin. Now that your face is clean, give yourself a massage before moving to the next phase of your facial. Use your forefinger and middle finger to massage your face in a gentle circular motion. Massage your forehead, starting in the middle and moving down to the temples. Massage your nose and cheeks. Massage your lips, chin, and jaw.

Step 2: Purifying Your Pores

-Do a steam treatment. Boil a small pot of water on the stove. Turn off the heat and stand over the pot with a towel draped over your head, so that the steam coming from the water will be trapped around your face. Steaming helps to open your pores in preparation for a facial mask, which draws out impurities. This step is crucial to a facial treatment at home as you can take as much time your skin needs.

For a more luxurious experience, add some essential oils to the water. You'll get a steam and aromatherapy treatment in one. Try a few drops of lavender, lemongrass, rose, or grapefruit essential oil to lift your spirits. If you don't have essential oils, throw a few herbal tea bags into the water. Chamomile, Tulsi and peppermint tea, all are aromatic fragrances.

-Make a facial mask. Next up is a facial mask, which will draw out impurities (like dirt and dead skin) from your pores. You can buy a facial mask product from the store, but it's easy and fun to make your own at home. Try one of the following masks: For dry skin: Mix 1 mashed banana and 1 tablespoon honey For medium skin: mix 1 tablespoon aloe and 1 tablespoon honey For oily skin: mix 1 teaspoon cosmetic clay and 1 teaspoon honey For any type of skin: use plain honey, which has antibacterial and moisturising properties perfect for any skin type

-Apply the mask for 15 minutes. Smooth it over your skin, then wait for it to do its magic. In the meantime, why not give yourself an eye treatment? Lie back and place two cool cucumber slices over your closed eyes. If you don't have cucumbers, two chilled tea bags work just as well.

-Rinse your face and pat it dry. Use warm water to remove all traces of the facial mask. Be sure to remove the honey from around your eyes and nose, since if you leave it in place it will feel quite sticky.

Step 3: Toning and moisturising Your Skin

-Apply a homemade toner. Toner helps to brighten the skin and restore its balance. You can use a store-bought toner, but many products you probably have on hand at home work just as well. Try one of the following homemade toners for your at-home facial:

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon water 1 tablespoon witch hazel mixed with 1 tablespoon water 1 tablespoon rosewater mixed with 1 tablespoon water

-Finish with a creamy moisturiser. The final step is to apply moisturiser that suits your skin type. Moisturiser will keep your skin from drying out, preserving the results of your facial. Look for a facial moisturiser that doesn't contain alcohol, since this can cause your skin to dry out more quickly.If you want to use a homemade, all-natural moisturiser, try Argan oil, almond oil or jojoba oil. Aloe is another great natural moisturiser that has healing properties as well.

-Wait a few hours before applying makeup. Wait a little while before you start your regular makeup routine to give your facial skin the chance to rest and reap the full benefits of your facial. For easy simple makeup at home you can try at home for your everyday look. Start by putting on an even layer of foundation in a colour that matches your skin tone. Then, brush powder over your face to help set the foundation so it stays in place all day. Next, apply a pink-toned blush to the apples of your cheeks using a circular motion. Finish off with natural kajal on your eyes.

Getting a routine facial should be part of everyone’s custom skincare plan. Having one every three to four weeks helps you maintain that beautiful glow all month long. For those who are experiencing frequent breakouts or tend to have oilier skin, having a facial more often is recommended during acne flares. Do a facial treatment at home every two weeks to clear your skin and bring it to a healthier place.

The lockdown won’t last forever and all you need is a little patience with your skin to keep it looking fresh and glowing. Till then, keep yourself positive and make the most of your time at Home or Working from home.

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