Let Your Skin Glow for the Season

It's the festive season and looking good
and feeling good! I have compiled a list
of fun facial tips and tricks – that won't
break the bank – to leave you with
clear, healthy, glowing skin from the
comfort of your home.
Step 1 -
Every facial should start with clean skin
so it is important to use a cleanser
suitable for your skin type. Invest in a
good cleanser and do not use soap or
shower gel as a face wash.
Why is soap so bad? Our skin's ph
balance is more acidic while soap is
more alkaline. It breaks down our
natural lipid barrier and ultimately dries
out the skin leaving you with a "tight"
feeling.
My top 5 cleansers are:
Khiels Ultra Facial Cleanser for Normal
skin
Origins Checks and Balances for
Combination skin
Dermalogica Essential Cleansing
Solution for dry skin
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink
Grapefruit for oily/acne skin
Clarins One Step Gentle Exfoliating
Cleanser for all skin types
A natural alternative is the lemon facial
cleanser. It is easy to make, and
delightful to use. It doesn't lather
though but it gives a deep clean and it
is suitable for all skin types.
What you need:
1 tablespoon natural yogurt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 drops essential lemon oil
Mix all the ingredients together and
apply to the face and neck with a
cotton pad in a circular motion. A
double cleanse effectively takes off oils,
dirt and make up. It leaves you feeling
refreshed and uplifted with the lovely
lemon scent.
Step 2 -
To get healthy glowing skin it is
imperative to exfoliate. Dead skin cells
leave your skin looking dull and feeling
very pasty. I would advise you exfoliate
once or twice a week. Slough off dead
skin cells to reveal new skin with these
top 3 exfoliators:
Origins Modern Friction for Normal/
Combination skin
St.Ives Apricot Scrub for all skin types
Neutrogena Visibly Even Skin
Polishing Enzyme Treatment for Acne
prone skin
The best at-home exfoliator is easy to
use and all you need is some water
and some baking soda and voila
you're as smooth as a baby's bottom!
Moisten your face with water, apply the
mixture (it should be of a paste like
consistency) around your face avoiding
the eye area in circular motions and
rinse off with warm water.
TOP TIPS: a teaspoon of baking soda
can be added to your cleanser for a
deeper clean and gentle exfoliation
The water and baking soda paste
serves as a great mask for acne prone
skin!
Step 3 -
Always apply a face mask after you
exfoliate as this will restore your skins
lost nutrients and will also help heal or
repair existing concerns as well as
refreshing your skin. Masks are a great
way of feeding your skin with nutrients
on the outside and toning your skin.
I enjoy using home made masks
because of their freshness and high
nutrient content. Below are a few
recipes that I've tried and tested, I'm
sure you'll love them too!
Moisture Mask
What you need:
1 teaspoon Honey
1 whole Avocado
1 teaspoon Flax seed oil (optional)
Mash the avocado and mix with the
honey and flax seed oil. Apply on face
avoiding eye area. Leave on for 15-20
minutes and rinse with warm water.
Honey Avocado Mask
Brightening Mask
What you need:
1/2 cup Unripe Papaya
1 teaspoon Plain yogurt
1 teaspoon Honey
Blend all ingredients together and
apply on face avoiding eye area. Leave
on for 8-10 minutes. This mask tends
to have a tingling sensation so don't
panic if you feel it. If your skin is
sensitive you can use ripe papaya
instead, however this contains less
papain – the active brightening agent.
Rinse off with cool water.
Clarifying Mask
What you need:
1 tablespoon Rose Water
1 tablespoon Sandalwood powder
1 tablespoon Turmeric
Mix into a paste and apply on face
avoiding eye area. Leave on for 15
minutes then rinse off with cool water.
Step 4 -
All good facials end with the application
of a suitable moisturizer. It is important
to keep the skin moist and supple to
prevent premature aging. Even oily
skin needs to be moisturized.
My top 5 moisturizers are:
Dr Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion for
Oily/Acne skin
Clinique Dramatically Different
Moisturizing Lotion for Dry skin
Estee Lauder DayWear with SPF15
creme for Normal skin
REN T-zone Balancing Day Fluid for
Combination Skin
Philosophy "Hope in a jar"
moisturizer for All skin types
TOP TIP: Always wear sunscreen on
your face and body regardless of the
season to protect yourself from harmful
UV rays. A teaspoon amount should be
applied over the face and reapplied
throughout the day. For the body, the
equivalent of a shot glass should be
applied. I would recommend an SPF of
at least 20.

Written by Ameera Abraham, a Creative Director at The Nail Bar. The
Nail Bar is a luxury nail spa and wellness centre located in Abuja.
She's a qualified aesthetician and is passionate about all things
beauty!

Source: Bella Naija


Thanks for stopping by.