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Category Archives: Facial

Pools And Facials: Before, After Or Nowhere Near?

   Facial  Jul 06, 2017  Comments Off on Pools And Facials: Before, After Or Nowhere Near?
Pools And Facials: Before, After Or Nowhere Near?

Summertime facials… When should you get them, and how should you time them around your other summer events?

Facials are an essential component of your skin care routine, but when you’re planning around your summer schedule, you’ll want to pay close attention to when you get a facial and when you next go swimming.

As it turns out, facials and pools may not the best mix. So should you get a facial before or after you swim? Or should facials and pools simply not occupy the same season?

The Best Time for a Summer Facial Is…

Before you swim.

Actually, long before you swim. Facials work wonders for facial skin by opening pores to cleanse them and deliver nutrients and moisturization. However, because of this pore opening action, it’s best to avoid things that are going to irritate your face overmuch during the days that follow your facial.

Pools, and the chlorine that they’re filled with, most definitely fall into this category. So if you’ve recently had a facial, it’s really best to wait at least two days before swimming to give your skin the best chance at recovery.

The Worst Time for a Summer Facial Is…

After you swim.

For similar reasons to avoiding swimming right after a facial, you’ll also want to avoid a facial directly after swimming.

Swimming is harsh on your skin, especially when you are exposed to pool chemicals. Once you’ve gone for a swim, you want to give your skin a little time to recover, rather than slathering it in pore opening facial creme.

After you swim, it’s best to treat your skin with rejuvenating moisturizers that put back some of the moisture that harsh pool chemicals can deplete. Then give your face a rest for a few days before getting a facial done.

When to Avoid Facials

If you’re an avid swimmer with an aggressive pool schedule, it may be best to avoid facials altogether to protect your facial pores. While there are certainly benefits to getting regular facials, these benefits are mostly undone when you spend a lot of time in a chlorinated pool.

To treat your skin, make sure that you moisturize on a regular basis, especially after pool time. Use a gentle facial cleanser when you wash your face and avoid scrubbing too hard, especially after you swim.

Easy Facial Massages to Do at Home for Better Skin Health

   Facial  May 08, 2017  Comments Off on Easy Facial Massages to Do at Home for Better Skin Health
Easy Facial Massages to Do at Home for Better Skin Health

Facial massages are not only relaxing, they are good for the skin and the muscles lying underneath.  They also help increase absorption of that expensive face cream you’re using!  You’re never too old or too young to start incorporating facial massage into your usual skincare routine.  Just two minutes a day can lead to softer skin, diminished wrinkles and a more relaxed face.  It can also help with lymphatic drainage.  

Here are two routines you can try at home. One is shorter for when you are pressed for time, but both are effective in helping with wrinkles and fine lines.

Facial Massage #1

To get started, do your regular skin care routine, except for your moisturizer.  If you don’t use a moisturizer you can use a little olive or almond oil if you are not prone to breakouts.  It is important to have oil or cream so you don’t pull on your skin; rather you want to glide across it with your fingertips.  Do each step 7 – 8 times for refreshed, glowing skin.
Step One:

Use your whole palm to run your hands up the neck from the breastbone to the underside of your chin.  Make sure to apply firm pressure and cover the whole neck.  

Step Two:

Using your whole palm, lift your cheeks starting closer to the nose and finishing towards the ear.  Do this in an upside-down U, or horseshoe fashion.  The pressure here should be medium.

Step Three

Using your index and middle finger, gently massage around the eye area, circling clockwise from above the eyebrow, following the bone area of the eye.  Do not massage the delicate skin of the eye area.

Step Four

Using the two fingers again, lift upwards around the outside of your eye where crow’s feet tend to form, between the eye and the temple area. A gentle to medium pressure can be used, depending on your comfort level.

Step Five

Finally lift the area between the brows by pressing in an upward movement. This can be done with firm pressure.

Facial Massage #2

This massage is for when you are cleansing your face.  This is the faster massage for when you are pressed for time. The pressure can be up to you but be sure to always be gentle around the eye area!

Step one:

Apply your cleansing cream on damp skin.

Step two:

Massage with two fingers in a circular motion starting on your forehead between your brows, moving outwards towards your temples.

Step three:

Still using your two finger, massage in a circular motion around your eyes (as stated in massage #1). Remember to steer clear of the delicate eye area.

Step four:

Using a circular motion, massage downward along the nose and cheek, using three fingers for more coverage.

Step five:

Massage downward from your jawline all the way down the neck to the breastbone, using your whole palm.

And that’s it!

There many ways you can massage your face. These are just two examples. I hope this facial tutorial helped you decide to try one at home. You’ll love the results!

Should You Get Facials More Frequently in Winter?

   Facial  Jan 06, 2017  Comments Off on Should You Get Facials More Frequently in Winter?
Should You Get Facials More Frequently in Winter?

Whether you love or hate the cold weather of winter, there’s no doubt that it causes problems for your skin. Everything about this season serves to dry the moisture from your skin, leaving it cracked and scaly. You see, the air outside tends to be dryer than normal, and harsh winds strip your face and hands (the most exposed parts of your body) of essential oils that soften and moisturize your skin. Taking hot showers and turning up the heat in your home has the same effect, but it’s also difficult to avoid these things because it’s the only way that you can combat the cold. To tackle these issues, many people turn to treatments such as facials – but it’s important to know what kind of facial to get, as well as how often to get it done.

Winter Facials

Getting a facial more frequently in winter can be a good idea, especially if you are experiencing issues with dry and cracked skin due to the cold weather – however, you should never have facials more frequently than every two to three weeks, or you can actually end up damaging your skin. Most people get facials about once a season, but you can escalate this to 3-4 times during the winter. Furthermore, it is important that you get the kinds of facials that will actually help you with the specific needs of the season – for example, ones that tone and moisturize your skin, as well as strip away dead skin cells, dust, and pollution.

Some of these winter-optimal facials include a seaweed facial, which has numerous essential vitamins and minerals that help to rejuvenate dull skin. Furthermore, toxins that can accumulate in your pores during the winter months can be removed this way. Another option is an aromatherapy facial, which tackles dryness, itching, and irritation, using essential oils to soothe your skin and keep it smooth and supple. A hydrating facial furthers this process, but it especially targets the kind of dryness that leads to wrinkles around your facial features.

As you do the rest of the year, you should always complement any facial treatments with a good at-home moisturizer, adequate hydration, and a diet rich in vitamin C, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, in winter you should take steps to protect your skin from cold temperatures and harsh winds, such as by wearing gloves and scarves.