Random Musings: Facial Love!

I was inspired to do at home facials with this post by the wonderful ladies of La Bella Figura.  And I am totally digging it!  It really forces you to take time out and treat yourself.  I start by washing my face with whatever cleanser I am currently trying out (always start with clean skin!)  The next step is probably my fav part - the facial steam!

You start by boiling some water in a tea kettle and then pour said boiling water into a bowl filled with the flowers and herbs of your choice.  I am currently using the La Bella Figura Healing Facial Tea.  It has amazing ingredients that aid in healing sensitive skin, including jasmine, calendula, and lavender.  It also contains cardamom pods, which have crazy anti-inflammatory properties.  

I let the tea steep with a little bit of water for 3-5 minutes.  I then fill the whole bowl, throw a towel over my head, and go to town for 7-10 minutes.  I would not go any longer, but that is your call.   

The next step is to exfoliate.  

My current drug of choice is May Lindstrom The Clean Dirt.  I can't get enough of this product.  It is AMAZING!  It smells like heaven and Christmas cookies had a baby.  I am also totally blown away by the creativity of the ingredients - clove, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, etc.  They really do warm your skin and boost circulation.  

It starts as a powder and you just add in water drop by drop until you achieve the consistency you like.  The more water you add, the less abrasive the scrub is.  The less water you add...well you get the idea.  While the directions claim this can be used daily, I find it a little too harsh.  I use it every 2-3 days.  Most of the time before applying a mask, which happens to be the third and final step (nice segue!)  

I have a growing collection of masks, but tonight I chose May Lindstrom The Problem Solver.  This is actually the first time that I have used this mask.  And it totally impressed.  (Clearly, May Lindstrom can do no wrong...seriously.)  I have high hopes that this mask will obliterate my acne in the long run.  The ingredients are similar to those contained in The Clean Dirt, but the mask contains some "hero" ingredients like charcoal powder.  Charcoal powder just sucks the gunk out of your pores.  

It came with this beautiful bowl!

Like The Clean Dirt, it starts as a powder that is activated by water.  This one really fizzes when mixed with water (totally cool!)  I found that I needed a little more than the 1:1 powder to water ratio called for in the directions.  And definitely only use a teaspoon (this baby is expensive, why waste it!)  When mixed, it forms into a thick, foamy mousse.  I think the consistency is perfect.  Some powder masks can be a little watery, but this one actually feels like a mask (if that makes any sense.)  The downside is that you have to let it sit for 45 minutes.  That. is. a. long. time.  BUT totally worth it.  This mask starts heating up immediately when you put it on, but in a gentle, warming way, not a "my face is on fire" way.  And when you rinse it off, you just glow.  And glow.  And glow.

And there you have it - the at home facial experience (well at least my version of it!)  Get after it!