How to Do a Facial at Home With Natural Ingredients

Want to give yourself a facial at home? Very well. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to do a facial at home with natural ingredients. A spa-like experience to unlock your skin’s radiance! Plus, I’ll share practical tips for a lush and safe experience.

As a woman in her late forties, I’ve found that consistently doing my own facials at home has been a wonderful way to maintain healthy, youthful skin. Moreover, it’s a fantastic way to unwind on the weekends, prep my face for makeup, or even enjoy some quality time with a friend.

I personally like to indulge in this skincare routine every two weeks, but if your schedule allows, feel free to treat yourself weekly!

But before we dive into the steps, let me share a few essential tips to ensure you have a safe and delightful experience.

Safety tips before doing a facial at home

• Every skin is different. If you have a skin condition or concerns, ask a dermatologist for a skincare routine that suits your needs.
• Monitor your skin reaction. If you experience any adverse reaction or discomfort, stop the process immediately. 
• Ensure hygiene and product quality. Use clean tools and avoid using expired products—their effectiveness diminishes over time, potentially harming your skin.
• For adults only. Because this facial ritual involves careful handling of ingredients and tools, it’s intended for adults. Ensure children are kept safe and do not participate in it.

What do I need for a facial at home?

• Prep your essentials. You’ll need a clean towel, skincare products, a headband or hair tie to keep your hair away from your face, and a low-neck t-shirt or tank top—so you can also apply products to this area.
• Set aside time. Allot about 1.5 hours for this self-care ritual. Remember that relaxation is key. So, it’s important not to rush the process.
• Know your skin type. Understanding your skin type is crucial to select the right products and routine for your skin needs.
• Create a spa-like atmosphere. Elevate your experience by playing relaxing music and setting an oil diffuser with a relaxing scent.
• Stay hydrated. Have a glass of water at hand. Hydrating from the inside is just as important for a healthy and glowing skin.

Now that you’re armed with the essentials and created a spa-like atmosphere, let’s dive into the steps to do a facial at home. It’s glow-time!

How to Do a Facial at Home With Natural Ingredients

Step 1: Cleanse your skin

Start your facial by cleansing your skin thoroughly. If you’re wearing makeup, begin by applying a few drops of jojoba or coconut oil for skin to your face. Gently massage the oil into your skin to help loosen and dissolve the makeup, then use a cotton pad to wipe it away.

Next, wash your face and neck with a gentle cleanser to remove any remaining dirt and residue. Look for a fragrance-free, gentle soap or try Cetaphil’s cleanser, which is known for its mild formula convenient for all skin types.

Step 2: Gently scrub your skin (optional) 

Gently exfoliate your face and neck to remove dead skin cells and prepare it to better absorb skincare products. Be careful not to overdo this to avoid drying or irritating your skin.

How to Make a Homemade Facial Scrub with Oatmeal:

To create this simple and effective exfoliating scrub, blend ½ cup of oatmeal in a small food processor and grate ½ natural soap bar for face. Then, transfer blended oatmeal and the grated soap to a glass container and give it a good stir to combine.

When you’re ready to exfoliate, take ½ teaspoon of this oatmeal scrub and mix it with a little water to form a soft paste. Gently apply the paste to your face and neck, using circular motions to massage it in for about one minute. Afterward, rinse your face with warm water to remove any residue, and gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

My recommendation for a store-bought exfoliator? I use Cetaphil’s gentle exfoliator, which is convenient for all skin types and effectively removes dead skin without causing irritation.

Remember, exfoliating is an optional step, so feel free to skip it if your skin is feeling particularly sensitive or if you’ve recently exfoliated.

Step 3: Steam your face * (optional)

Facial steaming helps to open up your pores to better absorb skincare products. You can steam your face simply by taking a shower. But for optimal results, you have two options:

1. Wet a clean towel with warm water and place it over your face for 5 to 10 minutes. 
2. Use an at-home facial steamer. If you decide to buy one, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The process typically involves filling up your steamer with distilled water, pressing the button, leaning your face over it at 30-35 cm for 5-10 minutes. My personal recommendation is the LONOVE face steamer.

It is recommended to do facial steaming once a week. 

What are the benefits of a facial steaming?

Besides helping to prepare your skin for a facial, it helps to increase blood flow to the skin, hydrate it, and even free excess sebum that causes acne (Source by WebMD / Source by Healthline). 

Step 4: Extract blackheads (optional) 

If you want to extract blackheads and whiteheads at home, do it after steaming your face. You can either:

1. Use a sterile extraction tool (like a looped blackhead remover) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 
2. Extract them manually using your clean fingers (or two cute tips) to squeeze them out—if nothing comes out, move on. Wash your hands and clean the skin area of the extraction with a cotton pad wet with a bit of tonner. Discard this pad.

If you have serious acne issues, ask a dermatologist to do this step.

Step 5: Apply Toner

Use a toner to balance the pH of your skin, remove the remaining dirt, and prepare your skin to absorb the nutrients from the face mask more effectively. 

How to Make a Homemade Rose Water Toner with Glycerin:

For a refreshing and hydrating toner, you can easily make your own rose water toner. In a clean glass container (preferably one with an atomizer), combine 200 ml of rose water with 10 ml of glycerin. Secure the lid and shake well to mix the ingredients.

To use, wet a small cotton ball with your homemade toner and gently apply it to your neck and face, allowing the soothing properties of the rose water to refresh your skin.

My recommended store-bought facial toner: Thayers’s Witch Hazel or Rose Water Toner. Both are gentle and suitable for most skin types.

Step 6: Apply Face Mask

Choose a face mask suitable for your skin type and concerns. Apply it evenly over your face, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. Leave the mask on for the recommended duration (usually 10-20 minutes). Make sure not to exceed this time. 

How to Make an Avocado Face Mask for Dry Skin

In a clean glass container, mash ½ avocado with a spoon until forming a smooth paste. Add a Vitamin E capsule if your skin is very dry and mix until you have a homogenous blend. Spread this blend over your clean face, avoiding the area around the eyes. Let this mask sit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes. Gently remove the avocado mask with warm water and pat your face dry with a clean cloth.

My recommendation for commercial face masks? I’m a fan of Korean and Japanese sheet masks! They come in many different ingredients like honey, rice, sake, and many more. 

Step 7: Moisturize

To complete your at-home facial, apply a few drops of natural oil—such as jojoba, olive, or rosehip—onto your face and neck. This will help to hydrate your skin and lock in the benefits of the face mask. I also recommend gently massaging your skin during this step; it not only feels wonderful but also promotes circulation, aids in lymphatic drainage, and can help reduce puffiness.

And if you plan to head out during the day, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage. My go-to sunscreen is Neutrogena’s zinc sunscreen, which provides excellent protection while being gentle on the skin.

Show off glowing skin!

Following a weekly skincare routine can help your skin to stay healthy, radiant and youthful. If you choose to do a DIY facial, knowing your skin type and taking precautions to stay safe will be key to get the results you want.

Let’s recap the steps for a DIY facial:

Begin by thoroughly cleansing your skin to remove makeup and impurities. Optionally, you can gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells. Steaming your face is also an option to open up the pores, followed by the careful extraction of blackheads and whiteheads if needed. Next, apply a gentle toner to balance your skin’s pH and prepare it for the face mask. Finally, apply a good moisturizer to both your face and neck, ensuring your skin is hydrated and nourished.

When done right, a facial at home can be a relaxing, fun, and inexpensive way to care for your skin and treat yourself.

We hope you enjoyed this step-by-step guide to giving yourself a facial—just like the ones at the spa!

Have you tried doing a facial at home? Share your experience in the comments below.