My DIY Facial For Healthy, Clear Skin

Once a week - generally Sunday evenings in that sweet spot between the children going to sleep and Whatever Show We Are Watching, I put on a gentle playlist, and perform a very simple, but very effective at-home facial.

It’s equal parts relaxing and results-driven and is non-negotiable. I might go again mid-week or as needed if I have an event coming up, or video or photoshoot (to the surprise of none, when you’re founder of a skincare company, people have extremely high expectations of your skin) or, if I am stressed and my skin is wigging out and I need to hit restart.

It doesn’t take long (around 25 minutes) and it makes a visible and enduring difference. Good daily skin habits make a lasting, overall difference to skin health, but facials, whether at-home or in-salon, are important for a deeper clean out, and more concentrated nourishment. Plus you get a REAL nice glow afterwards.

This is how I (and now you?) do it.

1. Double cleanse; start with a cleansing oil. I use Fancy Face to get rid of makeup and SPF (because remember: the rest of your skincare won’t work properly unless you cleanse properly first) and to balance and replenish my skin. As with all oil cleansers: I apply with dry hands on a dry face and massage for 60 delicious seconds before removing with a damp, hand-hot muslin like our very own Posh Cloth.
2. Water-based cleanser. I second cleanse with our mousse cleanser, Properly Clean, on damp skin to leave skin so clean and so ready for the rest of the routine. Rinse and pat skin dry.
3. Exfoliation. Next is Exfoliating Swipeys for some gentle chemical exfoliation. The lactic acid gets rid of dead skin cells and instantly brightens. I leave it on for 60 seconds then rinse.
4. Mist. Use our face mist, Prep Step before masks (and serums and moisturisers) helps product penetration, effectiveness and spread.
5. Clay Mask. As a devout SPF re-applier and makeup lover, clay masking is important to prevent congestion and dull skin. Our clarifying and purifying clay mask, The Removalist is a fruity-bubblegummy-scented cream mask that clears out pores and draws out impurities, but is also (uncharacteristically for a detoxifying mask) brightening, soothing and hydrating as well. Clay masks are especially helpful for breakouts, or acne-prone or oily skin types. It stays on for 10 minutes or until dried down and then I remove it with a hand-hot Posh Cloth again. I do this once a week, but congested or oily skin types might want to do it twice.
6. Nourishing mask. This is where our rich, thick mask, The Repair Shop, comes in to hydrate and comfort the skin, and repair my barrier to keep my skin strong, and in good health, no matter how stressed I am, or how happy I wanna get with AHAs or vitamin a etc. We used ceramides and pro-vitamin B5 to replenish the skin and strengthen the skin’s barrier, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to plump and hydrate the skin, and lots of lovely oils (vitamin e, buriti) and fatty acids to soothe and calm. It’s lush and replenishing and feels like a home cooked meal for the complexion. I apply liberally and leave it on the skin 10-15 minutes, before gently removing any excess residue with a warm face cloth. I don’t rinse; ceramides need to stay on the skin to do their best work.
7. Mist.
8. Serums. Hyaluronic serum only. After masking, I avoid using any actives (AHA, BHA, vitamin a, vitamin c etc) and instead soothe and hydrate. (In the first half of the facial, we took off and took out with double cleansing and exfoliation and the clay… now we put back in.)
9. Face Oil. Each morning and night I follow my serums with our hero product (by name and by nature) Face Hero. It was created with 10 plant-based oils (including buriti, known for its anti-inflammatory properties) and delivers a rapidly-absorbed hit of replenishment, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
10. Face cream. After I’ve applied all my lovely serums and oils, I wanna lock it in with a thick occlusive. Cue Very Useful Face Cream, which I will take all the way down to my boobs, because as we all know, that’s where our face actually stops.
11. Lip balm. They need nourishment, too. A lap of Lips! does the trick.
12. Skin appreciation. I marvel at my very clean, glowing, bouncy skin and what 30 minutes can achieve.
13. Probably take a selfie.
14. Locate snacks and tea, sink inelegantly into the sofa.