How To: Sunday Facial

Well, it’s about that time of the week again. It’s Sunday, and that means “Sunday Facial” time! I’ve been obsessed with my skincare for years now and have always incorporated masks and other products into my routine here and there. However, it was discovering Alessandra Steinherr that changed my skincare routine forever. Alessandra is the beauty director for Glamour UK and I absolutely adore her. Not only does she frequently review products and give important tips, she also has recently been doing Q and A’s on Instagram live. A little while ago I discovered her “Sunday Facial” on Snapchat and continued to watch every week as she transitioned over to Insta stories. The “Sunday Facial” is something that she has done religiously for years and involves taking time out every week to devote to a skincare regime.

I too have been doing the “Sunday Facial” now for quite a while. I definitely feel a difference in taking a little time every week to give myself a homemade facial. However, it’s more than giving your skin a good scrub, it’s also taking time out of your week to just calm down and relax. In a way, there aren’t a lot of things you can do when you have a terrifying mask on your face, so sitting down and taking a break from my devices; maybe reading a book, or simply sitting and thinking, makes me feel refreshed and more centered.

My “Sunday Facial” changes depending on what my skin needs. This week, I want to focus on brightening and refreshing my skin, while also keeping it hydrated. I have been breaking out quite severely the past few weeks, and now that I feel that I’m on the tail end of it, I want to make sure I’m soothing my irritated skin to minimize any scarring.

SundayFacial

1. Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk:

Firstly, I’m removing my makeup with my Clinique “Take the Day Off” Cleansing Milk. I really love this product as I feel that it removes all of my makeup easily, and I don’t need to tug and pull at my skin to get it clean.

2.  Rhonda Allison Citrus Cel Cleanser

Next, I’m cleansing with the Citrus Gel cleanser from Rhonda Alison. This is a really nice cleanser as it is formulated for dry, sensitive skin and the citrus ingredients freshen my skin. Despite the fact that it is formulated for dry skin, I actually find it drying when I use it too often. However, for a “Sunday Facial,” I want to feel like I’m deeply cleansing and really getting rid of any grime. This cleanser can also be used as a makeup remover in addition.

3. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

I’m not a crazy fan of all of the Dermalogica products. I often find them to be too drying and harsh on my skin. However, I really do love the Daily Microfoliant. It comes out almost as a powder and turns into a paste as you add water. I pour a little onto my damp hands and apply to my face in circular motions until it disintegrates into more of a foam. I like this feature because it prevents me from scrubbing and scrubbing at my delicate skin.

4. Hale Cosmetics Marula Enzyme Mask

I’m using an enzyme mask by Hale Cosmetics. It is supposed to help with dead skin cells which I need as I’m certainly overdue for a professional facial. I’ve been feeling that my skin is dull and a little dry. This mask is specifically designed to dissolve the dead skin cells in order to help with skin hydration, and I certainly feel that it made my skin feel fresh and smooth.

5. S&W Basics Toner

This is a new product that I’ve been trying recently. I have to say, I am actually loving it. It only has five ingredients so I feel like it is fairly real. I find it really calming to my skin and the witch hazel definitely helps with any angry break outs. I’ve got to admit, I’m not crazy about the smell. When I first started using it, I was really scared of smelling like apple cider vinegar all day long. However, I feel that the benefits certainly outweigh the smell, so I think I’m going to continue using it.

6. S&W Rose Water

After toning, I love to use this Rose Water. A favorite from my “Summer Survival Kit,” I feel like it is a nice “base of hydration.” The rose water soothes my skin and helps to calm down any inflammation. I then can continue to layer on my products and feel that I’m sealing in the original hydration from my rose water.

7. Rhonda Allison Growth Factor Gel

Now on to the serum! I tend to switch between several different serums, but today I’m using the Rhonda Allison Growth Factor Gel. It repairs and prevents tissue damage, which I feel is a must for my skin at the moment.

8. Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Moisturizer

The final step is my moisturizer. I don’t tend to switch my moisturizer around too much as a lot of different brands irritate my skin. I’ve found one that works, and I have been sticking to it for a while. It has an oil-free formulation which is great for my skin type, but is also the intense version which is a little heavier than the basic gel. It lasts me all day without me feeling like my skin tight and pulling, but also isn’t too heavy, especially in this weather.

And there you have it! My version of the “Sunday Facial” this week. While I don’t feel that my “Sunday Facial” will ever be able to replace the professional facials that I get when I visit my esthetician, I do feel that they help to extend the life of my facials and keep my skin in the best shape it can be.