Lifestyle Choices

Salon facials help turn good skin into great, but they can be very costly. Why not learn to give yourself one at home instead? The following facial is adapted from one offered at a famous New York City salon:

1. Cleanse skin with cleansing cream or lotion; remove with pure, facial-quality cotton. Don’t use synthetic cosmetic puffs; they’re too rough for the face.
2. Place loose camomile tea leaves in a pot of water and bring to a boil; remove pot from the heat. Transfer liquid to a large ceramic bowl.
3. Lean face a comfortable distance over the bowl; the steam should feel hot but should not burn. Drape a thick towel over your head to keep the steam from escaping. When the steam is gone, strain the liquid from the bowl and place it in the freezer until very cold.
4. Next, use a scrubbing mask. A store-bought one is fine, or you can make your own by pulverizing raw almonds in a blender, mixing with a tablespoon of plain yogurt, and adding a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice. Apply to face and scrub gently in an upward, circular motion. Rinse clean.
5. Follow with a soothing facial mask. You can buy one with an egg, avocado, or honey base, or you can prepare your own. Simply whisk a raw egg yolk in a bowl, apply to face, and let dry. It’s great for all skin types. Rinse clean.
6. Remove strained liquid from the freezer. Take a sheet of cot, ton batting (buy in a drug or cosmetics/ sundries store) and make holes for eyes, noses, and mouth. Soak lightly in the liquid and squeeze out excess.
7. Apply to face, lie back, and close your eyes for ten minutes. Remove and gently pat—never rub—face dry with thick cotton towel.
8. Use moisturizer geared to your skin type to finish.

Mask Magic

Basically, there are three types of commercially produced masks: clay, mud, and herbal. The function of all three is to draw out impurities and bacteria from skin. The differences are as follows:

Clay absorbs excess oil, so it’s good for oily or acne-prone skin.

Herbal masks contain mild irritants that encourage the skin to peel. The peeling unclogs pores, letting the mask soak up excess oil.

Mud masks are heavier and wetter. The mud holds water next to the skin, so it’s excellent for normal to dry complexions.

For combination skin, use a clay or herbal mask in the oily areas (e.g., the T zone); a mud mask on dry patches such as cheeks, forehead. Result: a custom-made mask and a glowing, pretty skin.

Winter Skin

Winter is a wonderland, but not for your skin! Exposure to cold, dry outdoor air and even drier, heated indoor air can make your complexion look lifeless, wan—just plain blah. Here’s how to fight back:

Cleanse your face thoroughly but gently, using a foaming cleanser or very mild lathering soap; lather lifts dirt, germs, and dead cells from the surface without scrubbing and floats them away.

Moisturize well after cleansing. Apply creme or lotion under your foundation base, too. If acne is not a problem, use an oil-based foundation in winter months.

Moisturize your environment too. A humidifier will help stabilize the moisture level in your skin.

Lips take a beating in the cold! Use a rich, moisturizing lipstick, and dot with a little petroleum jelly to “seal.” If your lips get flaky, apply lip ointment or balm, leave for five minutes, and tissue off gently.

For a whole body glow, try this spa-originated exfoliating treatment:

1. Mix 2 cups sea salt or kosher salt (should be very coarse) in one cup warm water.
2. In shower, wet body thoroughly, then turn off water. Sitting down, massage handfuls of the mixture into skin, starting with feet, working up to shoulders. Stroke upward firmly, but don’t overdo; it should tingle, not burn. Rinse well.
3. Wet a loofah and squeeze in a rich body gel. Massage it into skin well, concentrating on dry, callused areas like knees and elbows. Rinse body well; pat dry.
4. Apply a rich moisturizer or body oil to finish; skin will have a silky, healthy sheen.

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