DIY Facial

There's nothing quite like a salon or spa facial-the pampering, the focus on you, the professional help, the extractions. You can arrive looking tired, wan, and flaky, and walk out the door an hour later glowing like a teenager. But if such services are not within your budget, you can still benefit from a do-it-yourself facial at home. Here, Carol Zubrin, owner of LA's Purity natural skin-care spa, explains how:

Step One: Cleanse. "I like to use a natural herbal facial cleanser without parabens or sulfates, such as Epicuren Herbal Cleanser ($48 for 4 ounces, beautybazzar.com)," Zubrin says. "Use a soft skin brush to get deeper into the pores."

Step Two: Steam. "Wrap your face with a warm towel to soften the skin and open the pores," Zubrin advises. You could also boil a pot of water, remove from heat, and create a steam tent by draping a towel over your head as you lean toward the steam.

Step Three: Exfoliate. Use a homemade scrub to lightly remove the skin's dead surface layers. "A great recipe is to combine three tablespoons of ground almond meal to one tablespoon of honey to make a thick paste," Zubrin says. "Rub it onto the skin using gentle circular motions. Rinse well afterward.

Step Four: Extractions. Most professional facialists will advise you to never do your own extractions. But since you're going to anyway, Zubrin offers this advice: "Wrap your fingers with a double layer of clean tissue," she says. "Pull the skin up and away from the blemish using a shimmying motion to help the dirt and oil come out of the pore. If you push, you'll force the dirt and oil back in." Try this a few times, but if nothing works to break the seal on the blemish, give up. "Never force something that isn't ready to come out," she says. "You could scar the skin."

Step Five: Mask. Create a natural mask that's right for your skin type. If you're dry, whisk together two tablespoons each of olive oil and buttermilk, and apply to clean skin with a brush. If your skin is oily, mix one packet of yeast with a tablespoon each of lemon juice and water. ("It's an astringent mask that's like a good degreaser," Zubrin notes.) If you have combination skin, try mashing half an avocado with two tablespoons of honey. Let the skin marinate for 10 minutes or so before you rinse.

Step Six: Tone. Once the mask is off, spray the face with chamomile tea, or use a cotton pad saturated with a natural witch hazel, such as the one made by Humphreys (humphreysusa.com).

Step Seven: Moisturize. Apply a serum, if you use one, and a good natural moisturizer. Zubrin recommends Image Skincare Vital-C Cream ($54 for two ounces) and Epicuren Ultra Rose Treat ($42 for two ounces), both of which are available through skincare professionals.

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