I don’t know about you, but the siren song of fall is calling to me like a deluded sailor at sea. I’m ready to cozy up under 85 blankets, put up cheesy home decor, and eat soup like my life depends on it. While I’ve been preparing to go into cold weather hibernation, I’ve of course been reworking all my beauty routines to remain as effective as possible, all from the comfort of my home. That includes perfecting how to DIY a facial at home—because I can’t always make it to the spa.
While I can’t do any lasers or more intensive skin treatments on myself for the most part, I’ve found it surprisingly easy to pamper my face like a pro. A double cleanse, an extraction or two, a face mask, LED light therapy—these are all products and techniques that I, and realistically almost anyone, can do at home, and I plan to take full advantage of my skills when it goes from chilly to downright cold and dreary in the next few months.
Ahead, I’m sharing all the products I currently use and plan to incorporate into my beauty and wellness routines over the next few weeks. Whether you’re aiming to invite a little more zen into your life or are to become your own at-home esthetician to keep up your facial routines without having to set foot outside, keep reading for the products that will make your at-home facial routine exponentially easier. Prepare to emerge in the spring looking like the most glowy, well-rested version of yourself—ever. You’re welcome.
Best Products to DIY a Faial at Home
Best Cleansing Brush
Bio-Therapeutic
Bt-Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush
Using this brush is my favorite part of my DIY facials. It takes my everyday face wash routine and makes it feel like a luxury, thanks to the sonic vibrations that help my cleanser reach a little deeper, setting the stage for what I truly believe is always the best part of a facial: extractions.
Best Extraction Tool
DERMAFLASH
Dermapore+ Ultrasonic Pore Extractor & Serum Infuser
I have to come clean: I’m a do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do kind of person. Why? Because I absolutely pop my pimples. I know, I know, I’m a bad beauty writer. In my defense, I’ve been trying to be better about it, and that’s where the Dermpore comes in. It’s a spatula that helps clear clogged pores, and I have to say, it’s made a world of difference in easing up on the picking. It’s my favorite tool for at-home extractions, and if you also struggle with picking at your skin, I highly recommend grabbing one to help keep your skin clear while skipping the potential hyperpigmentation that comes with using your fingers.
Best Peel Pad
Obagi Medical
Clenziderm M.D. Resurfacing Multi-Acid Peel Pads
I don’t do this for every session, but I love a good peel to help exfoliate and resurface my skin. Obviously, I can’t get my hands on the more intensive, professional-grade versions, but these Obagi Clenziderm pads come pretty close. A combination of glycolic, phytic, salicylic, and mandelic acids helps smooth uneven texture and fine lines, decongest the skin, and refine visible pores, all while reducing discoloration. Plus, my sensitive skin doesn’t tend to react to this formula, which is a big win for me.
Best Sheet Mask
Biodance
Hydro Cera-Nol Real Deep Mask
If I don’t opt for an LED mask at the end of my routine, I typically use a sheet mask. When using peels or any type of more intensive resurfacing product, I like to keep the rest of my routine simple. Recently, I’ve been using the Biodance Ceranol face mask, and not only does it leave my skin with the brand’s signature glassy glow, but it also delivers a hydrating, calming dose of glacial water, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and D-panthenol. TL;DR: it’s like a drink of water and a hug for your skin.
Best Body Lotion
Eucerin
Urearepair Plus 10% Urea Lotion
I came across this lotion on a trip to Paris, and I’ve been holding on to it for dear life ever since. Imagine my surprise when I found out that not only can I get this formula stateside, but it’s as easy as taking a trip to Walmart. Urea is a fantastic ingredient to help keep your skin barrier intact, and when temperatures start to drop outside (which causes your skin to lose moisture much more quickly), I slather this lotion on from head to toe with glee. Not only is it deeply nourishing, but it also doesn’t leave the sticky residue some lotions do, making it perfect for anyone with pesky sensory issues.
Best Body Oil
iota
Diamond Truffle Contour Body Oil
Speaking of moisture, if I’m feeling particularly dry, I pair my lotion with a body oil, and lately this one from Iota has been my obsession. Not only does it smell fantastic thanks to the Purple Orchid and Vanilla scent, but it also includes white truffle to support skin elasticity, diamond powder for a healthy glow, and pre- and post-biotics to help the skin’s microbiome flourish. Tack on an eight-oil blend (argan, algae, sweet almond, olive oil, and more), and you have a luxury body oil that makes your skin actually feel as soft as it’s going to look.
Best Foot Cream
PurOrganica
Urea Cream 40%
I discovered this cream about two years ago, and I’ve sworn by it ever since. Urea is one of the most hydrating ingredients on the market, and it comes in a whopping 40 percent concentration in this formula. Glycerin, safflower seed oil, propanediol, and more emollient, hydrating ingredients make up the rest of the formula, and after a good exfoliation in the shower, I love slathering on a thick layer of this cream and letting my feet marinate in the goodness.
Best LED Face Mask
No spa day is complete without my favorite wellness gadgets, and I swear by my LED light therapy. I typically use my Celluma Mystique if my at-home spa day falls on a weekend, as it’s a slightly longer session (30 minutes) than other devices I’ve used. Still, Celluma is a grade-A LED brand, and it helps not only to treat acne and fine lines but has also been FDA-cleared for pain management, body contouring, and even hair growth. I love the Mystique because it treats the face and hair simultaneously, but there are plenty of other options to choose from depending on your needs.
Best LED Mat
Higherdose
Full Body Red Light Mat
A wellness gadget I’ll add to my routine is this LED mat from HigherDose. I’ve enjoyed the benefits of LED for my face for so long that I started looking into ways to incorporate it into my body routine as well. In my research, I came across HigherDose’s Full Body Red Light Mat, which the brand claims supports skin, mood, muscle recovery, and circadian balance. A full-body red light session after my everything shower and at-home facial? I might actually levitate to heaven.
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