How to Do a Spa-Quality Facial at Home

Is the siren song of the spa calling your name but your bank account refuses to let you answer? Save your money—and time—while still treating yourself to a pampering facial in the comfort of your own home. Here’s everything you need to know about how to have a spa day at home. Before you get started, though, it’s essential to set the mood and engage your senses. Light your favourite scented candle, set your Spotify to calming sounds—we suggest frothy waves lapping on the shore—and pour yourself a glass of cucumber-infused water. Now that you’re ready, here’s how to create luxury at-home spa treatments.

Tub time

The benefit to having a spa day at home instead of at a fancy establishment is that you can really get in the zone by spending some quality time in the bathtub pre-treatment. Kick off this pampering ritual with a 15- to 20-minute soak. This will not only relax your body and nervous system but also calm your mind—not to mention the warm water will help open up pores so that, later, when you apply a full face mask, it will really sink in. You can kick up the chill vibe, and soften your skin, by adding bath oil. For a classic spa scent, try chamomile or lavender; for something more energizing, try eucalyptus or peppermint oil. When you get out, slip into your plushiest bathrobe and tuck your hair into a head wrap or headband.

Clean slate

Now it’s time to remove your makeup. Not wearing makeup? You still need to cleanse skin to ensure that dirt and sebum are washed away before your next step. Unsure what type of cleanser to use? If you have dry skin that needs a radiance boost, you should use a cleansing balm. If you have sensitive and acne-prone skin, you should stick with a gel cleanser. Finally, combination skin can benefit from a cream, milk or foam cleanser.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Post-cleanse, it’s time to give skin a good slough. Exfoliators run in two lanes: chemical and physical. They both do the same thing—remove dead skin cells—but in different ways. Chemical exfoliators use acids to aid in cell turnover. Peels are a good example; they are not only great for smoothing but also give you a gorgeous glow. Physical exfoliation uses beads or small grains, like sugar. If you’re in the market for a classic scrub, try L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Scrub for Dull Skin. It uses fine sugars, grapeseed oil and finely ground acai to brighten and refresh skin. For dry skin, try L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Cocoa Scrub for Dry Skin; it contains cocoa, coconut oil and rich cocoa butter and is ultra-nourishing and smoothing. If your skin is acne-prone, L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Kiwi Scrub for Oily Skin is your best option. It contains fine sugar, kiwi seeds and peppermint and lemon-grass oils to help tighten pores. All of these scrubs contain a combo of sugars and oils; once you rub the scrub into your skin, you see and feel the softening benefits—but don’t rinse it off just yet. Run a washcloth under really hot water, wring it out and then drape it over your face. No spa day at home is complete without a warm washcloth! Let it sit for a few minutes before removing it and the scrub.

Miracle masks

To clarify pores and help remove debris, toxins and excess oil, try slathering on a purifying clay mask. Clay mask benefits don’t just extend to acne-prone and oily complexions. L’Oréal Paris has five clay masks that are formulated with three different clays (kaolin, montmorillonite and Moroccan lava); each addresses a different skincare concern, which means you can use one full face mask or multi-mask, tackling each individual skincare concern by apply several masks at the same time. For oily skin, try L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleansing Mask for Dull Skin, formulated with charcoal to draw out impurities, or L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleansing Mask for Oily Skin, with eucalyptus, which helps take down shine. If you have sensitive skin, try L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleansing Mask for Sensitive Skin. This nourishing seaweed and blue-clay mask helps draw out dirt and oils gently. If you don’t have time to do the previous step (exfoliate), you can skip it and use L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleansing Mask for Skin with Imperfections, with yuzu lemon extract, or L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleansing Mask for Rough Skin, which is enhanced with red algae. Both masks help draw out impurities, dirt and pollution but also shed dead skin cells. When you apply any kind of mask, make sure to keep it away from the hairline, eye area and lips. Let it set for 10 to 15 minutes, but don’t let it get crumbly dry. Then use the same removal method described earlier: Place a warm washcloth over your face and let it sit for a few minutes before removing it and the mask.

Moisture surge

Finally, it’s important to seal in all that hard work with your daily serum, eye cream and moisturizer. This also helps to rehydrate and calm the skin. And don’t forget your lips: Apply a rich, hydrating balm. If you’re planning on going out into daylight after your spa day at home, be sure to apply a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30.