According to top facialist, Julia Hart, giving yourself a DIY facial, especially pre-party, is not only easy, but can give great results too. ‘The aim of getting your skin pre-party perfect is to smooth, polish and brighten, whilst hydrating and plumping without overloading the skin’, she explains. ‘Keep it simple. You don’t want to do too much to your skin, just enough to make a visible difference to the texture and plumpness’.
After cleansing, Julia recommends the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, from £150 which produces very similar results to exfoliating. It exfoliates without abrasion or chemicals, and is so gentle on the skin that it can be used twice a day. While it may look like a large face brush, it actually uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second, to lift off dirt, grime and dead skin cells, allowing your skin to absorb skincare products much more effectively.
Alternatively, start with an light exfoliating product such as Lulu’s Time Bomb Blast to the Past Dermabrasion, £30, which contains magnesium oxide crystals, similar to those used in professional microdermabrasion treatments, to gently lift away the top layers of dead skin cells.
For extra anti-ageing power, apply an intensive serum, such as Skinesis Age Repair Concentrate, £78, (a potent blend of vitamins, peptides and hyaluronic acid. Julia then recommends a hydrating face mask, such as Crystal Clear Mini Lift Mask, £22, which is a true alternative to a salon facial. Even if you don’t have time to go through the whole facial process, this mask simply used on its own will leave your skin feeling absolutely amazing.
Finish by massaging in a hydrating product such as Jan Marini's Transformation Cream, £62 (020 8868 4411 for stockists), which Julia swears by. ‘The formulations are really top notch and contain amazing antioxidants and hyaluronic acid’.
If you’re short of time, applying your moisturiser while in a warm, steamy bath and massaging it into your skin, will help to plump it up for the evening. Julia recommends using the Japanese massage technique, the Gankin Massage. This simple yet effective technique massages away facial stiffness and tension in less than three minutes, while boosting circulation, firming the contours of the face and giving it more definition. If you go to www.suqqu.com you can download the Gankin method step sheet for free and learn how to do it yourself. It couldn’t be easier - and its free - hurrah!!!
