Facials in Five Minutes

You don’t need to spend a bunch of time and money getting a facial—you could even squeeze one in on your lunch break. Let’s talk about how!

Steam.

The first step in a facial is to steam. Steaming has myriad benefits for the skin, but most notably it cleanses, promotes circulation, releases bacteria and sebum from your pores, and increases your skin’s permeability, making it better able to absorb topical treatments. 

Did you catch all that?! If you made it this far, let’s just sum it up by saying steaming is the best way to prepare your skin for your facial routine. 

There are a few ways to go about a quick steam, but my fave is to simply crank up my hot water, and once it is pipin’ hot, I soak a washcloth or a facial wipe in it. I love to use the Busy Co Refresh Face Wipe for this step—it has AHA, calendula, coconut and aloe to calm and cleanse the skin, which makes for an extra luxurious first step (not to mention it smells amazing.) Then, I lay down with the cloth covering my face, with my nose still free to breathe, and hang out for about a minute.

Exfoliate.

The next step is to exfoliate. Exfoliating the skin is a bit of an art form, and there is plenty of research to be done if you’re looking for today’s internet rabbithole—but what’s critical to know is: the goal of exfoliating is to gently remove dead skin cells, while also unclogging pores and stimulating collagen production to prepare the skin for moisturizing. So a good rule of thumb is to scrub lightly and don’t overdo it—you don’t want to exit the exfoliate step feeling like a raw tomato. 

I like to use a washcloth for this step, using the lightly abrasive fabric to scrub in a circular motion. I choose to use a washcloth because they are packable and easily washable, but there are all sorts of fancy exfoliating tools out there if you want to amp up your facial game. However you choose to get there, the exfoliation step is a great way to prepare for the next step.

Apply a Serum.

Next on deck is applying a serum. Serums are highly concentrated topicals that are “able to hydrate more effectively than even the heaviest creams. The molecules are able to truly penetrate the skin and hydrate on the deepest level, while the heavier creams more so sit on those top layers. Hydrating serums do not necessarily replace your moisturizer, but can boost the hydrating effects of your moisturizer,” according to esthetician Karee Hays.

The thing is, serums can be very messy, sticky, and hard to travel with. For this reason, I prefer to use the Glow Face Wipe. This handy dandy little wipe is a perfect travel companion, and in a pinch acts as a perfect replacement for a serum. It has Vitamin C, which works to brighten and firm the skin, and also has hyaluronic acid, which helps to boost hydration and improve moisture retention. 

Moisturize.

Now the skin is prepped and ready to apply a moisturizer. My personal favorite is jojoba oil, which mimics the skin’s natural sebum, and allows deeper penetration into the pores, meaning deep hydration for healthy, plump, moisturized skin.

Massage.

Then, taking your fingers (make sure your fingers are washed and clean!) massage the oil or lotion into your face. (You can even use a facial massage roller if you really want to treat yourself!) Massaging after your moisturizer will stimulate your skin and help with slowing the aging process of delicate facial skin. 

In Five Minutes?!

A quick cheat sheet: steam, exfoliate, serum, moisturize, massage. With all these steps in mind, how is it possible to fit in all this self-care in a flash? 

How I make this process smooth and easy is in the preparation. I put together a little “facial kit” bag the night before, with a Refresh Face Wipe, washcloth, a Glow Face Wipe, my moisturizer, and my jade roller. This way, everything is organized and ready to go.

This quick facial routine will leave your skin so happy and refreshed, and it won’t break the bank or keep you from the rest of your daily badassery. Enjoy!