Beauty brains/the manual

At-home facials, and the low-down on deodorant

Why a DIY facial is worth the effort

A good facial should pep up your circulation, magic away zits and, for a few hours at least, provide lift and tone. It emphatically shouldn’t involve a ‘therapist’ slapping on and wiping off product after product then trying to flog them to you.

As much as I love salon facials, it’s perfectly possible to self-administer if you don’t have the budget or time to go professional.

Begin with a cleanser that gently removes all grime. Burt’s Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream is effective and largely free from chemicals. Next up, a more luxurious, nourishing cleanse with Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm, which also works as a lubricant for massage – try five minutes with a gua’sha stone such as Hayo’u’s Beauty Restorer to stimulate circulation and boost collagen production.

Once you’ve removed the balm with a warm flannel, rinse it then dip the flannel in Garden of Wisdom Pore Cleaning Powder. Apply to skin and leave the paste to work for 10 minutes. Next, a few minutes’ steam works wonders. Go old-school over a bowl of boiling water, but I prefer an electric streamer as you can control the flow. Get them from £20 on Amazon or try the deluxe option below. Add a few drops of essential oil to the water.

Rinse again and apply a nourishing mask such as Alexandra Soveral Volcano Ash. Postmask, apply hyaluronic acid and/or serum and an oil. Cue more massage and a few facial exercises you can find on Youtube. Top with moisturiser and charge yourself £150.