Читать книгу The Complete Make-Up and Beauty Book - Leigh Toselli - Страница 21

One of the keys to beautiful skin is a cleansing routine that is gentle, thorough and relaxing.

Pull hair back. Squeeze a walnut-sized blob of cleanser into your palm and gently warm it by rubbing it between your hands. This will emulsify the cleanser, making it more able to loosen dirt and grime.

Apply the cleanser with your fingertips, beginning at the centre of your face and working upwards and outwards. Massage the cleanser in with your fingertips to soften any congested areas in the skin. This relaxes the pores for further treatment and helps boost circulation. Rinse off excess cleanser.

Soak cotton-wool pads in cool water, and then douse them in eye make-up remover. Lay one over each eye, wait for a few seconds, then rub the pads with your fingertips to loosen the eye make-up. Vigorous rubbing or pulling of the delicate skin around the eyes will eventually cause the skin to loose elasticity and sag. Remove and gently wipe under the eyes to remove the final traces of make-up.

Using cotton-wool pads soaked in warm water and alcohol-free toner, sweep the rest of the face to remove the cleanser. Gently splash with cool water to stimulate the skin before applying mask.

Apply the face mask, taking care to avoid the eye and lip areas. Don’t forget your neck, which must be included in each and every step of the cleansing routine.

Remove the mask gently with a wet face cloth. Using clean cotton-wool pads soaked in warm water to remove any remaining traces, splash face and finish off with your moisturizer.

To get the most out of a DIY facial:

Keep hair off face with a shower cap or thick towelling band when cleansing.

Wash with a gentle cleanser applied to dry skin and remove with damp cotton wool to prevent the skin from drying out.

Scrubs with harsh granules can irritate and damage blood vessels. Opt for an exfoliator the texture of oatmeal, but test it on your hand.

Always include the entire neck area in your skin-care routine. It needs as much care and consideration as your face; besides, you’ll be thankful in your 40s.

Don’t wait for breakouts – prevention is always better than cure.

Keep all sponges, face cloths, beauty brushes and tools meticulously clean.

Always be gentle with your skin – no harsh rubbing, pummelling or squeezing.

Rather than steaming your skin, which can be harsh, cover it with a warm wet towel sprinkled with a few drops of revitalizing essential oils, such as peppermint or lavender, breathing deeply for a minute or two.

Make sure there is nobody at home when you indulge in DIY facials and masks – the sight of a woman enveloped in an avocado face mask with teabags on her eyelids will send most men scurrying for cover!