With a busy lifestyle like yours comes a lot of stress. If you prioritise work and other tasks over your health, it’s time to take a step back. Slow down and give yourself a much-awaited break. Make exceptional Sunday facials a ritual and set the tone for hectic Mondays, rushed nights, and unforeseeable occasions. The best part? It’s quick and easy to do! Plus, you end up feeling fresh and rejuvenated. So, slice up some cucumbers and enjoy these facials for glowing skin.

Seven facial steps for glowing skin

1. Ice your face

• Fold a napkin over a few cubes of ice and dab it all over your face for 10 minutes with intervals of 10-15 seconds. This will reduce puffiness around your eyes as you massage them from inward to outward motion. 
• Ice relieves irritation and inflammation by its cold temperature, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with sensitive or swollen skin. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels, thereby reducing the appearance of pores. Let your face rest for another 10 minutes before the next step.

2. Cleanse

This step is vital to maximise the effectiveness of the rest of the routine, so let’s start with a clean slate. It is of utmost importance to get rid of dirt, grime, excessive oils, and residual makeup from last night. Massage your skin with a light foaming gel or an exfoliating cleanser for a minute to dislodge the impurities, improving the results of the facial. Using lukewarm water is usually ideal for cleansing your skin. Many people use foaming soaps for the face, but unless specifically mentioned, one should avoid “foam” to preserve their skin’s natural oils.

3. Exfoliate

You should always take this step, especially if you have dull skin. Dull skin results from dead skin cell accumulation and dehydration, diminishing your natural radiance from within. So gear up, and start by massaging your exfoliator inwards and upwards from the cheeks to the temple. Do this for 10 minutes, and your pores will thank you soon! 

Now, there are a few different types of exfoliators: 

• Physical exfoliators encompass facial scrubs, at-home microdermabrasion tools, or derma-planing blades. 
• Chemical exfoliators, such as acids like lactic or glycolic, dissolve dead skin cells. Alternatively, you can create a homemade chemical exfoliator using ingredients like orange peels, crushed walnuts, almonds, and honey. 

Scrubbing is a big NO while exfoliating your face, as it strips the skin of its natural barrier. Individuals with oilier skin can exfoliate more frequently, ideally four to five times per week, while those with drier skin should limit exfoliation to approximately once a week.