Summer is here, and so are all the things that come with it. Pretty dresses, beach parties, ice creams and, for many of us, oily skin. Great.
Even if you have normal or dry skin, the rise in heat and humidity can leave your skin feeling slick and shiny (and cause your makeup to start sliding down your face). During summer, your natural oils sit on the surface of your face for longer and may mix with sweat making your face feel greasy. Add oil-based makeup to the equation, and you’re left with a real sticky situation.
But fear not, you’re not doomed to spend your whole summer sitting in front of the air-con. We’ve found the solution: a perfect facial that’ll keep unwanted summer shine under control. The even better news? This facial is DIY and uses natural ingredients, so you can keep the cost to a minimum.
Do this simple DIY facial once a week for a complexion that looks (and feels) fresh and clean, and glows in just the right places.
1 Cleanse
Cleansing helps remove dirt, pollution, dead cells and residual makeup from your skin. To prevent oily summer skin, it’s important that your cleanser only removes the excess oil from your face – a bit of oil is essential for soft, healthy skin. A simple and effective homemade solution is a paste made out of oats and yoghurt (make sure it’s plain and has a low fat content). Apply the paste on your face and neck, massaging in circular motions. Wipe it off with a tissue or soft cotton and then wash with warm water.
2 Steam
Steaming is an absolute must before applying a face mask. The steam opens up your pores and softens your skin, allowing the nutrients in the mask to go deeper into your skin. The easiest way to steam your face at home is to fill a large glass bowl with boiling water, and place your face over it. Drape a towel over your head and the bowl so the steam doesn’t escape. Stay like this for 5 to 10 minutes. If you like, you can add herbs such as rosemary, lavender or thyme to the boiling water.
3 Mask
The best kind of masks are ones that contain clay – get some fullers earth powder for the best results, available at most herbal stores. Make a mask at home by combining 2 spoons of fullers earth, 2 spoons of tomato puree, 1 teaspoon of fresh yoghurt and a few drops of fresh lemon juice. Mix well to form a smooth paste, not too think or too thin. Apply the mask to your face and neck with a brush, avoiding the eye area. Relax and wait for about 15 minutes, till the mask dries. Wipe off the mask with cotton pads, and then wash your face with cold water. Pat your face with a soft towel until it is dry.
4 Tone
After an intense facial, toning is necessary to tighten your skin and close all the pores that were opened up by the heat. For beautiful, youthful skin try and avoid toners that have any alcohol content as they will dry out your skin. Rosewater is a natural toner that is good for your skin. Sweep it on to your face using a cotton pad.
5 Moisturise
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that moisturiser is only for dry skin! Oily skin also needs the nourishment. If you prefer to buy a moisturiser, make sure that it is water based so that it doesn’t make your skin greasy. For a homemade moisturiser that’s perfect for oily skin, combine 60ml of fresh milk with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of unsweetened lime juice. Apply the mixture on your face and neck, massaging gently until it is absorbed by the skin.
Looking for more skincare tips? Here are 5 overnight face masks for glowing skin, and 3 cleansing rules from an a-list facialist.
