The 12 Skincare Hacks Your Facialist Probably Hasn’t Told You About

“It’s very rare that our skin is completely unified, and often we’re dealing with dullness, sensitivity and dehydration all at the same time. So, to get the most out of your home facial, I like to mix two or three products together and apply them directly to skin. My favorite combination is to blend a hydrating gel mask with a lifting and toning cream for a plumping, firming treatment that requires no heavy lifting on my part.”

“Most of us give our face and neck a little massage when we apply our moisturizers, but a great opportunity in our regimen to really get in and flush stagnant lymph, and lift, tone and detoxify with massage, is when you cleanse. I use a gentle milk formula or nourishing cleansing balm for this so there’s enough ‘slip’ to really work into the contours of the face using upward and outward motions.”

“I often apply a thin layer of raw honey, preferably Manuka honey, as a face mask after cleansing to calm and balance my sensitive skin. It’s incredibly healing and strengthening, as well as being anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory – and it’s just as beneficial for blemish-prone skin as it is for those of us who are red or sensitized.”

“When you use a face oil, you want to make sure you’re applying rose water or some kind of hydrating toner beforehand, because your skin won’t absorb the oil properly if you don’t wet it first.”

“If you suffer from an oily complexion or your skin feels very clogged, mix a bit of baking soda with your cleanser for a safe glow-giving exfoliation. Do this a few times a week if you feel exceptionally oily or have blocked pores.

“It’s also key to look at what’s going on internally and figure out why your skin may be excessively oily or congested – after all, our skin truly looks its best when we treat it well from the inside out.”

“I love dandelion tea for de-puffing, so every time I make a cup, I stick the tea bag in the refrigerator (rather than the freezer) afterwards. Once the tea bags are chilled, you can place them on your eyes and relax for a few minutes to take down any puffiness. I also love using ice cubes as a simple cryo treatment, and if you make them from chamomile or dandelion tea, you get added draining and de-puffing benefits. I use a gauze or glass-cleaning cloth to wrap around a cube before rubbing it over my face. If you run an ice cube over your sheet mask, the cold helps to seal in product ingredients, too. You can also do this after an extraction facial to calm down any redness.”

“Along with my masks, I keep my Joanna Czech face-massage device in the fridge so I can use it chilled over a sheet mask. It’s the best cryo treatment for de-puffing and taking down any inflammation.”