My First Professional Facial

Hey guys! I can finally say I got a real facial! :) It was so nice and relaxing. The esthetician DeAnn was super nice and great to talk to. My cousin Maggie actually started going to DeAnn's little clinic a few months before she got married so her skin could clear up for the wedding photos. And Maggie looked amazing on her wedding day. That was seven years ago. Maggie and DeAnn are now close friends and Maggie has seen DeAnn many, many times. Today, I was lucky enough to come along :)

The facial lasted about an hour. DeAnn also did a little massaging on my shoulders, arms, and hands. I can't say what she used because my eyes were closed the entire time! But I know she cleansed my face multiple times, did two different types of facials (one was a pumpkin enzyme... smelled DELICIOUS), extracted some of the gunk on my face, put me under a steamer, etc.

The end result? I still have my pimples, of course, but my pores are not congested anymore! My face looked brighter and clearer. My skin felt smoother and softer.

So is $70 worth it? Yes. 

I know, it's pricey. It's a one-time price tag. But it's worth it. I have lots of confidence that my skin will be much better in the next following weeks :)

What did I learn about acne today?

• Using the same cleanser morning and night actually helps. I've been doing this for about a week because I didn't want to bring two cleansers to my cousin's place. I've actually seen a difference; my skin has improved a little bit in just a week.
• If you want to pop a pimple, make sure your pores are clean and opened. Hover your face over steam or take a hot bath. Then, use Q-tips and not your fingers to pop the head of the pimple. Why is this important? One, there is less pressure (compared to using your fingers) and can reduce the chances of scarring. Two, it's much more sanitary. Afterwards, clean the area again with warm water.
• Use a little bit of pressure when you cleanse. Lather your cleanser with a bit of water between your palms. In a circular motion, cleanse your face until you've covered your face completely. Then, arch your hands (as if you're typing on a keyboard) and apply a bit of pressure as you continue cleansing in a circular motion. What this does is break down the nasty stuff in your pores. It will lift the gunk to the surface of your skin and your pores will be clean! 

I hope these tips are helpful.

If you are in the San Francisco area, come check out DeAnn. She really is amazing. Yelp page is here. Website (with a pricing chart) is here. Remember: it is by appointment only and it is just DeAnn working in the clinic, so she can be booked for a few days. 

Who doesn't like Ferrero Rocher?!

2 DIY Facial Masks for Acne

Hello bloggers! I got a lot of homework done earlier tonight and now I am just relaxing. The tickle in my throat is under control, for now. I really do hope it will not turn into something terrible... Anyways, I am still on my journey to achieving clear, acne-free skin. I found two simple, wallet-friendly facial masks to make!

Credits to leonsbeautytipsandsecrets.com, which is a great blog for skin, hair, and body care + more :) I stumbled across this blog over a year ago and it was lost in my bookmarks folder from my old laptop. I decided to click on said folder today and look what I found :)

Green Tea & Chocolate Antioxidant Facial Mask

• 1 Tbsp Matcha Tea Powder (or you can cut open a tea bag with powdered tea leaves!)
• 1 Tbsp Dark Cocoa Powder
• Enough honey to make a paste

* Mix together and apply the paste; rinse after 20 minutes.

Garlic and Oatmeal Scrub for Blackheads & Whiteheads

[Do this every day for 3 days straight!]

• 2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
• 1 Tbsp ground oatmeal
• 2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice
• Enough honey to make a paste

* Mix together and apply the paste

* Leave on for 2 minutes, then exfoliate for 1 min (circular motion)

* Rinse

Again, credits go to leonsbeautytipsandsecrets.com. I have not tried these masks yet because we do not have honey in our apartment! :( But I am very excited to test them out. I love facial masks, I love DIYs, I love using natural ingredients, and I love anything that could possibly rid my face of acne! 

eBay auction - lost

A couple days ago, I created a post about my eBay bid on Clinique's Dark Spot Corrector. I was planning to write a review about it, along with clearing up some dark spots on my cheeks, but I lost. I mean, who would hand over $15... for a sample?!

Meanwhile, I placed a bid (and won!) on the Alba Botanica Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask. I've used this mask before - and loved it. It does burn a little while you wait the required 5 minutes, but it leaves my skin amazingly soft. Plus, it's made with natural ingredients and it's free of animal testing :)  This enzyme mask is my ultimate favorite!

Basic Oatmeal Facial Mask

Got some plain oatmeal laying around? Or maybe it expired and you don't want to just throw it away. Make a mask out of it! Oatmeal can be used as a scrub to clean out pores for smoother, clearer skin. It's suitable for all skin types and there are many different ways to use it!

I recently made a mask out of oatmeal by mixing 1/2 cup of dry oats with 1/3 cup of boiling water to make a paste. Avoid sweetened or flavored oatmeal varieties. Let it cool and apply on face. After 20 minutes, wash your face with water and moisturize! :)

There are numerous benefits of oatmeal masks and even more different kind of masks you can make with plain oats. Try adding a little bit of honey or milk. What kind of facial masks do you create in your own kitchen? Let me know by leaving me a comment!

Post update 8/2/2012:

I didn't get to write about my results! :( I was busy at work (and procrastinating, hehe) so I didn't get to finish. Well, what I found after the mask was...

1) My pores decreased dramatically in size! My skin looked so clear. :)

2) My face looked fresh and brighter, like I had a good night's sleep.

3) My skin was really soft; the oats exfoliated my skin a little!

Give this mask a try!