Posts Tagged ‘face cleansers’

Making It Off – Adventures in Makeup Remover

Up until I was 22, I slept in my makeup. Coming home late (or sometimes wearing it to bed on purpose) left my sheets, pillow, and duvet in a rainbow of smudges.

Then, along came Halloween. A bad reaction to dime-store eyeliner practically glued my eyes shut. Those Rocky Horror party plans? Turned into a run to the Emergency Room. After a 20 minute lecture from a not-so sympathetic doctor, (echoed by my boyfriend in the car) I accepted the truth: I need to take proper care of my eyes. Gone were the days of dime-store liner, $2 shadow and glitter mascara. Instead, I find myself triple checking labels for artificial colourants or perfumes.

The biggest thing that will set my eyes off, even using great make up, is leaving it on too long. Those “All-Day” or “24 Hour Last” products are great- but by the time I get home, I’ve already been in them for 12 hours and my eyes start to feel tired. Instead of waiting until right before bed, I do a quick makeup removal when I’m washing up to start supper. With my sensitive eyes, I really love Eminence Herbal Eye Makeup Remover (5.07oz). Soothing, gentle AND takes of regular mascara! Not suitable for water-proof mascara or other waterproof products.

If you’re a regular waterproof mascara wearer, I would go with something a little more directed, such as Decleor Aroma Cleanse Eye Make-Up Remover (150ml). Great for people with sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers, it takes off waterproof mascara really nicely. As it is an oil/water based cleanser, you do have to shake it before using.

When it comes to the rest of your makeup, it really depends on your skin type and what you’re looking for in a cleanser. If you have sensitive skin, our estheticians recommend GM Collin Sensiderm Cleansing Milk: Lait Nettoyant (200ml). It has a neutral pH which leaves your skin feeling supple, clean, and soothed. The active ingredients work to eliminate skin impurities and prevent dryness.

For me, there’s still a fair bit of that lazy 22 year old and I love products that do as many things as possible, such as the 3-in-1  Laboratoire Dr Renaud HydraPure Make-Up Removing, Cleansing and Toning Water.

The one product I really wish my lazy 22 year old self had known? Bodyography Mineral Makeup FACE IT Cleansing and Soothing Wipes (50 count). Super easy to use, you just wipe it all off and toss. It even does that notorious waterproof mascara! Superfast, your skin is left cleansed, softened and protected. A must for the lazy makeup junkie. They leave no excuse for waking up with raccoon eyes.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

How to make an at home facial kit for Mom

Bring the spa home for Mom. Mothers Day is one of the best times to let the mom in your life know how much she means to you. A unique gift idea for mom is to give her an at home facial kit so she can spend some quality down time pampering herself. Below are suggestions to bundle up her kit with goodies and label it “Just for Mom”!

Facials are the process of cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating the face to brighten the complexion and minimize lines and wrinkles.

Shopping List:

• Wash basin or deep bowl, newspaper or sheets of tissue paper, linens (robe , face cloth, hand towel , towel, head band – to keep Momss hair out of her face!), cotton pads, eye makeup remover, facial cleanser, exfoliator, toner, face mask, moisturizer, eye cream, magazines, tea/mug, list of facial instructions printed on pretty paper (instructions are below that you can copy and print for her).

Compiling your unique Mothers Day Gift:

1. Roll the face cloth, towel, hand towel and head band individually and secure with ribbons.
2. Line the bottom of the bowl or wash basin with crumpled pieces of tissue or news paper.
3. Place the rolled up linens and products strategically throughout the inside of the bowl or basin.
4. Biggest items in back, smallest in front.
5. Print out the facial at home directions and place in a pretty envelope inside bowl or basin.
6. Wrap entire package in cellophane and secure with a big beautiful ribbon and your Mothers Day card.
7. Give to Mom and watch her smile.

Facial Instructions (print out for mom on pretty paper!):

Step 1 - Cleanse the skin – Wet skin. Place a dime size amount of cleanser into hands and rub onto wet face in a circular motion. Rinse well.

Step 2 - Cleanse the eye area – Take a cotton pad. Saturate pad with eye cleanser. Gently remove all eye makeup.

Step 3 - Tone the skin – Saturate a cotton pad with toner and rub onto skin to remove any traces of cleanser and prepare skin for next product.

Step 4 - Exfoliate skin (Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells off of the surface of the skin.) Using your fingers, rub exfoliator in a circular motion all over your face avoiding eye area. Concentrate on nose and forehead and any area that in prone to excess oil. Rinse face extremely well

Step 5 - Tone the skin again – As per above. (repeat Step 3)

Step 6 - Steam – Fill bowl or wash basin with warm, steamy water . Place bowl on a flat surface and sit directly in front of bowl. Place towel over the top of the bowl and carefully place head under towel approximately 8 inches above water. Sit comfortably for 3-5 minutes letting the steam permeate your pores and open them up.

Step 7 - Apply mask - Apply a layer of mask onto the face (avoiding eye area), according to directions on the p roduct. Allow mask to penetrate skin, leaving on for recommended time on the product. -Rinse completely with water and face cloth.

Step 8 - Tone the Skin again - As per above (repeat Step 3)

Step 9 - Apply Eye Mask - As per directions on the product. Leave on for recommended time then rinse completely.

Step 10 - Moisturize – Smooth on moisturizer and eye cream, make a cup of tea and enjoy magazine.

If you have an interesting ideas for at-home spa services for your friends or family, please feel free to share your comments below!

As special bonus just for reading, take 10% off your next purchase with discount code blog10! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!