PRESENTED BY
If you’re a parent working from home, a typical workday might start like this: Your forehead is already sweaty from trying to cut down on air con usage and your brows are furrowed as you squint into a screen, probably creating premature wrinkles. Your kid is climbing up your makeshift office chair grabbing at your neck like it’s the peak of Everest and to top it all off, your cat plops down on your keyboard, sending up a puff of fur into your face. But not every work from home moment has to be like this. We’re here to share an easy way to practice self-care during quarantine with a DIY facial you can do at home.
If we’ve hooked you, then chances are you’re a parent, but this easy DIY facial routine is truly for anyone who needs a little stress relief during this uncertain time. After all, our skin is benefiting from being exposed to less makeup, pollution, and sun. Why not give your face a little extra nourishment?
You already spend enough time giving your kids and your job attention all day long. This evening, clear your mind and lean into a rewarding DIY facial routine that has immediate effects on your skin and your mood. And because this is for moms, we’ll keep it so quick that you can do it all during an episode of Too Hot To Handle after the kids go to sleep.
Step 1 – Cleanse
The order of skincare routine is controversial and different people will tell you different things. But one thing almost everyone agrees on is that a good regime starts with cleansing.
We like using a gentle cleanser like IRÉN Start Afresh Daily Enzyme Powder Wash because it removes dirt, sebum, and old keratin, aka dead skin and leaves skin super soft. Simply tap some powder into your palm, lather into a creamy foam and massage onto your face for around 15 seconds. Take a moment to appreciate your skin while the enzymes and antioxidant properties of Japanese rice bran soothe your soul.
If you go for the IRÉN Detox & Chill Massage Cleansing Cream you’re in for a treat because it’s like getting a spa treatment. The cream turns into a lightweight oil texture, which you could wipe or rinse off. It’s perfect for an end-of-day cleanse to reveal your baby-skin face, and not the face that took care of a baby all day — when you want to feel as soft as a baby’s bum, instead of like someone who spent all day cleaning an actual baby’s bum. You get the gist.
Step 2 – Exfoliate
Now that you’ve cleansed the day off your face, it’s time to exfoliate. Exfoliation uses a coarse texture to get rid of deeper layers of dead skin and product buildup that may linger after cleansing. It also primes the skin for the next step.
Here’s where a quick rummage through the pantry or fridge can yield spa-like results. We like to use brown sugar mixed with coconut oil because it just smells so dang good. You can also use brown sugar and honey, or oatmeal and yogurt. (Wait, are we snacking, or scrubbing?!) You could also use a gentle natural loofah sponge dipped in warm water.
Gently massage your natural exfoliator onto your face in a slow circular motion. Let go of any negativity of the day, and let it fall down the drain, along with your dead skin cells. Just don’t let oatmeal and sugar go down your sink, or else you’ll be stuck at home with your kid, SO, ants, and a clogged drain.
Step 3 – Steam
First we removed surface level oil and dirt, then deeper layers of dead skin and unclogged pores. Now let’s open up those pores. An at-home steam using a bowl of hot water is so easy, even working moms can fathom doing it.
Simply boil a pot of water, pour it into a large bowl (carefully!), and hover your face above the bowl with a towel draped over your head. This simple step will make your DIY facial feel like you’ve invested in a professional facial treatment. Steam your face for 5-10 minutes, but no longer, because you don’t want to over heat or dry out your skin, especially if you have sensitive or acne prone skin.
Use this time for a little self reflection and meditation as you become aware of your breathing. Let those tense facial muscles finally relax. Ahhhh…
Step 4 – Massage
Ok, a facial massage might sound a bit indulgent, but hear us out. Massaging your face for just a few minutes as part of your DIY facial routine once a week (or daily, once you’re inevitably hooked) is a lifesaver. It reduces stress, and improves circulation. It connects you to your body, and will let you feel more comfortable in your skin.
Oh, and it’s totally easy. You can use a jade roller if you have one, and take it all over the different planes of your face, or you could use your favorite face cream and massage it in with your hands. Begin with your forehead, using your fingertips and knuckles. Next, massage your eyes with light strokes using your ring fingertips. Then massage your cheeks and around your mouth.
Don’t forget to massage your neck, where a lot of the day’s tension builds. Finish by massaging the outline of your face and your jawline.
Step 5 – Serum
Welcome to the final step. If you’re a WFM mom, congrats on nearly finishing an entire article. Go have a cookie, you deserve it. Ok, on we go!
A serum is a concentrated liquid, usually an oil, that is used for a specific purpose in your skincare routine. There are ways to make your own serums at home using essential oils, or you could use one of the seven Superfruit Booster Customized Serums from IRÉN Skin. Choose the right one depending on your skin’s needs. As a working mom, we’d have to suggest Keep Calm Soothing Serum and Forever Young Anti-Aging Serum as especially handy during Circuit Breaker. Apply the serum with the Skin Vaporizer Nano Face Spray, which is a convenient little beauty device that ensures your skincare product is delivered to your skin quickly, hands-free, and bacteria-free. It also promotes absorption into the epidermis, making your product as effective as possible.
Keep Calm Soothing Serum is packed with calming avocado and cucumber extract. Like its name suggests, it calms sensitive skin the way you wish you could calm your screaming baby in the middle of the night. First it soothes dryness (including eczema) and reduces sensitivity and redness, then it hydrates to repair the skin’s natural moisture barrier. If you feel your skin is in need of some serious TLC, this is for you.
Forever Young Anti-Aging Serum is heaven-sent for busy moms who need a pre-Zoom meeting boost. It instantly firms and tightens the skin with a powerful formula that combines several anti-aging ingredients. When we all emerge from this you might feel like Circuit Breaker has aged you 5 years, but your skin won’t look a day older!
IRÉN Superfruit Booster Customized Serums target specific skin concerns and can be used together synergistically. They are highly concentrated using a patented Ziplock Encapsulation Technology which allows for easy application and high permeability. They’re also 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and free from parabens, alcohol, and silicone.
From DIY to Professional Facial Post-Circuit Breaker
Now that you’ve got this DIY facial down pat, why not keep it up when the Circuit Breaker is lifted? Once you see your DIY results we’re sure you’ll be an addict. Lucky for you, Face Shower Bar offers an Unlimited Skin Gym Plan for SG$116+ a month.
It’s exactly what it sounds like — unlimited facials for a fixed price, which means you get more bang for your buck the more often you go. Sounds like a plan for the to-do list once those Circuit Breaker measures are lifted, if you ask us.
What type of facial will you be getting, you ask? Well, you’ll be treated to limitless Hydra Cleanse Facials (SG$120+), an award-winning treatment touting a non-invasive deep cleaning of your pores that’s good for all skin types.
We’re giving away one Hydra Cleanse Facial and one IRÉN Superfruit Booster 3-Day Trial Kit to 10 winners, exclusively for our COCO+ members. Please note that the facial is only redeemable after Circuit Breaker measures are lifted.
How to win, you ask? It’s simple — join us and become a COCO+ member.
COCO+ provides exclusive access to all sorts of events, not to mention regular perks like freebies and giveaways. It also comes with unlimited access to all the juicy goodness of Coconuts stories, along with first access to the latest documentaries by Coconuts TV.
More good news: COCO+ membership can be yours for less than the price of one coffee! Read more about COCO+ and sign up here.
All COCO+ members interested in this giveaway should email to membership@coconuts.co with their full name and subject line “I want to try out Face Shower Bar”. Members will be notified via email on July 31, 2020, so keep an eye on your inbox. We ask all winners to reply and claim their prize within 24 hours, or we will pick again.
What’s more, all Coconuts readers will receive a complimentary Hydra Cleanse Facial worth over SG$128.40 when purchasing any three serums of your choice for SG$168 (Total worth $302.4), with discount code ‘COCONUTS’. Enjoy!
Reader Interactions