The 5 key steps for an amazing at-home spa facial, according to experts

“As amazing as a spa facial can be, we don’t always have the time or budget to make it a regular part of our skin care routine. But if you’ve ever gotten a facial before, you’ll know that it consists of several steps that are actually quite easy to recreate at home.

Grab some friends and do a DIY spa day or wind down with a calming facial ritual — either way, an at-home facial is a great way to prolong the results of your last in-office treatment or give your skin a reset.

Here, we speak to four skin experts about how to create a personalized at-home facial that brings the spa to you.”

Identify your skin type and needs

When getting a professional facial, the aesthetician should always start by asking about your skin concerns and goals, taking a look at the condition of your skin and formulating the best personalized treatment path based on those — and you should do exactly the same when doing an at-home facial.

“At-home facial treatments will depend on what is the skin concern you are treating, whether it’s decreasing inflammation and oil in acne-prone skin or building collagen for anti-aging, or both!” says Dr. Kseniya Kobets, director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein.

Generally, those with acne-prone skin will want to “look for anti-inflammatory effects,” explains Kobets. These ingredients will help calm and clarify the skin. Amy Peterson, medical aesthetician and founder of Miami medspa Skincare by Amy Peterson, says to use products with “ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl perozide and azelaic acid” to combat acne. “It is also important to look for oil-free hydrators to ensure that you do not over-dry or strip the skin,” she says.

Likewise, those with oily skin should focus on products that are oil-free and non-comedogenic, according to Peterson. “These products won’t clog pores and will help balance sebum production,” she explains. “You should also look for exfoliating ingredients that will help remove dead skin cells and reduce excess oil.”