You can easily enhance your facial exfoliation process by using a facial brush. Facial brushing helps remove dead skin, keeps your skin smooth and stimulates blood circulation in your facial skin. By stimulating the circulation in your face, your skin tone will improve and help firm the skin. Your skin will become softer and smoother... And black and white heads free!

Every time you use it – it’s like a mini facial massage! It’s a fabulous way to spoil yourself during your weekly facial cleaning routine.

My steps: On dry skin, I remove my make-up with Lancome's Huille Eclat, a deep cleansing oil for the face and eyes. I massage my face for about 3 minutes using light circular motions. With a facial brush (I personally use a soft-bristled short handled brush), scrub your face gently in circular motions for about 3 minutes. Then, with luke warm water, wash your face and pat dry. NEVER scrub the towel on your face, just patting it will do.

Only do this regime once a week so that you won't scratch your new skin.

Tips:

1. Keep your facial brush in optimum shape by rinsing it after use and air-drying it. Placing it on top of a drying rack is best so that it won't sit on a pool of water which can cause build up of mildew and bacteria.

2. Remember to moisturize and apply tons of sunblock when you do facial brushing. This removes dead skin cells so your skin is exposed more to UV rays. Be sure to use at least 30spf on your face.

Types of Facial Brushes:


The soft bristled rounded brush











The long handled facial brush











The silicone facial pad








The electronic facial brush

Exfoliating my face has been one of my skin care regimes that I never miss every week. Whenever I was in the supermarket, I make it a point that I browse the aisle where the facial washes are and look for new facial scrubs (specially the ones from St. Ives). Although, I have read in a lot of beauty books (and heard it from one of my teachers in makeup school abroad) that apricot scrubs are the meanest of them all. They have sharp edges that can tear the skin (although not visible to the naked eye).

So I researched on the internet one time when I ran out of a facial scrub, I then found this recipe that intrigued me. I tried it out and got positive results! Try this home made facial scrub! Although it's a bit messy and sticky, the end result is amazing!

WARNING: Patch test some of the ingredients first on your arm and see if you have a reaction. Results for different skin types may vary.

Take 2 - 3 teaspoons raw oats (not the pre-cooked type) and crush into smaller bits either by hand or in a grinder. Mix the dry oats with pure honey and 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar until it forms a smooth mixture. Add more honey as needed. Then add 1 drop of basil oil to the mixture.

For a problem skin, you can replace the basil oil with tea tree oil to help the healing process along. You can find tea tree oil in beauty shops and boutiques.

After washing the face and drying it gently by patting with a towel, apply this sticky mixture in gentle circular movements. Avoid the eye area. Leave the mixture on for about 15 minutes and wash off with lots of tepid water.

It's really fun to make and the thing is, it costs even less to have a good skin care regime! Do this once a week to get maximum results.

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographed by Sabs Hernandez
Makeup by Sabs Hernandez
Model: Jessica

Ideal for: A pre-party glow or before the annual "unveiling" at the beach.
Written by Sabs Hernandez

Every year around this time, I make a valiant effort to either self-tan at home, or travel great distances to the beach just to get that great summer glow even for a few weeks. When I do self-tan at home, I make my first foray to the beach streaky and orange-y, still recovering from my inability to apply the stuff evenly -- anywhere.

This year, I wanted to invest in a really good body tint that would make me look tan and glowing.

The first step to an even tan using a tint is a thorough exfoliation with a brush followed by a gritty scrub that's rubbed in all over then washed off in the shower. When your skin is deflaked and smoothed, then you are ready for your faux tan. Because I can get really fair and I didn't want to look too bronzed, I dilute the my Perfecting Body Tint (which I am obsessing over right now) with lotion to make it just a tad lighter. Think of this body tint as an optical illusion in a tube. Its creamy formula gives skin a golden glow to camouflage blemishes, bumps and other imperfections for a flawless finish, while a subtle sheen reflects light for a slimmer appearance. Plus, it's streak-free, virtually transfer-free and washable, so the glamour goes on and comes off without a hitch.

When I just came from the beach, then I use it pure. Don't forget to apply on your hands and feet! You don't want to look like you have gloves and socks! Haha!

The result: A fab natural glow -- and not a streak in sight! When I do this right after showering, my legs would have just enough color that I felt great showing them off in skirts, and the rest of my skin had a nice subtle color. I suggest that you splurge on self-tanners and temporary body tints, it's worth it -- I've never gotten results like these when I would buy cheap products. It would start to fade in about three hours when I sweat and would leave me looking orange instead of golden. Find the product that works best on you!

If you perfect this, tanning has the magic to shed five pounds on your look!

Hair and Makeup by Sabs Hernandez