Cleanse your face with a gentle, creamy liquid cleanser. Put your liquid cleanser on a ball of cotton and then apply it to your skin. Make sure you rinse with lukewarm water because hot water can aggravate the skin and inflame capillaries.
Step 2: Tone
Use a gentle toner over your face and neck after you have rinsed thoroughly. This removes the last traces of your cleanser and restores the pH balance of the skin so it won't over-secrete or under-secrete oil. For oily or combination skin, you can use a toner that is more astringent.
Step 3: Exfoliate
Gently exfoliating the skin can remove the buildup of dead skin cells that causes breakouts. Also, you want to smooth the skin's surface so your treatment products can be absorbed more evenly. But don't use exfoliants that are too harsh, look for very fine abrasives. Over-exfoliating will only result in removing healthy new skin."
Gently steam your face once a week for five to ten minutes as part of your deep-cleansing ritual. Place a handful of chamomile in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Turn the flame off and let the mixture "brew" and cool. When it's cooled enough so the steam doesn't burn you, place a towel over your head for a tent-like effect and expose your face to the vapor.
Step 5: Revitalize
Facial masks are used to revitalize and tone the skin. For those with oily skin, clay- based masks are the best. Hydrating gel masks or cream masks should be used by those with dry or sensitive skin. If you have combination skin, apply a mud mask only over the T-zone, which is the center of the forehead, nose and chin and the center of cheeks. For a real at-home "spa experience," soak two cotton balls in rosewater and then apply to eyelids while the mask is drying.
Step 6: Moisturize
Regularly moisturizing your skin is critical to maintaining young and healthy looking skin. Nighttime is the best time to apply repairing treatments such as anti-aging or anti-wrinkle creams. During the day, make sure you use a moisturizer that contains an SPF of at least 15.