How do I do a facial at home? My skins awful :(

[Catscratchclub]

Right, so my skin is dry with scabs over the top of deep hard spots (I know, I’m gorgeous right!) this is on my chin area - rest of my skin is clear but this is clearly my problem area

I currently don’t have a clue what to do - I was using coconut oil to double cleanse with, and putting a face mask on when I remember about once a week.

Please tell me step by step how I can make this better?! You know when you have had a facial and your skin feels so plump and smooth and silky? I want thaaaat

Help?!

In your shoes I would probably be trying to sort out a decent skincare routine for every day, rather than going all out on a once a week treatment. Honestly I wouldn’t be using coconut oil on my face, if you like the texture you could try a balm cleanser? I would start up a basic routine, which would be:

Morning:
Cleanse
Moisturise
SPF

Evening:
Remove make up/SPF (eg with balm cleanser)
Second cleanse
Moisturise

Once you’re in a routine and have found products you get on with, you could start adding in treatments and products designed to tackle any concerns you have eg retinol, vitamin C, acids. A lot of these make your skin extra sensitive to the sun though, which is why it’s important to get your basic routine in place before starting on those. If you want more help, I have found Caroline Hirons’ website really helpful, she makes cheat sheets that really explain things. Also Nadine Baggott and Dr Sam Bunting are good. All of these also make YouTube videos, if you’re into that.

Links:
Cheat sheet: routines - this is an example of a pretty full-on routine, don’t feel like this is necessarily what you should be aiming for, but it’s good for understanding the order and reason for doing certain things.
cheat sheet: where should I spend most of my money in my routine - this is also helpful when you are just getting started, especially if you’re on a budget.

There’s also a long running skincare thread which might be helpful for you to read through, this is the first one:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2759152-Skincare-Ingredients?pg=1

And this is the most recent one:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3492911--Fantastic-Skincare-New-Year-NuFaces

Spuriouser your replies are more than I could ever have hoped for - thank you so so much for all that info and help. I’m off to read the links now but that was so kind of you to give such a detailed response, thank you

Coconut oil might not be the best. I really like this Body Shop cleansing butter: www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/face/cleansers-toners/camomile-sumptuous-cleansing-butter/p/p000186

Definitely research and workout a good routine - I use glycolic acid, Vitamin C, Retinol and SPF (not all at once!)

I got a facial steamer from Amazon, for around £25. I know you can steam over a bowl of hot water but this makes it much easier for me. I do this a couple of times a week and a face mask and my skin is nice and clear. It’s a bit of pampering too.

I would stop the coconut oil. This sound odd but true... I have very dry skin and so I thought coconut oi would be great for my face, I was so wrong it made it even drier. I have researched this and have read the same thing from others with dry skin on their faces. I am fine with it on my body, but I keep it away from my face.

Are they scarring?

You’re welcome Catscratchclub! I hope you find the links and everything helpful

Here's what I'd do:

Start with a facial steam with a few drops of rosewater in. (Steamers cost about £10 from Argos)

Then do a Sensitive skin hot cloth cleanse (Superdrug, about £4-5) Do the rest of your face first and then gently exfoliate the problem area.

I'd then add a mask, either a clay or a black peel off one to get rid of blackheads etc or a cloth one you lay over your face to deep moisturise.

Then splash with cool water or a rosewater spray. Add Savlon to any sore spots, and a deep moisturiser to the rest of your skin.

As others have said, coconut oil is generally not a good choice for a cleanser. It’s comedogenic i.e. it will block pores.
I’m a regular on skincare thread spurioser has linked to and there’s some helpful documents at the start of thread.

I'm another person who's skin dries out with coconut oil I really wanted it to work for me as it's completely natural and smells beautiful. Here's a link about the mixed results of coconut oil:
www.fromthebathtub.com/2015/03/why-some-skin-types-should-stop-using.html?m=1

I bought an aloe Vera plant and found that applying the aloe Vera gel onto my face has soothed and improved my skin. I also moisturize with Gaia natural baby moisturizer. I bought it in a gift pack when I had my baby. I used the baby massage oil on her but never saw any need to use the moisturizer on her so used it for me. It's the best moisturizer I've ever used. Not sure if you have that brand in the UK but have you tried using baby products? They are very gentle. I've also used Sudocrem healing cream for nappy rash, abrasions, eczema and dermatitis for when I have irritated skin on my face before and it really helped. It contains zinc oxide so is quite thick and takes a while to absorb so I use it at night. I occasionally get eczema from allergy on my face and it will present as a dry and rough stinging patch on my skin.

Is this acne your taking about? If so, go to your GP. An antibiotic cream will work wonders.