How to recreate a salon style facial at home – as therapists shut up shop amid coronavirus lockdown

A pharmacist who turned her passion for beauty into a cult skincare brand and booming salon has revealed how you can recreate an indulgent spa facial from the comfort of your own home in four simple steps.

Shoshanna Eisner opened QED Skincare near Bondi Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs over 10 years ago, treating the skin of hundreds of loyal customers who return time and again for the salon’s signature facials.

Ms Eisner decided to close her doors on Friday ahead of the nationwide lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, but she’s encouraging people to stay on top of their skincare routines while self-isolating or working from home.

Using four basic face towels, hot water and the products you already have on your bathroom shelf, Ms Eisner told Daily Mail Australia how you can look after your skin – and sanity – while following the advice to stay home to stay safe.

Skincare expert Shoshanna Eisner (pictured) closed the doors of her Sydney salon on Friday amid the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, but she’s helping people to treat their skin at home

1. CLEANSE

To begin your luxury DIY facial, fill a large bowl with boiling water and soak four small face towels inside until warm and damp.

Cleanse the face for 30 seconds, using a non-foaming milky cleanser for dry skin, a purifying or foaming cleanser for oily skin or an antiseptic cleanser which minimises pores for acne prone skin.

Amid mass business closures and mounting uncertainty about when the coronavirus crisis will really be over, Australians are under increasing stress, a state of mind Ms Eisner says is ‘terrible for the body and even worse for the skin’.

ARE SALONS STAYING OPEN IN AUSTRALIA?

As of Monday, March 23, hairdressers, beauticians and nail technicians are continuing to operate as usual across Australia.

The exemption has shocked some, including those in the industry, as these jobs involve physical contact with others.

Some salons and spas have closed their doors, but the government has yet to issue an official instruction.

‘At the moment I think there’s two purposes to a facial. Making your skin better, and making your mind feel better,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Clients are phoning me over the past week saying, ‘I haven’t had a pimple in 20 years and now I’m breaking out!’.’

Once the skin has been thoroughly cleansed, gently wipe off product using the first of the four damp towels, patting the cloth onto your face and breathing deeply for 30 seconds to open pores which helps skin to absorb products more effectively.

Leaving your face slightly damp between each step is essential to allow products to deeply penetrate the skin’s outer layer.

2. EXFOLIATE

Gently exfoliate the skin for up to 60 seconds before leaving the product to set a little and pressing the second of the warm, wet towels over your face until it cools.

‘Press firmly and take three deep breaths. Every time you have the towel on your face, it’s good for your skin, good for calming your mind and good for your sinuses, so leave it on for as long as you can,’ Ms Eisner said.

She recommends investing in some good quality face cloths, enough so that you have at least one spare while washing the others.

Her go-to face cloth is the Manicare Makeup Remover which cost $15 for packs of four, and are available from all major chemists which will remain open even during a full scale lockdown.

HOW TO PROTECT SKIN WHILE WEARING A COVID-19 FACE MASK

As a growing number of Australians don protective face masks amid the intensifying COVID-19 pandemic, cosmetic chemist and founder of Synergie Skin Terri Vinson has revealed what face masks are really doing to your skin, and what you can do to cleanse, nourish and rejuvenate your complexion under these extraordinary conditions.

‘With the increased use of face masks many of you may notice congestion and break outs around the nose and chin,’ Ms Vinson said.

‘This is because the skin is a barrier that must allow itself to absorb water and remove excess oil and skin toxins. Wearing a face mask reduces this natural process and acts like a block to the skin’s natural processes. The humid environment created by the mask is a breeding ground for bad bacteria and the sweat if not able to evaporate off the skin naturally.

‘There is also the issue of the material used to make the mask, if there are synthetic additives used in manufacturing. They may include bleaching agents, perfumes or certain materials added to the manufacturing process. Some of you may be allergic to these additives and others may just be irritated by them and notice flaking and redness. Be diligent with your skincare at this time, stay safe and take care,’ she added.

STEPS TO COMBAT CONGESTION AND BREAKOUTS

1. CLEANSE: Ensure you thoroughly clean your face morning and night with a cleanser to remove surface build up on the skin surface. Opt for a cleanser that is free from sodium laureth sulphate, parabens, artificial colours and fragrances.

2. BALANCE: Apply a few drops of a pre-serum elixir morning and night on a freshly cleansed face to boost the skin’s resistance to physical and chemical aggressors. Synergie Skin’s Dermiotic assists in relieiving symptoms of skin stress and is a substitute for a traditional toner. The probiotic lysate, together with the prebiotic skin nutrition, restores skin balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria, and prevents the triggers of skin inflammation.

3. SERUM: The most important serum to use is Vitamin B to strengthen the skin, prevent dryness and control excess sebum. This multitasking vitamin serum will also support the immunity of the skin.

If you are noticing an increase in blackheads and whiteheads from wearing face masks, use one pump of an advanced alcohol-free exfoliation serum to your morning routine until the outbreak subsides. The salicylic acid in Reveal will help to ‘unplug’ the congested pores of oil and debris. Otherwise, use Vitamin B morning and night for a more simplified routine.

4. MOISTURISE: If you are experiencing dry, red or sensitive skin opt for an anti-inflammatory moisturiser such as Dermacalm in the morning and a soothing facial oil in the evening to reduce irritation.

Source: Terri Vinson, Founder of Synergie Skin

Those using unscented skincare products can infuse a mug of hot water with an essential oil, mint leaves, lemongrass or rose, flooding the room with a soothing scent to create a sense of the salon at home (stock image)

3. MASK

Next, apply your choice of face mask according to its directions.

Apply a rich hand cream once you’ve finished dabbing on the face mask, slipping cotton or plastic gloves on top to seal the product into the skin.

‘You can continue to type on your laptop if you’re working from home, or even wash dishes while the gloves are on – any heat will help the hands to absorb the product more effectively,’ Ms Eisner said.

For those using non-scented skincare products, she recommends lighting a candle and infusing a mug of hot water with an essential oil, mint leaves, lemongrass or rose, flooding the room with a soothing scent to create a sense of the salon at home.

‘Scent is extremely powerful. It has the potential to evoke strong emotions, and if you keep using the same scent each time you give yourself a facial, it will bring you back to a happy place that comforts you,’ she said.

4. MOISTURISE

A good face mask prepares and primes the skin, expanding pores to allow hydrating ingredients to penetrate deeply, so this is the time to apply your favourite moisturiser, serum or face oil.

After applying the product, hover the last of the four damp towels slightly above your face, allowing steam to infuse with the cream or oil which sinks product fully into the skin.

‘When the skin is damp and hot, it takes in about four times more moisture and product than normal, so this is the perfect moment to apply a really rich serum or face oil,’ Ms Eisner said.

‘Things that normally sit on the surface can get in deeper, and toxins lodged deep in the skin are drawn out.’

Ms Eisner and the team at QED Skincare have already taken their business full online, delivering products to clients across Australia in the midst of the unfolding pandemic.

In these unprecedented times, the pharmacist captured the sentiment of women across Australia saying: ‘It’s not about cosmetics, it’s about sanity.’

‘Even if you only have 10 minutes to take care of yourself and put yourself first, make it really count.’

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