At-Home Beauty Treatments to Get You Through the Holidays
For when you’re stuck in the suburbs.
As some of us will be heading home for the holidays very soon—where the overabundance of family obligations, pie eating, and awkward conversation with distant aunts and uncles have us seeking asylum in our childhood bedrooms—we decided that instead of (or in addition to!) binge-watching Gilmore Girls, we’d make the most of our downtime. So we’re treating ourselves to all the at-home spa-like pampering we don’t have time for during our usual Mon-Fri.
From masks to microdermabrasion, we’ve included all the products to stock up on at your closest suburban Sephora. And just for fun (and because we love you guys), we’ve listed them out in order of intensity—you know, in case you’re not ready to go the acid-peel route just yet. Now go lock yourself in the bathroom, ignoring your siblings’ plees to open the door, until perfectly scrubbed and glowing skin is yours.
Masks
By now, we’re guessing you’re not masking novices. Start out with GlamGlow’s PowerMud, which promises to remove a week’s worth of dirt, oil, and makeup buildup (A+ if you live in a polluted city). Sheet masks like Dr. Jart+’s seal in moisture, plus they encourage you to lie flat for extra relaxation (so key). Dr. Dennis Gross’ two-step face treatment is the most involved—there’s a bowl and mixing utensil involved—but this modeling mask will plump and revive tired skin, which is ideal the morning after too many bottles glasses of wine.
Peels
The feeling of sweeping away dead skin cells is strangely fulfilling and Peter Thomas Roth’s Peeling Gel does just that—it’s especially good for sensitive skin types. Philosophy’s chemical peel pads work a bit harder to rid skin of dark spots, acne scars, and dullness. Then consider Ole Henriksen’s brightening system, a professional-strength peel treatment that brings out the big guns.
Tools
The Foreo cleansing device is a baby step for new skin-care tool users. It deep-cleans to remove all the makeup, residue, and dirt from your skin—perfect for getting rid of holiday glitter. And NuFace’s toning device reduces wrinkles and reveals those cheekbones you never thought you’d have. Lastly, a Personal Microderm Pro (with vacuum suction!) brightens, smooths, and evens out your skin tone by removing the dead layers on top.