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"I think we can all agree that a facial isn't *really* a facial unless you're lying down, having delicious creams spread all over your face, and listening to the sounds of a distant seashore. But according to Ling Chan, a facialist who has ministered to Gisele and Uma Thurman (and who owns two New York City spas and has her own skin-care line), you really can make your skin smoother, softer, and less irritable by re-creating the professional experience at home. So this weekend, pour yourself a nice glass of cucumber water and follow these steps for some serious self-pampering.\\n\\n\\n\\n                   \\n\\n__No shortcuts.__ \\\"For an at-home facial that yields truly professional results, you can't skip steps or skimp on products,\\\" says Chan. \\\"Every true facial should include exfoliation, clay to cleanse the pores, and products that rehydrate and calm the skin.\\\"\\n\\n\\n\\n__Take off.__ Look for a gentle scrub (I like [Peter Lamas Naturals Exfoliating Pumpkin Facial Scrub](http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/skin/facial-scrub/2014/peter-lamas-pumpkin-scrub-review)) or an enzyme peel, like__ Ling Spotlight Papaya Resurface Peel,__ to slough dead skin and degunk the pores. But don't rinse it off just yet!\\n\\n\\n\\n__Steam cleaning.__ Assuming you're not Mariah Carey and don't have a professional skin steamer on the premises, just run a washcloth under really, really hot water, wring it out, and drape it over your face. Let the cloth sit for a few minutes. \\\"The enzymes and steam will work together to really open the pores,\\\" says Chan.\\n\\n\\n\\n__Masked ball.__ \\\"A clay mask cleanses the pores and removes impurities from skin,\\\" explains Chan. For my own DIY facials, I have used [Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask,](http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/skin/mask/2012/kiehls-rare-earth-deep-pore-cleansing-mask) with kaolin. Let the mask set for 15 minutes, but don't let it get to that completely crumbly, mummified stage. Repeat the steaming-washcloth routine from above to remove the clay.\\n\\n\\n\\n__Bare naked.__ \\\"A hydrating mask after a clay mask allows for the moisturizing properties to better penetrate the skin, since all the impurities and debris have been thoroughly removed,\\\" says Chan. I like the [N\u00FCgg Hydrating Face Mask](http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/skin/mask/2014/nugg-hydrating-face-mask-review) and __Ling Ginseng Therapy Moisture Mask,__ one of Chan's products. Rinse it off with cool water.\\n\\n\\n\\n__Ever upward.__ \\\"After using a hydrating mask, I recommend sealing it in with a moisturizer,\\\" says Chan. Use your normal moisturizer, but take your time applying it\u2014this is where the massage comes in. \\\"The key to massaging the face is to keep moving the hands up, never down. You never want to pull at the skin,\\\" she says.\\n\\n\\n\\n__No digging.__ Even if you really want to, ignore the urge to squeeze or pop your blemishes. \\\"If you do an extraction yourself, you have a better chance of breaking out or even causing an infection,\\\" says Chan. \\\"Even professionals have a hard time performing extractions on themselves, because you can't see at the same angle on your own skin as you can on someone else's.\\\"\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n  __For more skin-care advice, check out:__\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n  \u2022 [How to Make Your Eyes Look Younger\u2014Right Now](http://www.allure.com/skin-care/anti-aging-skin/2014/how-to-make-your-eyes-look-younger\\\\#slide=1)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n  \u2022 [How to Get Rid of Oily Skin for Good](http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/2014/how-to-get-rid-of-oily-skin\\\\#slide=1)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n  \u2022 [These Top-Performing Ingredients Are the Secret to Great Skin](http://www.allure.com/skin-care/2014/the-secret-ingredients-to-great-skin\\\\#slide=1)"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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