Pumice stone is created during volcanic eruptions, resulting in a hard, brittle stone made less dense because of the many fine air bubbles inside. Pumice stones are a mainstay foot care product to treat calluses and rough skin, because of it's combination of sturdiness and abrasiveness. While a pumice stone may help you treat problem facial hair, it may be too abrasive to use on your face, and you'll want to take great care before using one. Consult a dermatologist before using a pumice stone on your face. Few beauty experts recommend using a pumice stone on the face, and most advise against it, so proceed with caution.
Selection
Select a pumice stone. You will find these low-cost beauty aids in many drug stores or other general retailers. Find one that fits in your hand and is easy to hold and manipulate, since you will need to use it delicately.
Foot Test
Test your pumice stone on your feet before using on your face. If you have never used a pumice stone before, try using it to smooth rough areas on your feet to see how much pressure you can use and what effect it will have on your skin. Soak your feet in hot water to soften calluses. Wet the pumice stone and begin rubbing gently on the callus. Use no pressure at first -- let the stone abrade the skin. Use a circular motion, staying in one spot for several seconds. Check the effect of the stone on the first area before moving onto the next. Use the pumice stone for several days to gauge the result. If your skin is irritated after the first use, stop using the stone.
Face Test
Wash your face and neck in lukewarm or cool water. Hot water dries your skin by removing oil from it. Test the pumice stone on an out of the way area in the event its use irritates your skin. Start on your neck, behind your ear. Experiment with other areas that have thicker skin, such as the jaw, chin, forehead or sideburn area. Use no pressure on the stone as you experiment. Exfoliate only one small area for a few seconds, then stop. Do not use a pumice stone on your entire face until you see the results from using it on a small test area. Use it in the same place several times before using it on another area. Experiment using the stone on wet, soapy and oiled skin.
After Care
Rinse your face with cool water when you are done using the stone. Do not rub your face with a washcloth after using a pumice stone. Pat your skin dry, then apply a moisturizer to your damp skin to allow it to better absorb into the skin.
Look your test area. Examine it several hours after you have used the pumice stone on it, and the next day. If the area becomes red, dry, cracked or bleeds, do not use the stone there again. Repeat the process on the test area for several days to see its effect. If you see no problems, experiment on other areas, testing each and monitoring your skin closely each day.
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