Facials are luxurious and can help maintain the condition of your skin over time.
A facial works in numerous ways to improve the appearance of your skin, from cleansing to exfoliation and beyond.
There are a variety of different facials to address different skin concerns and choosing the right facial, frequency, prepwork and aftercare can be challenging.
Keep reading below to learn more about facials and how they can level up your routine.
What As A Facial?
A facial is a skin care treatment that is usually performed in salons, medical spas, and dermatologist’s offices.
Facials usually vary from provider to provider, essentially it includes steaming, exfoliation, and extraction.
More extensive facials can incorporate peels, and facial massages.
This is a general outline on how a typical facial is performed, the process may vary depending on the spa you visit or the packages you purchase.
Some commonly performed facials include: chemical peels, vampire facials, microdermabrasion facials, and hydrating facials. To choose the correct facial for your skin goals, it is recommended to book a consultation before your facial.
What Are The Benefits Of A Facial?
Getting a facial is relaxing and can make your skin feel fresh and rejuvenated. The benefits of facials can be maximized when performed by a licensed professional.
Here are some of the benefits of facials:
- Improves complexion
- Detoxifies skin impurities
- Sloughs away dead skin cells
- Increases circulation
- Stimulates collagen production
- Reduces stress
- Reduces signs of aging
- Rejuvenates the skin
- Unclogs pores
How Often Should You Get a Facial?
If you choose to get a facial professionally performed, the provider will create a personalized skin care regimen including products and regularly scheduled facials.
Generally it’s recommended to get facials once every four to six weeks. This will allow your skin to heal and give you longer lasting results!
Getting a professional facial more frequently could be irritating to the skin. However, there can be exceptions depending on your skincare routine and skin’s needs.
Consulting with a skincare expert is recommended to help advise you on the right time to come back for another session. They will also be able to determine when it’s time to shift your routine.
How Do You Prepare For A Facial?
There aren't specific steps you need to take to prep your skin for a facial, but there are some tips that can help maximize your facial benefits.
Tip #1:
Before your facial it is helpful to think of your top three skin concerns for your skin.
This will allow your provider to be able to customize your treatment or recommend the best facial.
Tip #2:
Bring the products you use in your daily skincare routine or have them noted down to show your provider. This allows the provider to see what you’ve been using on your skin.
It’s also beneficial to you to get expert advice from their skin care professional to determine if their current products are addressing their most important skin care concerns.
Tip #3:
Avoid using exfoliating products at least four days before your skin treatment.
Most facial treatments include an exfoliating treatment and you don’t want to irritate your skin.
Other than that you should perform your normal skincare routine and avoid overcleansing your skin to allow the provider treat your skin in its natural state.
How Do I Take Care Of My Skin After A Facial?
Hydration is essential after your facial. A good facial will leave your skin feeling moisturized, you’ll want to maintain it by drinking plenty of water.
If you choose an exfoliating facial, you should also use a gentle moisturizer to replenish moisture that was lost during the procedure.
Facials deeply cleanse your skin and leave the skin sensitive afterwards, so be gentle and avoid using any harsh chemicals.
There are also some things you should avoid after your facial including picking your skin and sun exposure.
After a facial your skin will begin to purge and may result in a mix of whiteheads, pimples, and even blackheads. This is a normal side effect because facials unclog pores and detoxifies the skin.
The important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t pick at your face after a facial because it can lead to further irritation and even scarring.
Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to UV rays, therefore it is helpful to make a conscious effort on your part to stay out of the sun.
Going outdoors is fine, but prolonged periods of time in direct sunlight is not the best move.
After your facial, your esthetician will give you all the information you need to know on how to take care of your skin moving forward, this is the most important step!
What To Expect During Your First Facial?
Each facial will start with a provider’s consultation to determine the right types of products for your skin type. After this, it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the treatment!
Set aside time for your appointment, you will be required to fill out paperwork that has questions about your skin concerns, your diet, how much water you drink, medications and supplements you take, and products you are currently using for your face.
This can affect your skin and what kind of treatments they recommend.
The facial itself typically lasts 60-90 minutes. Depending on the type of facial you choose, different tools will be used during your facial. For example, vampire facials use microneedling to draw blood from your arm, separating platelets and applying them back onto your face.
The Takeaway
Following this guide will help you incorporate facials into your routine and maximize the benefits of professional facials.
Ultimately to achieve glowing and flawless-looking skin, it’s important to begin at the root of your concerns and consult with an esthetician to help rule out your problems.
The ideal way to manage your skin is by getting advice from a skincare professional to perform the treatments and provide you with an effective skincare routine based on your situation.
Your skin goes through a lot from sun exposure to irritation to different skincare ingredients, you owe it to yourself to take care of your skin. With proper skin care and maintenance your skin will stay youthful and more radiant longer.
After reading this guide and doing your research and feeling unsure about a professional facial, at home facials are a great alternative. We offer a variety of different masks to address different skin concerns. To learn more about facial skincare maintenance post procedure, read our article on “How To Achieve And Maintain Healthy Skin At Home.”
