What should I expect from a professional facial?
If you’re used to doing at home facials, you might not be sure what to expect from a professional facial. Most experts recommend treating your skin to a professional facial every 6-8 weeks. After all, professionals know the techniques and have the tools necessary to help you get your best looking skin. When you go in for your facial, you can expect most of the following steps.
Cleansing
The first step is cleansing. It’s designed to remove all makeup and dirt from your face. Even if you’re not wearing makeup, this step is required to remove excess oil and dirt from your skin to prep it for the rest of the facial.
Massage
While every spa might not do this step, many do provide face, neck and shoulder massages. This is designed to help relax you and increase blood flow to your skin. Most consider it one of the best parts of the facial.
Exfoliating
Exfoliating is usually the next step. The exact type of exfoliant depends on the spa, your skin type and any allergies. This step helps remove dead, dry skin cells and remove additional dirt in your pores. Spas may use a mixture of exfoliating cleansers or exfoliating brushes to complete the step.
Steam
During the exfoliation process, you might also go through a steam step. Warm, but tolerable steam is filtered onto your face while your eyes are covered. This helps open up your pores and preps your skin for a deeper clean and extractions.
Extractions
If you have acne, your aesthetician or cosmetologist may want to do extractions. For some, this step is too painful, but for many, it’s a great way to get rid of whiteheads and blackheads safely without damaging your skin. Always speak up if you’re not comfortable with this step.
Masque
After everything else is done, a masque is applied for your specific skin type. It’s designed to help deeply moisturize and nourish your skin. It usually stays on your face for a set period and is then rinsed off. It’s a soothing, relaxing step.
Finishing
Most spas finish facials with eye cream and moisturizer. If you’re having a daytime facial, ensure the spa uses a moisturizer with SPF to keep your skin protected.
Even after a professional facial, you might experience a little redness for a few hours, but it will go away. The end result is smooth, clean, healthy looking skin that’ll make you eager to go back in a few months.
What’s your favorite place to get a cruelty free facial?
Here in Honolulu…I like Spalani!
thanks Regina, Can you tell me where Spalani is? town side? or Northshore or ?
thanks
I did a Yelp Review on her…she’s located near Waikiki
Great Post!! That was amazing. Your thought processing is wonderful. The way you tell the thing is awesome.
I don’t know how facials are done in there but in my country, Romania, the vast majority of the beauticians are stuck in beauty myths (like opening and closing pores etc.) and have no idea how to perform extraction correctly. That’s why I don’t trust them. I feel like there is a big gap between beauticians and physicians, I’m not sure if this applies to the States too. But I’ve never received a valuable advice from a beautician in my entire life (and I’ve done facials all over Europe and Asia-standards are so low there- ). Anyways, I’d love to read an article on your site about new, innovative professional treatments 🙂
I think my favorite part is the extractions, actually! I’m not a professional, but a good friend of mine taught me how to do facials for my family while she was in school. Extractions are my guilty pleasure! I tend to get some really bad acne, with most of my blemishes deep under the skin. So for me, it’s not as easy as just a light pinch to rupture a small blemish. My face always feels so much better afterwards, and then finishing it up with a soothing astringent is amazing!
I haven’t ever gotten a professional facial done before. However, the way you described it makes it seem wonderful! Having a face, neck, and shoulder massage while my skin is cleaned sounds like a very relaxing activity, especially since it would let me get away from the kids for a bit. I’ll have to find a good facial place to go to!