As the seasons change, our faces change. We get oily or dry out, and, above all, we seem to develop red spots, dry patches, and inflammation. This can do some bad things for our complexions. Redness, flaky skin, and irritation are all indications of unhealthy skin.
When we experience this, we all tend to reach for the store-bought miracles: scrubs, moisturizers, cleansers, masks—all of these things can actually make your skin worse. Most of us do not realize this, since we are not experts, even about our own skin!
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars a year on fast-acting products that never seem to work, it is better to invest in professional care. Facials from a professional is a great way to keep your face clear and reduce inflammation, brightening your complexion and giving you better, cleaner, clearer skin!
When to Get a Facial
Everyone has different skin. There are tons of “types” that we can pinpoint on any given person, but it is important to know YOUR type of skin.
Dry Skin: Although you may not always have super flaky skin, dry skin usually appears in the winter and can cause peeling, flaking, and even bleeding! The best solution to dry skin is to moisturize and see a professional about what kind of facial can benefit your skin.
Oily skin: We have all experienced oily skin at some point. Oils make our skin look shiny in certain lights. Even when you clean your skin and use anti-oil products, it never seems to really go away. The only way to reduce oil is to shrink pores.
Combination skin: This skin is the worst of both worlds. You tend to get very dry skin in the morning, which will peel and flake, and then get oily underneath that dead skin. It can be VERY hard to conquer this skin type as sometimes you have to use different products on different parts of your face (anti-oil products for your forehead, but moisturizing products for your chin). It can get very complicated!
The secret to treating these types of skin is to learn what treatments actually work. Do your research, ask a professional, and see if getting a facial would be an option for you. It is important not to obsess; your skin is like a biodome. This biodome needs a balance, so messing with it too much can make it worse!
What is a Facial?
A facial is a treatment that incorporates different kinds of therapies to the face. Typically performed by a professional, the face is cleansed and then treated with different essential oils, cleansers, scrubs, and masks to boost your face’s complexion. Facials typically involve you going to a location and spending about an hour getting pampered and cleansed. A regular visit to the facial specialist will keep your skin looking beautiful, and you will love being pampered.
What Do Facials Do?
A facial is basically a multi-step skin treatment—it cleanses, exfoliates, and nourishes the skin, assisting in improving your complexion. But how? What causes the blemishes and redness on your face is a lapse of health: over-dryness or inflammation are some of the most common irritants. This is caused by bacteria, excess oils, change of weather conditions, or any harsh treatment of your face. “Picking” or touching your face too much typically results in redness or irritation, as well.
Facials are able to clear complexions, lighten and brighten skin, and even help your skin look younger! Please note that if you experience constant redness and irritation, it is best to see a doctor. Certain conditions, such as rosacea, need to be evaluated by a doctor to get you the best treatment. Those with certain skin conditions could experience irritation from a facials.
Types of Facials
As there are many different types of skin tones, there are also many different types of facials. Below are the different kinds of facials you can get for different skin issues:
Microdermabrasion Facial: This type of facials is available to buff away the layers of dead skin that can accumulate due to age, sun exposure, and pollution. These facials use micronized crystals to buff away the dead cells, and then they use special cleansers to remove the dead cells, and keep them from re-settling on your face. If you have sensitive skin, it is best to discuss this type of facial with your specialist. Also, it is best not to get this type of facial before any big event or when your appearance needs to be in tip-top shape; these facials can sometimes leave your face rather red, simply from the new, fresh skin being exposed.
Acupuncture Facial: Warning! This procedure includes needles being stuck into your face! In this massage, small needles are pushed into your face. The point of this facial is to increase the blood flow to your face, which will make your skin tighten up, preventing crow’s-feet, frown lines, and other wrinkles. It basically helps you look radiate, youthful, and healthy. Be sure to only have this treatment performed by a professional—any dirty needles, or any mistakes, can lead to illness and make your skin even worse. Be sure to discuss this facial with your dermatologist beforehand if you have particularly sensitive skin.
LED Facial: This “facial from the future” uses LED light’s wavelengths to shrink pores and reduce inflammation and breakouts. It is ideal for acne-prone skin and those who have sensitive skin that tend to shy away from harsh chemicals. This treatment can be on the more expensive side though, since it usually takes 1-3 times to see the great results that often accompany these facials.
Brightening Facial: This facial typically combines masks, enzyme peels, and acid treatments to remove dead-skin build-up, excess oils, and the effects of pollution. This is the typical facial that most people get, as it does not have many risks and is able to clear the face of most blemishes without causing irritation or redness.
The Benefits of Facials
Even if you have what you consider “bad” skin, and you think of facials as a medical procedure, it is important to consider the other good benefits of facials, both on your face and your overall health:
Relaxation: Facials are like a massage for your face, neck, and shoulders. They feel amazing and can really heal the stressed-out soul. Many facials incorporate aromatherapy to keep you calm and collected and leave you feeling great after the session.
Circulation: Facials increase overall circulation in your face, which can do much more than tighten skin. Better circulation in the face can help decrease headaches, migraines, and body aches, which can make you feel better all around and more able to tackle the day-to-day grind.
Detoxification: Facials not only cleanse the outer layer of the skin, but the under layers, too. These layers are the ones that cause puffiness, redness, and fluid accumulation that can lead to unhealthy, discolored skin. Facials are able to clean all layers of the skin so your skin looks healthier for longer.
Exfoliation: Those little bumps all over your forehead, nose, and chin can be very frustrating. Facials are able to get deeper into the pores to cause a better clean that lasts longer. It can help unclog pores, improve hydration of the skin, and even out the tone of the skin!
Tighten: Facials are great for those that have beautiful, but aging skin. Although none of us like wrinkles and dark spots, they are part of aging. If you find yourself disliking your skin tone more and more, though, you do have the option of getting regular facials. These facials are able to reduce the effects aging and even out your skin.
Where to Get a Facial
The best places to get any of these facials is at a professional spa or salon. It is never a great idea to tackle your skincare alone. If your daily face care routine is not working, it is important to seek extra help. But that store-bought, intensive skin care can be harmful to your skin! So skip the medicine and the expensive, overly-hyped products at the store and invest in professionals who can help you get the skin you have always wanted!
Just call any professional spa or dermatologist to see what they recommend for you and your skin type. Be sure to know your skin type before signing up for any services—signing up for the wrong facial can be detrimental to your face’s health and appearance.
Overall, facials are a great option for those who wish to enhance their complexions and change the conditions of their face. Facials are relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the plethora of products you could buy instead. They are also way more beneficial compared to the inconsistent products offered on the general market. It is important to know your face type, talk to a professional, and make the decision together as to what facial would be the most beneficial for you. Do the research, and do not forget to relax! You deserve this!