Perhaps one of the more common beauty treatments is the facial; however, a lot of people don’t know exactly what it is. Spas offer different kinds of facial services, and they each provide their own descriptions. Varying techniques are also used – some use massages while others use a variety of products or equipment or even a combination of both. No matter the difference, all facials have the same goal of making your face healthier, cleaner, and looking more radiant after the treatment. If you’re new to facials, read on.

Why get a facial?

The type of facial you get will depend on why you want one in the first place. There are a couple of different reasons why people get this kind of treatment:

- To clean the face – facials naturally remove dead skin cells, which could otherwise leave the face dirty and make it prone to acne and dark spots. A simple exfoliation process is all it takes to get rid of these impurities.

- To smoothen the face – the dirt and other impurities on your skin can also leave your skin feeling rough. Facials don’t just make you look good, they make you feel good as well.

- To balance or moisturize the skin – some people have dry skin while others have skin that is too oily. Facials can help your face stay balanced or moisturized, so it is neither too dry nor too oily.

- To treat certain skin problems ­– these require more specific types of facial targeted towards a particular skin problem. This may require a proper consultation with a specialist.

Most high-quality facial treatments will at least cleanse, tone, exfoliate, and moisturize your skin, leaving you with a face that looks and feels better overall. Good facials will also help you relax, leaving you refreshed after the treatment.

What to expect

If you’re new to facials or new to a certain spa, ask to a see a description of their facial services. Most establishments provide a “menu” of their services, which includes the cost and a description of the service. If the description remains unclear, if you still have questions, or if you don’t know which treatment to get, just ask the therapist or person in charge for a recommendation. Remember, don’t hesitate to tell them what you’re looking for – that’s the best way to get the right treatment for you.

With that being said, here’s a quick rundown of the process:

- Preparation: You don’t need to do much yourself except show up. The therapist will remove any makeup prior to the treatment. You will be lying down on a comfortable surface, and you’ll most likely have to remove your upper clothing as well. They will also provide you with a headband to keep your hair out of the way.

- Products: When everything is set up, the therapist will start by applying some products to your face using a brush or spatula. Don’t worry, most of these are cleansing creams or essentials oils to condition your skin before the cleaning process. It’s like washing your face, but with better results.

- Massage: The face is then massaged using a variety of techniques. The shoulder, head, and arms might be massaged as well. This is to help you relax and be ready for the long facial process. The facial massage also helps drain the lymph nodes of your face.

- Equipment: Depending on the kind of facial you’re getting, you might be subjected to microdermabrasion or some other form of deep exfoliation that uses special equipment. This will greatly exfoliate your facial skin as well as boost circulation. Other techniques aim to push oxygen into the skin.

Duration

Most facial treatments last between an hour and an hour and a half. There are special express services that only take 30 minutes, but these only cover the basics such as cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and moisturizing and no special equipment or specialized treatment is involved.

Precautions

Just like all kinds of treatment, it’s important to disclose any information that your therapist might need to know, for example if you have an allergies or conditions relating to the skin. Also, some treatments might not be safe for pregnant women. What’s important is that you tell your therapists what they need to know beforehand so that they can ensure that the treatment you’re getting is safe for you.

Different kinds of facial treatments

- Prescription facial: As the name suggests, this one is prescribed by your dermatologist. You’ll usually be referred to a specific spa, but you can go to other spas if the same treatment is available. This is an ideal setup for those who want to address a particular skin problem.

- Deep cleansing facial: These, along with balancing facials, are intended to help solve the more common skin problems like excessively dry or oily skin. The treatment will aim to unclog those pores and balance out oily skin patches while leaving your skin free of any impurities that might cause problems.

- Nourishing facial: This one is more of a maintenance facial – one that makes sure your skin is moisturized regularly so that it remains smooth and clear.

- Brightening facial: Do you have dull skin or uneven pigmentation? A brightening facial will exfoliate your skin to remove the dead skin that makes your complexion look uneven.

- Anti-aging facial: This treatment removes common signs of ageing using equipment. Wrinkles and dark spots are often the target of these treatments.

A good facial treatment can really make a difference to your overall health and appearance of your skin. Not only will you look good, you’ll feel good as well, which can boost your confidence and greatly impact your daily life.

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