Choosing the right Facial
by Lisa Young – Salon Director
If you have never had a facial before, you don’t know what you are missing! There is nothing better than your skin feeling super refreshed, smoothed and hydrated along with how relaxing it can be.
You’ll even find that your skin looks better without make up.
Generally, most people select their facials based on 3 main factors:
- The skincare brand.
- The Facial experience.
- Results driven.
Skincare Brand
There are many professional skincare brands.
They range from:
- Low cost & simple (generally available to all therapists).
- Professional and exclusive to trained approved therapists only. These generally fall within 2 categories:
a) Luxury & spa – with luxurious packaging & smells promoting an aromatherapy approach to relaxation.
b) Results driven – simpler packaging. No fancy packaging, just ll about the ingredients in the bottle and what they can do for the skin. i.e. products that work deep in the skin to bring about a biological change to the skin.
For many people, once you discover a brand that you like and it suits your skin, you will tend to stick with the brand and the product treatment protocols offered by the brand.
The Facial experience
The professional treatment offers a lovely, relaxing and indulgent thing to do. It is not something that you can do by yourself at home using essential oils, steamed hot towels, hot stones, super charged with electricals or specific massages for reducing stress, promoting lymphatic drainage or lifting muscles and tightening skin and facial contours.
Results Driven Facials
For your skin to be clean, radiant and fresh there are many facials that achieve this. Whether you are looking for a facial to even out skin tone, reduce pigmentation, heal blemished skin or breakouts or plump out fine lines and wrinkles, there is a multitude of facials to choose from.
But how do you know what you are looking for ?
Somewhere along the line they all seem to make promises to rejuvenate, renew & refresh, hydrate & revitalising as well as re-balance relax relieve and restore. Many refer to offering to “detoxify” and “soothe” as well as “nourish”.
In addition to this you will find facials described as “advanced”, “specialist” and “luxury” – but which one do you need?
And does this refer to the length of the facial, the quality of the product, or the qualifications of the therapist ?
A good facial helps to improve the tone and health of your skin, make you look and feel better pampered, relaxed and refreshed. Some facials can leave you feeling very deeply relaxed, however , all facials should make your skin feel clean, clear, fresh and soft and most standard 60 minute facials include the following stages:
- Cleanse
- Tone
- Exfoliate
- Massage
- Masque
- Moisturise
- SPF Protection
Facials are great for all skin types and even if you don’t feel you have a specific skin concern, a regular general facial helps to prevent skin problems and maintain a healthy, glowing skin.
There are facials for all skin types. No one person fits a generic description for a skin type, for example acne or problem skin may need calming and soothing before addressing the acne in order to get best results longer term and to help avoid further irritating the skin.
A prescriptive facial is perfect because it address your specific skin type and skin concerns rather than a cookie dough cutter facial that may not give your specific skin what it needs.
For skin that is dirty and clogged up with congestion such as blackheads & make up
Look for deep cleansing facials and facials that exfoliate, hydrate and prevent further congestion. Electrical facials such as galvanic desincrustation & ultra-sonic or ultrasound cleansing give an even deeper cleanse with exfoliation removing 6 times as much dirt and debris than hands alone.
Buzz words:
Detoxifying, refreshing, revitalising, oxygen or ozone, steam, blackhead or comedone removal.
Treatments to try:
Microdermabrasion, Dermalogica Prescriptive facial, Dermalogica Microzone facials.
For skin is sensitive, red or blotchy
Look for soothing and balancing facials that re-balance the skin and help rebuild the skin defence barrier.
Buzz words:
Soothing, sensitive, brightening, relieving, cucumber, lavender & colloidal oatmeal ingredients
Treatments to try:
Dermalogica Prescriptive facial, Dermalogica Microzone facial
For skin that is tired, sallow, blotchy or pigmentation prone skin
Look for facials that exfoliate the skin as well as use products that inhibit the production of melanin (the cause of pigmentation) or hydrate the skin therefore reducing the appearance of pigmentation.
Buzz Words:
Exfoliation, oligiopeptides, ingredients such as salicylic, hyraluronic.
Treatments to try:
Microdermabrasion, Dermalogica Prescriptive facial, Dermalogica Microzone facial, Dermalogica IonActive Peel, Dermalogica BioSurface Peel.
Acne or problem skin
Look for treatments that soothe, calm inflammation and address the cause of excessive oiliness or skin congestion. What seems logical to a layman is to strip the skin of oiliness. However, this only serves to exacerbate the matter with the skin going into overdrive and producing more oil to compensate. A trained professional will understand skin and how to address skin concerns such as acne and get your skin back to skin health.
Treatments to try:
Microdermabrasion, Dermalogica Prescriptive facial, Dermalogica Microzone facial, Dermalogica IonActive Peel, Dermalogica BioSurface Peel.
For skin that is dry and in need of moisturise or hydration
Look for treatments that aim to hydrate and moisturise.
Buzz words:
Moisturising masques , intense moisturisation, intense hydration, super hydrating masques.
Treatments to Try:
Super Hydrating Sonic Booster Facial at Studio 8 Beauty, Dermalogica prescriptive facial, Dermalogica Microzone facial.
For skin that is showing the signs of ageing
Look for treatments that use techniques and products to plump out fine lines and wrinkles, fight the signs of ageing and rejuvenate the skin.
Buzz words:
Revitalising, regenerating, multi-vitamin, Anti-ageing, lifting, plumping, rejuvenating, facial peel, electro-stimulation facials such as CACI Non-surgical, collagen & hyaluronic based products, pressure point massage, firming.
Treatments to try:
Prescriptive facial, Microzone Facial, Ionactive Peel, BioSurface Peel, microdermabrasion, CACI non surgical treatments, Hydromask, galvanic iontophoresis, CACI Wrinkle comb, CACI Wrinkle Revolution.
Remember good skin is not just a one off treatment. It needs support at home and in some cases to get your skin back on track, regular facials. Facials can be relaxing and fun introducing you to a new world of results driven treatments that you never knew existed.
For facial services at Studio 8 Beauty please see our Dermalogica treatment menu.
Dermalogica Facials & Advanced Professional Expert Facials
If you would like to know more about how electrical modalities can super charge your facials please see our blog article on electrical facials.
Quote of the Day
“The best foundation you can wear is glowing healthy skin.”
ANON