Facials: A Healthy Necessity
Our ancestors knew the importance of taking care of their skin! Existing since ancient Egyptian times, facials have long been used to cleanse and defend our bodies against the elements. While facials are a heavenly, relaxing experience, full of mental benefits, they shouldn’t be seen as a luxury experience or a one-time thing. A regular facial routine will keep you feeling confident and most importantly, physically healthy.
What is a facial?
A facial, at its most basic level, is a deep cleaning of pores; the kind that are so microscopic, you can’t see them with the naked eye. Facials not only cleanse and eliminate blackheads, they play a key role in the health of your skin: increased collagen production, stimulation of circulation and improved elasticity are just a few of the benefits you will receive from regularly scheduled facials.
Why facials?
Your face is constantly bombarded by outside elements: wind, sun, cold and pollution, to name a few. To keep your face looking young and fresh, you need to take care of it. Skin is the body’s largest organ. Skin supports the life of all other body parts and plays a huge role in maintaining our immune systems. It protects your body from viruses and bacteria that you are exposed to on a daily basis. Regular facials combat aging that happens from all of that abuse; relaxing the muscles and tone of your face will help anti-aging products better absorb into your skin, too!
Your face is the first thing people see when you enter a room! It’s time to make a good impression! Think of it this way: since your skin plays such a huge role in protecting you, why not give it some love every once in a while?
How often?
Facials work their best if you work one into your schedule every 30 days. With proper maintenance including cleansing and moisturizing, you will reap the benefits all month long. Over-indulging in facials can cause problems, too, however; so, it’s best to keep it to a 30-day schedule.
Types of Facials
Okay, so, now that we know the what’s, why’s and when’s, it’s time to get into the “how’s.” There are an abundance of facial techniques out there, and it can be difficult to know what you really need. It’s best to discuss this with a trained esthetician so that you can have a skin-health routine that is tailored to your beautiful and unique skin. It’s also important to know what to expect before showing up for your appointment. Let’s break down a few treatments and their benefits so that you are better prepared.
Exfoliation Treatment
Exfoliation is key to a proper facial. The point of exfoliating is to reveal fresh, new skin by removing dirt and dead skin cells. There are two types of exfoliation: chemical and mechanical. Chemical exfoliators are made of ingredients that are more acidic than the PH of your skin, and the use of them helps to remove all of that build up which is what makes facial peels so popular. Mechanical exfoliation is aided by the use of a surface or mixture that is textured enough to remove the build up (think washcloths, brushes or sugars and salts). Microdermabrasion is another way to achieve these results. Using a mildly abrasive instrument, an esthetician will gently trace your face, removing that thick outer layer of old skin cells. It is used to treat light scarring, sun damage or discoloration.
Exfoliation isn’t just for your face, however. When you receive a facial, you will often be given an exfoliating treatment on your neck, décolleté and arms.
LED Therapy
LED therapy, or light emitting diode therapy, is the use of light in varying wavelengths to aid in tissue repair, increased circulation and improving of skin texture. It can also ease muscle soreness and joint pain, including arthritis. It was first developed by NASA to aid in plant growth but was soon found to have promise in treating wounds.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy’s benefits cannot be refuted. From relaxation to overall immune health, the effects are far-reaching. Facial massage benefits, like those of a cold stone face massage, not only feel oh-so-relaxing, they reduce swelling and puffiness, inflammation and increase circulation, all while helping to boost your energy levels. Pretty incredible!
Many facials include scalp massages that improve blood circulation and lymph flow to the head and ease chronic head pain and neck problems. It can also relieve insomnia, migraines, dry scalp and itching. Trying something like a coconut scalp massage will nourish your scalp and help remove sebum build-up from hair follicles. There’s nothing like it!
Toning Treatment
Following cleansing, toning plays an integral role in balancing your skin’s pH. The water used to rinse your face can leave your skin in an alkaline state; so, bringing in a toner helps to neutralize your skin. A proper toner will leave your skin feeling delightfully hydrated. Toners and essences work to prep your skin for the next phase of your facial: serums and ampules. Serums are a concentrated dose of emollients that are there to treat targeted skin issues like dark spots, wrinkles or overall dullness, while ampules are even more concentrated boots of active ingredients that are helpful in a skin emergency.
Specialized Treatments
Your eyes, ears and lips are all part of an overall facial, but sometimes you need a little extra love in one or more of those areas.
Your eyes express so much about your personality and your emotions. They work hard, and deserve a little extra attention. Eye repair treatment works to reduce those fine lines and wrinkles and bring that youthful look back to your face.
Lip repair treatment is also key in reducing the effects of aging. Problems like volume loss and fine lines work against you to point out those pesky signs of aging. Give those lips some love! They’re highly sensitive and bombarded with sun, wind and cold on a daily basis; so, it only makes sense that you would pay special attention to them during your facial routine.
And, don’t neglect those ears! After you’ve given so much attention to the whole of your face, you don’t want to neglect ear care. Ear candling is an ancient procedure that helps prevent wax buildup and some have even claimed that it stops uncomfortable ringing in their ears.
Eyelash or eyebrow tinting can be an extra little add-on that leaves you looking noticeably fresh and rejuvenated after your facial experience.
So, there you have it! The ins and outs of facials; don’t you feel more relaxed just reading about them? So what are you waiting for? Time to book that long over-due appointment and reap the benefits. Contact us and reserve an appointment today!