How can I prepare for my facial?
- Stop exfoliating 3-7 days prior. This includes avoiding AHA/BHA acids, retinol, scrubs or any exfoliating products.
- It is not recommended to wash your face before your facial appointment. If you have a morning appointment you may follow your normal morning routine with sunscreen but skip the morning face wash.
- Avoid tanning or sunbathing near your appointment . This will restrict targeting deeper skin concerns since the sun damage will be need to addressed first.
- Have a current list of your skin care products your are using at home and be ready to discuss them.
- Do not wax the facial area 24-48 hours before your facial
- Do you have a big event coming up? Let me know ahead of time in the notes section when booking your appointment. This will help you to maximum your results by giving you the best techniques and treatment so that your skin will glow for the big day!
- Stay properly hydrated. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol the day before and the day of.
- Don't come in with makeup on. The less time it takes to remove makeup, the more time I'll have to help you with your skin concerns.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Your shoulders and chest will be exposed for proper cleansing so make sure to use a blouse that is easy to remove. Earrings, necklaces and nose rings will also need to be removed prior to arrival.
- Post rosy glow and post extraction redness is normal. If you are receiving extractions during a facial it is normal for redness to occur due to the pressure of removing clogged pores and blackheads. Warm steam and blood circulation through facial massage brings new nutrients to the skin and encourages a youthful glow. Skin may feel warm to the touch after a facial and any redness should subside within a few hours.
What should I avoid after a facial?
- Follow your esthetician's recommendations. After your treatment you will receive specific aftercare instructions. These directions are bases on your skin concerns, skin type and any special care needed with the facial treatment you've received. This will help continue and maximize the results you achieved during your facial.
- Wear broad spectrum SPF 30. Since any pro facial is stimulating and detoxifying, you want to make sure to use sunscreen to protect the fresh skin revealed after the facial. Sunscreen applications is included in every facial scheduled during daylight hours however if you are planning to be outdoors the rest of the day, reapplication every 3 hours is highly recommended.
- Skip the gym. Avoid extreme heat, saunas, steam and all aquatic activity that will induce sweating.
- Wait to exfoliate. You'll also want to give your skin a break from exfoliation for 48 hours. This is because your skin experiences a professional level of exfoliation during a facial and you don't want to over exfoliate and cause irritation.
- Always be gentle to your skin, especially after a facial. Avoid wearing makeup as your skin is a little more sensitive after the deep cleansing. If wearing makeup is absolutely necessary stick to mineral makeup that is non pore clogging.
- Change your pillowcase and sanitize your sunglasses and phone.
- Minor breakouts may occur if you are dealing with acne and we have done major extractions. Sometimes the skin will purge oil and bacteria post facial treatment after being deeply cleansed and exfoliated. This is actually a good thing! But absolutely no picking!
- Stay hydrated. Drinking water after a treatment encourages healthy cells and healthy skin.
- Enjoy your glow! Avoid stressful tasks and situations that rob you of your energy. You just came out of a self care session that deserves to be enjoyed all day long.
What is Dermaplanning?
Dermaplaning is treatment that’s done in-office by an aesthetician, who uses a surgical scalpel to gently scrape away dead cells and vellus hair (aka peach fuzz) from your skin’s surface. Similar to shaving, it’s typically performed on the face—but because it uses a scalpel rather than a razor, the sloughing goes deeper than you’re able to achieve at home.
The benefits include:
Removal of the vellus hair makes makeup go on more smoothly and evenly and it may also improve the absorption of skin-care products for up to 21 days—the approximate length of time it takes for a new layer of dead skin cells to accumulate.
This treatment is not recommended for those who have highly sensitive skin such as rosacea, keratosis pilaris or inflamed acne.
The benefits include:
- Brightening and evening skin tone
- Creating a smoother texture
Removal of the vellus hair makes makeup go on more smoothly and evenly and it may also improve the absorption of skin-care products for up to 21 days—the approximate length of time it takes for a new layer of dead skin cells to accumulate.
This treatment is not recommended for those who have highly sensitive skin such as rosacea, keratosis pilaris or inflamed acne.
How often should I be getting a facial?
A daily skin care routine with quality products is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier but products alone can only do so much.
Many will wait until they have a skin issue or concern (weird breakouts, dry itchy skin, dark spots, etc.) or have an upcoming special event before coming in for a facial. While this is fine, these frustrating problems can often be preempted by proper monthly facials and counseling on the correct at-home products.
You can compare getting a facial to going to the dentist. We brush our teeth and still acknowledge the importance of going to the dentist for a regular deep clean. Keeping up with dentist appointments saves us money and time down the road. A root canal is hundreds of dollars more than a regular cleaning. Like our teeth, the skin needs to be evaluated and cleansed by a trained professional every so often to maintain a healthy complexion.
Facials are ideal once a month, unless you have a specific skin concern you are trying to overcome (acne, hyper-pigmentation, etc), then you may need to come in for a series of treatments. The reason behind getting monthly facials is that the horny layer (teehee) aka the outermost layer of visible skin, will completely renew itself approximately every 28 days. In this time your skin cells are constantly being replicated from the treated cells to replace the old cells. By giving your skin a head start (i.e. a great facial) your skin cells will begin to replicate the now healthier cells and thus give you a better complexion. In addition, most skin products can take up to 6-8 weeks to start to treat active skin cells, but by speeding up the renewal process with a facial you can make these products work faster and more effectively.
Here are some other reasons why monthly facials are important:
Many will wait until they have a skin issue or concern (weird breakouts, dry itchy skin, dark spots, etc.) or have an upcoming special event before coming in for a facial. While this is fine, these frustrating problems can often be preempted by proper monthly facials and counseling on the correct at-home products.
You can compare getting a facial to going to the dentist. We brush our teeth and still acknowledge the importance of going to the dentist for a regular deep clean. Keeping up with dentist appointments saves us money and time down the road. A root canal is hundreds of dollars more than a regular cleaning. Like our teeth, the skin needs to be evaluated and cleansed by a trained professional every so often to maintain a healthy complexion.
Facials are ideal once a month, unless you have a specific skin concern you are trying to overcome (acne, hyper-pigmentation, etc), then you may need to come in for a series of treatments. The reason behind getting monthly facials is that the horny layer (teehee) aka the outermost layer of visible skin, will completely renew itself approximately every 28 days. In this time your skin cells are constantly being replicated from the treated cells to replace the old cells. By giving your skin a head start (i.e. a great facial) your skin cells will begin to replicate the now healthier cells and thus give you a better complexion. In addition, most skin products can take up to 6-8 weeks to start to treat active skin cells, but by speeding up the renewal process with a facial you can make these products work faster and more effectively.
Here are some other reasons why monthly facials are important:
- Facials slow the aging process. With the use of exfoliation, massage, and the penetration of nutrients and antioxidants, facials fight to reverse aging. We will all age, but we can do it more slowly with glowing, firm, and hydrated skin.
- Facials provide deep(er) exfoliation than you can achieve at home. A deeper exfoliation allows for great penetration of products (i.e. moisturizers or serums), unclogs pores, improves skin ability to retain hydration, and evens skin tone.
- Facials can increase circulation of the blood under the skin allowing the skin optimal health to facilitate the renewal skin cells. This is a natural process but facials stimulate and accelerate these natural processes.
- Facials allow a proper extraction of clogged pores and breakouts. Attempting to pick at your own skin can lead to scarring and infection and can often times be avoiding by going to a trained professional. Extractions of the pores can help to maintain clear skin, stop acne formation, and reduce the pore’s size over time. Often times left unchecked, pores can start to stretch and widen with the accumulation of oil and debris.
- Professionally trained estheticians can guide you on the proper products you should be using at home. This alone is worth the investment as the skincare industry can be a difficult (and expensive) area to navigate. You can spend a lifetime trying to find the right products, spend a fortune on quick fixes like Botox and surgery , Or simply go to licensed professional who can customize a plan that will benefit you in the long run.