My mother, who was born in Europe had a facial every month for as long as I can remember, and her skin was flawless. So whenever I’m asked if getting a facial is worth the time and money my answer is a qualified yes. While there is a great deal of misinformation about the benefits your skin will receive from a facial; I am a believer in them, as long as they are part of your overall skin care routine. Another lesson I learned from my mother.
The true value of a facial depends on the skill of the person working on you, as well as the instruments and products they’re using. Facials may not be essential for you to have beautiful, healthy skin. They can, however, when done skillfully, make all the difference for some skin types. Facial treatments can be an effective addition to your skin-care regime. I know this first hand because I’ve been treated by a number of skillful aestheticians, who not only helped me resolve my skin care concerns, but also taught me the correct way to take care of my skin.
An adept aesthetician knows how to help repair and maintain a healthy skin surface; which is important for all skin types. However, it is critical if you have rosacea, eczema, acne, or sensitive skin. When done improperly, however, facials can not only damage your skin but also waste your time and money.
The condition of your skin, how you take care of it, and whether or not you’re using any topical or oral prescription medications will influence how the aesthetician treats your skin and the products he or she will use. For this reason, an expert aesthetician will ask you detailed questions on these topics, and diligently avoid causing your skin any unnecessary irritation.
Before extractions are performed, a good facial includes a relaxing face massage. Massage techniques are taught as part of the curriculum at state-accredited aesthetics schools. A knowledgeable aesthetician will never use massage techniques that pull or tug at the skin because these actions can increase sagging by breaking down the elastin in the skin.
Many aestheticians use an assortment of hand-held devices in their facials. These machines claim to have a variety of benefits from clearing acne and blackheads to improving wrinkles and puffy eyes. But you must be cautious. Since many times the results of these treatments depend on how often they’re performed, and some may actually have a negative effect on your skin. These are a few of the typical machines used in facial treatments:
Peeling devices - hand-held tools with a hard metal edge the aesthetician scrapes across the surface of the skin. This device effectively exfoliates the skin as long as it used properly and cautiously. Many times peeling devices are used in combination with another type of treatment machine, such as the oxygen-infusing device.
Microcurrent devices – also referred to as product-infusing devices. They use either electrical currents or ultrasonic waves, and may be separate machines or combined with a peeling device. The benefit of this machine is that the currents or waves open pathways between skin cells, and, therefore, deepen the delivery of ingredients in the skin-care products. Regretfully, these claims have not been substantiated by research.
Negative Ion Pore devices – also known as clearing therapy – has no influence on the skin. It neither opens pores nor removes toxins. Since negative ions cannot move through the skin, whether airborne or machine generated, they have no affect the pore. Also, the skin has no ability to excrete toxins or modify them in any way. Therefore, toxins cannot be eliminated through the skin. The liver is the organ that detoxifies foreign substances, which are then excreted by the kidneys. This machine is often used in conjunction with a peeling or microcurrent device.
Microdermabrasion – is a non-surgical, skin resurfacing procedure that utilizes a machine calibrated to scrub and polish skin. It uses a small vacuum like tip to shoot a stream of tiny abrasive crystals (usually aluminum or magnesium oxide crystals) onto the skin, which it then vacuums off. The technician controlling the device changes the pressure and intensity of the settings to achieve different levels of exfoliation. Stronger settings, result in a deeper exfoliation, and, therefore, greater risk. While this treatment is sometimes referred by “peel” names, it is not a peel in the same sense as a chemical peel.
Oxygen-infusion machines – apply a concentrated amount of topical oxygen to the skin using a small tube attached to an oxygen machine. A special domed mask covers the face to prevent the oxygen from escaping. Before the oxygen is turned on, a cloth or a facial mask infused with product is applied to the face. Once the dome mask is secured, the machine is turned on. The treatment lasts for approximately 20. During the treatment, the aesthetician can attach a special tool designed to deliver concentrated bursts of oxygen to key areas if needed.
My next post will cover what you can and cannot expect from a facial, along with other facial facts.
Leave a comment