Whatever reason has brought you to experience a professional facial, I am glad you’ve done it. Good work! If you were here I would pat you right on the back.
Facials aren’t cheap. I know that. I know that you knocked out a few drinks at happy hour and maybe a dinner out in order to visit me. I know you’re invested—actually we both are—in making the results of your first facial last. To do this, I want to educate you on basic skin care techniques to you’re able to make the most of your visit and experience life post-facial as well as possible.
How to Prepare for Your First Facial
Facials are relaxing and good for you, but there can be a few uncomfortable moments in the process. But don’t worry, they’ll be well worth it in the end. Sometimes masks are a bit uncomfortable, extractions might hurt a little bit, and some serums and toners might have a slight burn or sting. But a good esthetician (ahem, me) will tell you these things throughout the process.
Come to your first facial prepared to tell me about your current skin care routine. If you don’t know them off the top of your head, write down the names of the products you’re using, or even take photos. I want to know what you’re using, when (night, morning, etc.), and how often.
Short-Term Post-Facial Skin Care Needs
Facials can be credited with smoother texture, increased hydration, a glowing complexion, and firmer skin. Often, these results can be immediate and last the first few days! Yay! Some experience less amazing results, such as redness, after their first facial and that’s normal. I am going to let you know what might happen so you don’t freak out or think something went wrong.
Post-facial breakouts can be a common phenomenon when skin doesn’t receive the tender skin care it deserves the first day or so after your first facial. I also loosen blockages and remove cellular build up that will be processing through for the next three days or so. This may cause small white heads that will disappear as quickly as they came so no need to self-extract. Here’s how you can minimize redness, blemishes and discomfort following your first facial:
- Cleanse carefully. Wash your face gently that next evening and/or morning. I have already done an amazing job exfoliating and cleaning your face so give yourself a break from anything but cleanser and your hands.
- Skip the steam room. No need to open up those uber-clean pores to the elements so soon. You may risk damaging your capillaries or may notice redness or other illustrations of sensitive skin.
- Don’t pick at your skin. Actually, you should just try to make a habit of never picking at your skin.
- Skip the gym (or go beforehand). Sweat and increased skin heat could irritate your freshly exfoliated skin. Wait a day. Heat can also reactivate an exfoliant and cause a deeper exfoliation than desired.
- Getting a wax or laser treatment. Waxing, especially, exfoliates the skin, and over-exfoliation will make it more likely that the wax will lift the skin and leave you with an ugly scab instead of beautifully groomed brows.
One common thing I hear from folks after their first facial is, “It feels dry.” This is a common feeling, but it isn’t actually dry skin. During the first facial, I dissolved cellular bonds in the skin that over time will release cellular build up that has developed (especially when it’s your first facial ever). Usually, the third day after a treatment, you may feel a rough texture that you make think is dry skin, but it isn’t. It’s really just the released buildup sloughing off (the fancy name for this is increased desquamation). Your esthetician will recommend the right exfoliant or mask to use on day three or four after your first facial to help with this process.
Long Term Post-Facial Skin Care Needs
Committing to a skin care regimen is the best way to get the long-term effects you’re looking for. I am going to offer you an opportunity to buy skin care products after your first facial (and subsequent others) and it’s not because selling them is making me a millionaire. It’s because I know they will work for you. As a professional, I have a sense of your skin and its needs and I am going to offer you specific things that will work and will make you appear younger and more amazing. I will also coach you on how to use them between treatments in a way you find to be manageable and realistic. You wouldn’t go work out with a trainer once and expect that to be it. No, they are going to give you home work to do in between your sessions to help you achieve your goals. Your skin care routine is similarly a team effort and how much you do in between your treatments will determine how quickly your skin care goals will be achieved.
Another important long-term post-facial skin care step is getting another facial. I’ve written this before, but skin care is no different from exercise. One intense, sweaty workout will not provide long-term results. Similarly, no matter how amazing your first facial was, and how amazing the immediate effects seemed to me, you’ll really need to get another one (and another one) to see long-term, sustainable results.
Check out this fun fact: skin has a 28-day cell cycle and gets longer as we age. So, women in their 30’s and 40’s are more likely to have closer to a 35-40 day cell cycle. This is why I recommend a facial every four to six weeks; during each session, we are working on new cells that are coming up. if you are just getting a season facial it will be like starting over every time. So, if you’re looking for actual correction and noticeable improvement, a minimum of once a month is necessary. But if you’re just looking for a relaxing facial polish and some seasonal products then you do you and we will see you every season!
