Tips To Prepare Your Skin For A Facial

Are you looking to take your facial journey from your sofa to the salon but unsure of what to expect? In today’s blog, we’ve compiled some useful tips using our extensive facial knowledge to help you prepare.

What is a Facial?

A facial is a skin treatment that cleanses pores and removes dead skin cells from the face. The process encourages the face to look brighter and more hydrated. Facials can also address common skin issues and are customisable to the client’s skin.  

Right now, there are many different facials on the market, promising to fix a host of skin concerns. But the main goal for all facials is to improve the appearance and overall health of the skin. 

What is the Process of a Facial?

Facials normally last approximately 60 minutes. All facials are different but generally, facials follow this order: 

• Cleansing: The facialist will massage cleanser on the face, neck and décolletage to remove makeup and dirt. To wipe off the cleanser, they will use a facial sponge, cloth or cotton pad and then do a skin analysis to decide what custom facial is best suited to the customer. 

• Exfoliation: Some facialists will get rid of dead skin cells with exfoliating cream or scrub. In more recent times, clients can opt for a chemical exfoliation that will incorporate acids. 

• Extractions: The process starts by using steam to open up the pores, with the aim to clear pores individually. The facialist will extract common comedones such as whiteheads and blackheads. Extractions are performed by hand or with a sanitised metal tool. 

• Massage: A massage of the face and upper body is included within a facial because it helps improve lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage has numerous benefits such as :

– cleansing muscles

– pulling toxins out of the tissue

-boosting the immune system

-relieving stress

• Masks and more: A custom mask is applied to combat the skin concerns of the client. The facial is then concluded with serum, moisturiser and sunscreen if it happens during the daytime.

How To Prepare For A Facial?

Keep your Skin Bare & Avoid Harsh Chemicals like Retinols

Most people have a day-to-day skincare routine they follow to keep their skin hydrated and looking fresh. However, before a facial, you may not be able to use some products. Before going in, it is better to wash all skin products off or skip your skincare routine that morning – bar sunscreen!

Especially if it is your first facial, you will be able to tell better if any irritation is due to the facial rather than the mixture of ingredients.

Facials promote stimulation and encourage the skin to rid itself of toxins and blockages within the skin. Many people have things in their skin routine that get rid of dead skin cells or even brighten the skin. For example, retinol is the vitamin responsible for removing dead skin cells so newer skin cells can appear. Retinol can cause dryness, redness and irritation in the skin, as it is a strong ingredient similar to Vitamin C.

Applying retinol before a facial would mean different ingredients that you are not supposed to use together may conflict on the skin and cause a more severe reaction to the facial, especially if it is the first one.

Avoid Carrying out Extractions at Home

There is a difference between DIY extractions and extractions done by a facialist. Most people use their fingernails to pinch the spot and get rid of their whiteheads. This method can cause more harm as your fingernails may break the skin and lead to scarring later. Also, the hands hold a lot of bacteria that can cause the skin to break out more. If you need it is better to let a professional do it correctly and hygienically or use two q tips at home.

Another form of extraction that we DO NOT recommend is cleansing strips. Yes, they are everywhere and no, they aren’t good for your skin! As of right now, there is not enough supportive evidence to say that they damage the skin. Nonetheless, there is supporting evidence that as a temporary solution, they aren’t very effective.

They may remove blackheads from the skin, but only temporarily as the blackheads are likely to come back within a few weeks. They also do not minimise or remove pores, as it is impossible to do so. When the blockage is removed from the stripe, the pores may appear that they have gone or are smaller due to the blockage no longer being there. But like mentioned before this is very temporary.

Expect Breakouts Following your Facial

You’re about to prepare for a facial, remember not to get a facial before a big event, especially if it is an exfoliating one. There are numerous reasons why a breakout might happen, but the main reason is stimulation. The massaging of the face and the products used will encourage whatever is clogging the pores to come up to the surface. Not only this but during facials, normally the facialist is also doing manual extractions of whiteheads and blackheads, which if they are not done properly can lead to clogged pores and some more pimples. Another reason is some skin types may be more prone to breakouts than others.

Hopefully, you found this blog post helpful! If you would like to read more of our blogs on facials & skincare, why not check out:

4 Habits To Improve Your Skin

The Importance of Wearing Sunscreen

Beginners Facial Course