Spa Facial – All You Need To Know And More

A spa facial is a family of beautifying skin care treatments for your face including steam, exfoliation extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels and massage.

The ultimate goal of this treatment is exfoliating your skin, removing impurities, and dead skin. It is usually performed in spa centers, beauty salons or even on your dermatologist’s office.

Types of facials that you can receive at a spa are various.

You need to decide what are your priorities for achieving a glowing and rejuvenated skin.

This is a goal you can decide together with your dermatologist or esthetician and move on with whatever you decide is the best facial treatment

Each one of spa facial treatments differs based on the type of treatment, steps (steaming, exfoliating, peels, massage, masks, etc.).

The types of spa facials that you can choose from are different on different spa centers. We searched the market and came with lots of information on this topic.

You can decide what is the best treatment, reading the types below:

Classic facial

Is a treatment that includes cleansing, steaming, exfoliation, facial massage, masks, serums, and moisturizers. This procedure will be adapted to your skin type, and customized according to your preferences.

Deep pore cleaning facial

It is a great treatment for all skin types. Using a mask, extractions and cleansers that reach deep into the pores to absorb and remove dirt, oil and toxins. This is followed by exfoliators that remove the dead skin cells and a massage.

European facial

It is a deep pore cleaning facial with extra attention on exfoliation, for smoother, softer skin.

European facial improves skin texture, softens wrinkles and fine lines, improves hyperpigmentation and helps to reduce the visibility of acne scars.

This treatment uses small abrasive crystals and a suctioning action, to strip away the outer layer of the skin, leaving it polished and smooth.

Acne facial

It is the ideal treatment for those individuals with acne and blemishes form previous breakouts.

You’ll get rid dead skin and help manage acne-causing bacteria. Then the skin is thoroughly washed and exfoliated, followed by extractions and a mask.

LED light therapy facials

Blue or red wavelengths stimulate reactions deep within your dermis. The blue light facial therapy treats acne and other persistent blemishes.

Red light therapy is a collagen treatment that uses red light wavelengths to stimulate collagen production in the skin. This works to plump up your skin, reduce inflammation, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hydrating facial or hydrafacials

Is an ideal treatment for those individuals with dry skin. Hydrating cleansers will be used on the face before performing exfoliation and extractions. Followed by a hydrating mask and rich moisturizers that will keep the skin hydrated.

Oxygen facial

It is done using an airbrush to spray pressurized oxygen and custom skincare serums onto the face.

The oxygen boosts the skin’s intake of the anti-aging and moisturizing products. This will reduce the tiny flaws like, fine lines, facial redness, dull and sagging skin.

The effects of oxygen facial on the skin are immediate, but they tend to fade fast. That’s why it’s good to treat your skin every week.

Collagen facial

A collagen facial uses creams that contain a collagen protein to help boost your body’s natural collagen process. That includes cleansing, the best exfoliator for faces and extraction of impurities from the skin.

As we age, our skin loses its youthful glow, that’s why a collagen facial, a gentle facial massage followed by a face mask, you’ll be on your way to looking younger and feeling better.

Laser resurfacing

Lasers reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars, even out skin pigmentation, tighten skin and remove lesions, benign and malignant.

The laser technique directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin.

It treats fine wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin tone or texture, sun-damaged skin and mild to moderate acne scars.

Microdermabrasion

Improves skin texture, softens wrinkles and fine lines, improves hyperpigmentation and helps to reduce the visibility of acne scars.

It uses small abrasive crystals and a suctioning action, to strip away the outer layer of the skin, leaving it polished and smooth.

Facial peels

There are a lot of types of facial peels and we are going to mention a few of them.

Chemical peel is a treatment mostly applied on the entire face and neck. They exfoliate and peel away the top layer of dead skin.

These exfoliating facials use chemical acids to dissolve dead skin cells and reveal fresher layers of skin below, resulting in a glowing and more youthful complexion.

Glycolic peel is the best choice for those with acne, blemishes, textural problems and/or oily skin.

Glycolic acid treatment minimizes oil, improves skin texture, tighten pores, improves fine lines, treats acne and blemishes resulting a radiant skin.

Pumpkin peel uses enzymes from natural pumpkin to improve skin’s texture and firmness. It is suitable for all skin types.

Microneedling

Is a facial treatment that boosts collagen production, reduces acne, and plumps up the skin.

Creating minuscule surface punctures in your skin, which activates a wound repair response in your skin cells that encourages collagen production.

Collagen is the protein your skin needs to heal wounds.

As an anti – aging treatment microneedling plumps up your skin reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Heal acne scars, reduce hyperpigmentation, and minimize the appearance of pores.

Anti – aging facial

It is a treatment that includes exfoliation, masks, and antioxidant serums adding ingredients like collagen, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid, that target aging skin.

These facials are more expensive than standard facials. You, my friend will ask why? It’s because of the necessary ingredients that perform the treatment.

Acupuncture Facial

It is a similar treatment to microdermabrasion and microneedling. The difference is to the more traditional acupuncture methods and longer needles.

In this treatment about 75 needles are placed across different acupressure points on your face, aiming to release tension and stimulate your body’s natural healing response.

This type of facial can help reduce facial puffiness, boost circulation, increase the flow of oxygen, and detoxify your skin.

Aromatherapy facial

It is a relaxing facial that uses one or more essential oils that are chosen based on your skin type and state.

Each oil has different benefit and all of them together help with acne, pigmentation, fine lines and more. The last step is steaming which helps activate the oil effects more and cleanse your skin.

Eye treatment

Minimizes fine lines, hydrates and brighten the eye area while reducing puffiness. This treatment can accompany any other facial.

Massage

As we all know stress and not sleeping enough can get to our skin more than we tend to notice. A massage is a perfect way of relaxing the face skin. Specially with a lymphatic massage which improves skin’s health and increases the blood flow soothing the skin.

Massage works for all skin types and there are immediate results since there’s no redness after the treatment.

How to prepare for a spa facial

• For a spa facial, first we need to know our skin type and the areas on our face that we need to focus on. We should be sure of all these things before you visit your esthetician.
• Avoid any strong at-home facial treatments the week before your appointment.
• Do not tan or burn your skin near your appointment.
• Avoid changing up your routine right before a facial (your skin should be on your most natural state).
• Pluck, wax or shave any facial hair at least 24-48 hours before the facial (to avoid possible irritation or other side effects).
• Work out before coming to the appointment, rather than after (working out after a spa facial may irritate your freshly treated skin).
• Drink water and skip the caffeine to ensure you’re hydrated.
• Wear clothes that are easy to change in and out of.
• There’s no need to wash your make up (if you’re wearing), since your esthetician will just remove it all during the cleansing portion of the facial.
• Bring all your skincare products into the appointment.

Spa facial steps

The steps of a facial spa usually are:

1. Skin analysis – It is a thorough inspection of your skin state using a bright magnifying lamp.
2. Cleansing – Your face needs to be clean for the application of exfoliation and masks. The esthetician or technician performing the task will use a cleansing lotion, gel or milk. Remove it with facial sponge or warm water and a cloth. Patting the skin dry you are ready for the next step.
3. Exfoliating – Is clearing away the dead cells of your skin using chemical or mechanical products.
4. Extractions – It is the process of extracting the blackheads and whiteheads of your skin to ensure that your pores are thoroughly cleared.
5. Facial mask – The mask is chosen depending on your skin type. If you have dry skin then you’ll receive a rejuvenating mask. If you have an oily skin then you’ll receive a clay mask.
6. Final step – Could be a serum, moisturizer or sunblock that is chosen to fully protect yor skin after the treatment.

After the treatment your esthetician or technologist will know your skin and can recommend products that will help you keep your skin healthy and also take care of problem areas.

For your next spa facial you should:

• Follow your esthetician instructions as closely as you can.
• Build your new routine into your old one (if the esthetician suggests so).
• Book your next appointment as per your esthetician suggestion.

Spa facial summary

Spa facials give individuals a pampering and relaxing experience. While they can get rid of skin impurities and even improve common skin concerns, regular facials don’t always offer longer-lasting results. These treatments used are not as strong as what you can get in a doctor’s office.

Skin therapists or aestheticians perform the facial treatments. They may know how to perform spa or regular facials. Not all of them have the knowledge or experience of medical aestheticians.

Spa facials only treat the superficial layer of the skin and offer a quick and relaxing treatment. That’s why they only provide short-term results and benefits.

Nowadays some doctors recommend facials at a medical spa.

Medical spas, plastic surgery and dermatology can treat our most concerning skin conditions like, wrinkles pigmentation or acne much more effectively with much appreciated results.

Types of medical spa facials

The types of medical spa facial treatments are:

• Dermal Fillers,
• Botox Injectable Treatments,
• Facial Chemical Peels,
• Microblading,
• Ultrasound therapy,
• Laser Hair Removal,
• Microneedling.

Benefits of medical spa facial

The benefits of going to a medical spa are:

• Scientifically backed treatments: The procedures and substances are usually based on scientific research and may be regulated by the FDA.
• Safe procedures: The medical emphasis ensures the highest level of hygiene and the use of state-of-the-art technology in a comfortable setting with well-trained and highly competent medical professionals.
• Relaxing atmosphere: A bonus that is sometimes a much better experience than a regular day spa.
• Cutting-edge technology: Medi-spas can offer medical procedures using the latest techniques and technologies, like laser treatments, chemical peels, and cosmetic injections.
• Invasive and non-invasive options: You will achieve rejuvenation and enhancement with contemporary techniques and technology, even without surgery.

Medical spas offer much more medically oriented treatment options compared to traditional spas.

The latter often offer facials, massage, and similar treatments.

The former offer a variety of cosmetic injections, laser treatments, chemical peels, and similar treatments in addition to relaxation massage and facials.