Getting routine facials from a trained esthetician offers so much more than just a relaxing experience — most importantly, keeping skin healthy, clear, and glowing. Kara Ballard, our expert esthetician, knows it takes more than the right products to get radiant skin. She’s serving up her expert tips on facials and why they’re a key component of keeping your complexion in tip-top shape.
Here she walks you through the steps of getting a facial + gives detailed reasons why it’s beneficial to your skin:
Skin Analysis
The first step of a good facial is to look at your skin without makeup. This allows me to cater to your skin’s unique needs — whether you struggle with enlarged pores, hyper-pigmentation, or dehydration — through advanced treatments and suggest the best products for your home care routine. During a facial, I try to achieve a real understanding of your true skin type, by asking questions about your skin concerns and your current skin care regimen. Then, I decide how to treat it.
Professional Strength Exfoliation
Our facials include a professional form of exfoliation using either salicylic or glycolic acid (depending on your skin type) + a Clarisonic. Exfoliation is an important step because it increases cellular turnover, soften lines, and helps break up skin discoloration to promote more even-toned skin. As we age, our skin cell turnover starts to slow down. Exfoliating is an easy way to speed up the process and reveal fresh, youthful skin.
Clean Out Blackheads And Clogged Pores
With proper preparation and skin softening techniques, I’ll gently extract clogged pores, blackheads, and impurities without causing harm to your skin. Leave it to a professional esthetician to safely and effectively perform manual extractions in order to prevent scarring or spreading bacteria creating more problems.
Increase Circulation
Not only does a massage feel amazing, but it encourages circulation and helps to tone and tighten your skin. Aging leads to slowed circulation, which inevitably results in dull, tired looking skin. Facial massages and steam help to increase blood flow, circulation and lymphatic drainage speeding up your skin’s metabolism and allowing product absorption. This is usually my clients’ favorite part of the facial. It is not only a stress reliever, but is also a key factor in anti-aging!
Mask
Depending on your skin, I apply a mask that will either purify, hydrate or calm your skin.
Stress Release
Aside from the various skin benefits facials can offer, they are extremely relaxing and immediately de-stress you physically and psychologically. Studies show that stress can lead to unhealthy skin, so what’s a better way to eliminate stress and promote healthy skin than a relaxing face, neck, and shoulder massage in a calm meditative setting?
Finishing Touches
After I remove the mask with a warm towel, I apply moisturizer, eye cream and sunscreen.
Professional Advice
An hour of one-on-one time creates an opportunity for me to provide advice, skin tips and tricks. And during the consultation, you have a chance to ask questions you may have. Part of getting a facial is learning how to care for your skin properly. Most importantly, this “lesson” will include which products or ingredients work best for your skin type and how to care for your skin at home so you can maintain the results of your facial.
Every facial is customized to the client. I will decide your skin’s needs and address them. I also take the time to educate my clients on what they need to do at home–dietary and lifestyle changes may help the client produce more healthy and radiant skin.
We recommend getting a facial every month or at least bi-monthly. Our skin turns over every 28-35 days, so take the time to pamper your skin–it’s the first thing people see!
Now, what are you waiting for? Call our office today and schedule YOUR facial!