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Facials: An introduction
What is a facial?What is a facial good for?
Before you go
Precautions
What to expect from a facial
Brands and their signature facials
Hot tip!
Afterwards
What is a facial?
A facial is a beauty treatment for your face. Facials use everything from oils, creams, gels and serums to electric currents, oxygen jets and massage to give you cleaner, healthier, brighter skin. As Mae West said, "You are never too old to look younger." There are so many brands and styles of facial available, and each spa and each brand describes them in a different way. But what does it all mean? We're here to help you decode the "spa-speak".
What is a facial good for?
This depends largely on the type of facial that you have. The titles and descriptions of facials give you a vague idea of their general intention. The general aims of most facials are the same:
* To cleanse: to slough away the layer of dead skin cells and deep-clean pores to help prevent acne and dull skin.
* To balance the different areas of facial skin, and improve the texture, general health and appearance.
* To rehydrate (moisturise) and nourish your complexion.
* To tighten and brighten, making you look younger, firmer, fresher and lovelier! Pretty much all facials will cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturise your skin. Just having a facial should make you feel pampered, and most facials will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed, and your skin feeling softer and cleaner.
Before you go
Some treatments involve a consultation before the facial, where the therapist will work out your skin type and texture, and tailor the facial to meet your needs. This usually happens at the beginning of your appointment rather than beforehand.
The success (or otherwise) of many facials depends on the products used, and also whether your skin happens to like them or not. If you have sensitive skin, it might be worth asking in advance if you can "test" the products to make sure that you don't have a bad reaction to them. A facial should leave your skin feeling really fresh, soft and supple, and you probably won't want to put on make-up straight afterwards, but if you have to go on to work or on to a special occasion, remember to take your make up with you.
For most facial treatments, all you have to do is turn up. The therapist will be happy to take off your make-up with some wonder product, so you can arrive and leave without any special preparation.
Precautions
Pretty much anyone can have a facial without risk! All you need to bear in mind is full disclosure:
* If you have any skin allergies or conditions, make sure you tell your therapist about them, not just the receptionist when you book
* If you are, or think you might be, pregnant you should always tell the therapist as well; some products may not be suitable for you
* If you don't like the idea of electric currents or you have any other worries, just ask beforehand
* If at any time you feel uncomfortable, let your therapist know.
Take care! Some treatments do come with conditions. For example, there are facial products that react badly with make-up for up to 24 hours afterwards. We heard of one facial which actually made a woman's skin turn orange and blotchy when she put on foundation straight afterwards. Not a good look for your wedding day, so check beforehand.
Watch your wallet. The bliss and smugness of newly-facialled, beautiful skin can often lead to the pernicious beating of your credit card courtesy of the products on sale as you leave. Just bear in mind that you are very vulnerable to this post-facial sales-pitch.
What to expect from a facial
This depends on the kind of facial that you're going for. Generally speaking, you will usually receive your facial while seated in a reclining chair, or lying down on a massage table. Your hair will be swept back from your face. Most facials feature some light massage, including your neck and shoulders, and are broken down into various stages that the therapist should talk you through beforehand. Depending on the kind of massage you are having, you will then have various creams, muds, masks or oils rubbed into your skin, using different motions and perhaps with a variety of towels, compresses or applicators. Other features of a facial may include:
* acupressure or light pressure-point massage
* a light electrical pulse to stimulate your circulation and help the products penetrate your skin
* hot stones laid gently on the skin
* hot towels or compresses, often scented with essential oils
* oxygen jets and all sorts of other things
This should all be clear when you book, with a description of the components of the facial usually described in the spa treatment menu. A good therapist will flag all this up for you so that none of it comes as a surprise.
A facial can last from between 15 minutes to two hours, depending on which one you have and how many products and procedures they involve.
A mini-facial is a "one-facial-fits-all" treatment that incorporates all of the basic elements of facials. Lasting about 30 minutes, a mini-facial is likely to include cleansing and exfoliating, toning and a face mask. If you're lucky, you might get some pressure point massage as well and some soothing music.
Often also including "specialist" or "advanced" in the title, a "luxury" facial is liable to last longer than the average facial and may include a combination of elements found in other facials. It will also probably cost more than a regular facial.
Also often described as "specialist", a prescription facial is tailored to your skin type and what you are hoping to gain from the facial. The facial should include a consultation with the therapist and some evidence that she hasn't decided what she's going to use on your skin before you walk in (!) The procedure will probably be the same no matter whose skin she's treating, but the products and how much of and for how long she uses each one will be tailored to you.
Many facials feature similar processes, products and techniques. The difference is often in origin and emphasis. We have tried to explain some of the most common, and give you an idea of what they do. There are more and more available all the time so we'll keep you informed whenever we find a new one.
Brands and their signature facials
There are as many brands of facials as there are brands of product. Each brand usually has at least three or four facials under its product "umbrella", but some brands have a signature technique that will be used in all their facial treatments. Examples include:
* Clarins facials feature 'The Clarins Touch', their unique massage technique.
* Eve Lom facials feature Eve's own massage technique designed to clear the build-up of toxins.
* Dermalogica facials will often begin with their facial analysis technique known as 'Face Mapping' which divides the face into zones for more targeted treatment
...and so so so many more!
Hot tip!
If your skin feels nice afterwards - which it should - make sure you ask your therapist what products she used so that you can buy any that you really liked to use at home.
Afterwards
A good facial will leave you glowing with a sense of how beautiful and renewed/rebalanced/ restored/revitalised you are. You may not look any of those things. You may look a bit greasy, very under-made up, and a bit unkempt (for one thing, your fringe will be sticking up having been swept back during the treatment). Do check yourself in the mirror before you leave.
See also:
* Facials that use specific equipment
* Facials that use specific products
* Facials: How to choose the right one for you
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