Whenever someone asks what I do for work, my response is usually followed-up with questions about pressing skincare needs, such as:
How do I get rid of this spot (don’t touch it!)?
What can I do to keep from ageing (use sunscreen EVERY day)?
Do I really need to wash my face in the morning (1,000 times yes)?
One of the other common questions I’m asked is how often to get a facial. With interest in skincare exploding thanks to blogs, YouTube videos and Instagram posts, our inspiration to have a Spa Day at home has never been higher. Who doesn’t love the idea of applying a deep cleansing mask and curling up with a magazine on a cold and dark Sunday? I am a big fan of DIY home routines that expand every so often to keep skin looking great.
While a strong homecare routine is critical, your skin will love the special attention of a facial and getting them monthly is the timescale I generally recommend. This is because a full cycle of skin growth (from cell generation through to sloughing off dead skin) happens approximately every 30 days. Boosting your skin, which can get lazy, with a facial once a month encourages it to behave as it should.
If you aren’t able to book a treatment every 4 weeks or so, the next best guidance is to try to get a facial every season. Sure you won’t have the benefits of more regular treatments, but your skin will appreciate the seasonal help.
So that’s how often you should get a facial. Are you still a bit cloudy on why you need to get a facial? Let me help explain why they are important.
Professional advice tailored to you
As a facialist, I am trained specifically to look after skin. Between consultation, visual and physical assessment of your skin as well as noting how it reacts during the stages of a facial, I work with you to ensure you have the right skincare routine.
Skincare you can’t do at home
Exfoliation
While I hope you are exfoliating at home, exfoliation in a facial will help make your skin look brighter. With products created specially for use in treatments, the exfoliation I perform will help soften fine lines and fade pigmentation faster and more effectively.
Extractions
Clients want their skin to be super clean at the end of a facial and this is why I perform extractions to remove trapped dirt and oil, if needed. To perform them correctly, time and patience are required and I find most of us don’t have these when we’re doing our homecare routine.
Extractions start by steaming the face to soften the skin. This helps the pores to become more pliable, so that they will release what they’re holding onto. Steaming is a critical step and one that even I don’t have the time (or equipment) for at home.
Once skin has been steamed, I can remove what’s trapped within thanks to the steam and a magnifying lamp. I use the magnifying lamp to examine every part of your face, not just the common extraction areas of nose and chin. Many of us have clogged pores at the jawline and near the ears thanks to the time we spend with phones pressed to our faces.
Serum
While clients expect a deep skin cleanse in a facial, I love the glow I can provide with a specially chosen serum, applied with the help of a uniquely designed tool. The facial probe uses sound waves and a gentle current to help serum penetrate 4,400 per cent deeper than when applying by hand. With this increased penetration, the serum can reach your dermis or second level of skin.
When serums go this deep, they support new skin cell creation. Cells are able to develop more healthily and ward off damage due to sun exposure, lack of sleep, poor diet or lack of skincare routine. These new cells will be able to work optimally to keep you looking your best, helping you to glow beyond the 48 to 72 hours after your facial.
This is why I recommend a monthly facial and why I feel regular facials are important. I know we don't always have the time (or money) for regular treatments, however if you’ve ever wondered how often to get a facial or how it’s really helping, hopefully this will help you to understand why a facial is more than just taking a break in a darkened room.
How often do you get a facial?