The Skincare Benefits of Professional Facials (and Why You Should Get One at Least Once a Month)
Nothing quite beats the skincare benefits of professional facials. Of course, you should be diligent about your skincare routine at home – cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising. But a professional facial performed at least once a month can be a total game-changer, rejuvenating and revitalizing your skin to give you that coveted glow like nothing else. The truth is no matter how good your daily skincare routine is, a professional can take your skin to that next level. If you have never had a facial before, or if you only get one a couple of times a year, it may be time to reconsider. Let’s break down why.
1. Body Treatments
Estheticians and dermatologists generally agree that a professional facial should be done once a month because your skin cell turnover cycle is about 28 days long.[1] This pertains to body treatments as well. Body treatments are especially important because you can’t do them thoroughly yourself. A professional will use special techniques and higher concentrations of active ingredients to buff your skin, exfoliate fully, remove dead skin cells and bumps, refine rough texture and soften. If you happen to have acne on your back, body treatments can take care of that as well.
2. Stronger Concentrations of Ingredients
The over-the-counter skincare products you buy are effective, but they are not as potent as professional salon treatments. For example, although there are plenty of products that contain glycolic acid and salicylic acid online or at your local pharmacy, they generally won’t be as powerful and effective as the one's estheticians and dermatologists use on your skin during monthly facial treatments. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant and alpha hydroxy acid that offers several perks, including boosting collagen-deprived skin, revealing a more radiant complexion, improving overall tone and reducing the appearance of discolouration or hyperpigmentation and even helping to reduce the look of acne.[2] By getting monthly facials, you can experience higher concentrations of glycolic acid to help refine texture and improve skin appearance for that coveted glow. Regular facials will help keep skin firm and even-toned. Another great ingredient is vitamin C, used often in facials to improve radiance and reduce the look of discolouration and wrinkles.
3. Extractions
Extractions should only ever be handled by professionals because trying to remove a blackhead or whitehead yourself can result in scarring that is often very stubborn and difficult to treat. Professionals know exactly how to conduct extractions to prevent scarring while fully removing the blackhead/whitehead. And you don’t have to do extractions too often – once or twice monthly treatments will help keep skin looking clear. Professionals also use special tools or techniques to perform extractions to help prevent not only scarring but infection as well. Picking at your skin to remove blackheads can sometimes result in an infection or outbreak of pimples.
4. 100% Customisation
Professionals can peer into your skin much more closely than you can on your own because of their special tools. This allows them to provide you with a custom skincare treatment to address your particular skin concerns. Everybody’s skin is different and will benefit best from different treatment options. Without a professional’s input, you won’t quite know what ingredients or products will benefit you most (nor at which concentrations and combinations), and may choose products or ingredients that won’t be fully effective. Or you may end up spending far too much money trying to find the right product through trial and error. A professional can help steer you in the right direction to prevent these problems, and save you money and time in the long run.
5. Maintenance
One of the best things about getting monthly facials is proper skin maintenance, meaning your skin will look good consistently. If you suffer often from breakouts, they will be kept under control and you will most likely have fewer blemishes. Your skin will also be thoroughly moisturised, helping to make wrinkles or fine lines less noticeable overall. You will likely have a consistent glow about you that can’t quite be achieved with at-home exfoliation. Not to mention, you will have far fewer blackheads, and congested skin will be less of a concern as well. Fewer blackheads also generally lead to fewer breakouts, because when blackheads become infected is when pimples form.
Use this handy store locator to help you find a professional near you so you can begin benefiting from monthly facials regularly, leading to truly transformed skin.
[1] https://www.allure.com/story/how-often-facial-should-be-done
