What to Expect When You Get a Facial Treatment
Treating your skin right is so important. This post is going to give you the low down on what to expect during your first facial treatment.
I love a great face mask at home, but recently I was really looking to treat myself to something special. So I got a facial treatment for the first time.
This post is going to help you learn what to expect during your first facial treatment.
Booking Your First Facial Appointment
I booked an appointment with Massage Envy because they had treatments under $100. I found that a lot of the local spas in my area were pricier.
If you use another spa, your experience may be slightly different. But the general process should be more or less the same.
I chose a 60 minute facial, but there was also an option for a 90 minute facial.
I recommend choosing a 60 minute or shorter option for your first facial treatment. That way, you can get used to it and see how it goes before trying a longer appointment.
The Intake Process for Your First Facial
When you get to the spa, an employee will ask you to fill out a form regarding your skin.
It will ask questions about any allergies and sensitivities you may have. The questionnaire will also ask about your typical skin care regime, preferences for treatment, etc.
The survey took about 10 minutes to fill out, then you’ll wait for your esthetician to come grab you.
The spa had a really relaxing atmosphere with low lighting and tranquil music. I actually found the process of sitting in the waiting room really peaceful.
If you arrive a few minutes early, you can use this as an opportunity to quiet your mind and prepare for the calming experience of the facial.
Once you get in the room for your facial, the esthetician will review the form you filled out when you arrived. They will ask you some more in depth questions about your skincare.
They will particularly want to know if there are any specific issues with your skin you’re looking to address. For example, acne, dryness, or redness. If so, they may ask you to expand on what kind of products you use on your skin.
I didn’t realize how individualized it would be to your specific skin needs. Because of that, I was not as prepared to talk about my skin care routine.
I jump around with products sometimes so I was having trouble remembering everything I had used recently.
Before you go, be sure to review what kinds of skincare products you use on a daily basis. Take note of what brands they are.
The esthetician will be really knowledgeable and will be able to provide more specific treatment and recommendations. They will base recommendations on what kind of products you have been using and what skin concerns you have.
Your First Facial Treatment
After the initial intake, the esthetician will leave the room for a few minutes for you to undress from the top down. You’ll get under a sheet on the table.
They will apply product to your neck and decolletage so if you want to remain somewhat covered, I recommend a strapless shirt or bra.
Then the esthetician will come back into the room and get started with the facial.
A towel will be used to hold your hair back to keep it our of the products. They will also place a facial steamer near your head to open up your pores.
The esthetician will then use cotton pads a cleanse your face. I recommend coming in with a face clean of makeup, but they can remove it for you if needed.
They will do an assessment of your skin type and any skin conditions you may have with a bright light. Whenever they use the light, they will use small pads to cover your eyes to protect them from the brightness.
This skin analysis will inform the esthetician of what products to use during the facial. They will likely describe what they are seeing with you to help educate you on the best way to treat your skin.
Next the esthetician will use an exfoliant. During my facial, the esthetician used an enzyme exfoliant so it didn’t feel rough, but it was rather pretty smooth.
After the exfoliation, the esthetician will begin extractions. They will use the bright light again and remove black and white heads.
Being new to facials, I was again not expecting this step. Some of the extractions just felt like pressure on my face in a small spot and others were more painful.
Because it was my first facial, the esthetician said there were likely more extractions needed then if I came regularly. Because of that, this process lasted a few minutes.
Next, the esthetician will massage your face, neck, and shoulders and apply a face mask. While your face mask sits, they will likely provide a scalp massage or some other kind of service.
After the mask, the esthetician will apply the final toners, serums, and moisturizers. This concludes the product application and then the esthetician will provide advice on home skincare.
Concluding the Facial Treatment
Once they’ve applied all of the products and gone through the steps I described above, the esthetician will give you some advice on home skin care after you leave the spa.
For example, in the case of my facial, the esthetician recommended that I change my cleanser and add an exfoliant a few times a week.
There were products for sale at the front of the spa that she recommended. However, I chose to purchase products on my own from a different store.
Once the esthetician concludes their recommendations they will bring you to the front of the spa to pay. For your reference, its customary to tip the esthetician about $10-20, maybe more if you’re at a pricier spa.
After your first facial treatment
My face was pretty red for a few hours afterwards because of the extractions. So I don’t recommend getting a facial before going to do anything else where you may care about the way you look.
For example, if you’re getting a facial treatment for the first time maybe go after work instead of on your lunch break.
You can also think about when you want to make your next facial appointment. It’s typically recommended to go about once every month.
That is what to expect in your first facial treatment.
Overall, I left the salon feeling really relaxed and my skin felt rejuvenated. I enjoyed the experience so much that I will definitely go again.
It can be a significant expense, but a facial can be a great way to treat yourself for a special occasion.
Comment below, and let me know how your experience goes!
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