How to prepare for your Facial

Keep your Skin Bare & Avoid Harsh Chemicals like Retinols

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Most people have a day-to-day skincare routine they follow to keep their skin hydrated and looking fresh. However, before a facial, you may not be able to use some products. Before going in, it is better to wash all skin products off or skip your skincare routine that morning – bar sunscreen!

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Especially if it is your first facial, you will be able to tell better if any irritation is due to the facial rather than the mixture of ingredients. Facials promote stimulation and encourage the skin to rid itself of toxins and blockages within the skin. Many people have things in their skin routine that get rid of dead skin cells or even brighten the skin. For example, retinol is the vitamin responsible for removing dead skin cells so newer skin cells can appear. Retinol can cause dryness, redness and irritation in the skin, as it is a strong ingredient similar to Vitamin C.

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Applying retinol before a facial would mean different ingredients that you are not supposed to use together may conflict on the skin and cause a more severe reaction to the facial, especially if it is the first one.

 

Avoid Carrying out Extractions at Home

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There is a difference between DIY extractions and extractions done by an Esthetician. Most people use their fingernails to pinch the spot and get rid of their whiteheads. This method can cause more harm as your fingernails may break the skin and lead to scarring later. Also, the hands hold a lot of bacteria that can cause the skin to break out more. If you need it is better to let a professional do it correctly and hygienically or use two q tips at home.

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Another form of extraction that we DO NOT recommend is cleansing strips. Yes, they are everywhere and no, they aren’t good for your skin! As of right now, there is not enough supportive evidence to say that they damage the skin. Nonetheless, there is supporting evidence that as a temporary solution, they aren’t very effective.

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They may remove blackheads from the skin, but only temporarily as the blackheads are likely to come back within a few weeks. They also do not minimise or remove pores, as it is impossible to do so. When the blockage is removed from the stripe, the pores may appear that they have gone or are smaller due to the blockage no longer being there. But like mentioned before this is very temporary.

 

Expect Breakouts Following your Facial

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You’re about to prepare for a facial, remember not to get a facial before a big event, especially if it is an exfoliating one. There are numerous reasons why a breakout might happen, but the main reason is stimulation. The massaging of the face and the products used will encourage whatever is clogging the pores to come up to the surface. Not only this but during facials, normally the esthetician is also doing manual extractions of whiteheads and blackheads, which if they are not done properly can lead to clogged pores and some more pimples. Another reason is some skin types may be more prone to breakouts than others.