by Keyla Sanchez
Most people wait until they have a skin problem to see a dermatologist or an aesthetician; however most skin issues can be prevented before they appear or get worse. Your skin is the first barrier of defense of our bodies against the outside world, and needs to be healthy in order to perform this task. Also, our skin is always on display and for most people is an important part of their self-esteem. It’s simple, if our skin looks healthy, we feel great; if it doesn’t then we may feel unhappy.
Facials are a multi-step treatment that includes cleansing, exfoliating and treating the skin of the face and neck with different masks depending on the skin conditions that each client presents. Prior starting, your aesthetician will perform a skin assessment to determine your skin type and present conditions (acne, discolorations, dehydration, etc) and will also conduct a consultation with you in order to find out your main concerns with your skin, as well as pre-existing medical conditions and other important questions to perform the facial treatment as safe as possible. During a facial, your skin and muscles will be massaged. This will help stimulate your circulation, clean the rooted dirt and reduce stress.
A facial will cleanse the pores on a much deeper level. Even non-acneic skin can benefit from a good deep cleanse. Extractions or cleaning out the pores is great for maintaining clear skin, fight acne, as well as can help to prevent the enlargement of pores. Often times left unchecked, pores can start to stretch and widen with the accumulation of oil and debris. (Please do not attempt to extract or pick at your own skin unless you are a professional and know how to do it properly- you could be at risk of scarring and infection).
Facials are recommended every four weeks since our outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum) will completely renew itself every 28 days and leave behind dead cells that can clog your pores, and also will make your skin appear dull. After a good physical and chemical exfoliation through a facial treatment, your skin will glow because your skin will start replicating newer and healthier skin cells to give you a better complexion.
People with skin discolorations (light or dark spots) greatly benefit from facials since facials can help even skin tone. Please remember that most dark spots are caused by sun exposure, please wear sunscreen (will soon post a whole new article about the importance of sunscreen). Aging skin feel softer and more “plumped” after a facial. With the use of exfoliation, massage, and the penetration of nutrients and antioxidants, facials also fight to reverse aging. We will all age, but we can do it more slowly with glowing, firm, and hydrated skin.
It is really important to use the right products at home. Professional brands are recommended in view of that they are FDA regulated and their active ingredient is present in higher concentrations than over-the-counter products. Also, avoid using non-professional skincare products and makeup brands due to the fact that they can be comedogenic (cause comedones: blackheads, whiteheads, blemishes, etc). A good home care routine is what’s going to make a difference in your skin, let your esthetician recommend you the best available products to target your concerns.
Other important benefits of facials include reducing the waste underneath your skin that usually causes fluid accumulation and puffiness. This is done through a lymphatic drainage.Moreover, a good facial can help in soothing fine lines and promote collagen production to increase skin elasticity and younger skin. Last but not least, relaxation. Most of my clients come to get facial in order to obtain 90 minutes to relax and just pamper themselves.
Some of the professional skincare products I recommend, can be found on my website: https://www.keylasanchez.com/shop/
