Things You Need to Know Before Getting Your First Facial: What to Be Aware Of
Facials are a great way to compliment your skincare routine. However, getting your first facial might be scary or even intimidating if you don’t know what to expect.
To help you prepare for your first visit to the esthetician, here is a list of the most important things to be aware of before setting your appointment.
1. Do Your Research
The first (and most important) step prior to booking your facial appointment is to do your research! This cannot be stressed enough! Find a properly trained esthetician who is qualified and holds a valid license. If you fail to do your research, you could pay the price and suffer the consequences of your poor choice.
Estheticians can inflict bodily harm if procedures are performed improperly and you risk leaving the spa with permanent scarring. You must research the facility you plan on going to, as well as the people who work there. It’s ultimately your responsibility to find someone who is licensed and knowledgeable.
2. All Facials Are Not the Same!
If you’ve never had a facial, you may not know this fact – that is, that all facials are not the same! Your esthetician will assess your skin and will perform a treatment tailored to your unique skin type. A good esthetician will take the time to ask you a lot of questions in order to determine what approach is best suited to you.
3. Your Skin Won’t Look Great Immediately Afterwards!
Don’t expect to come out of your facial appointment looking better than when you came in! This fantasy that your skin will immediately be radiant upon coming out of your first facial treatment is simply that – a fantasy! The truth of the matter is, your skin may *temporarily* look worse before it looks better.
Your skin may be red and you may experience a breakout period, or what is referred to as a “purging phase” when the toxins begin to escape through your pores. These toxins may appear in the form of whiteheads. But don’t fret; this is normal. Your skin will clear up in the following few days and that’s when the true results of your facial become apparent.
Just like a car needs regular maintenance to perform its best, so does your skin. Getting one facial won’t magically change your skin overnight. To see long-term results, your skin needs regular maintenance. Aim to get a facial every six weeks for best results!
4. Avoid Retinols Several Weeks Before Your Appointment
Before your facial, make sure you’ve stopped using retinols on your skin. Retinols make your skin thinner and prone to dryness and irritation. When your skin is thin, it is also more sensitive and susceptible to damage.
Avoid retinols at least 3 weeks prior to your appointment to ensure that your esthetician is not limited with certain treatments and that you can fully benefit from your facial!
5. Bring Your Current Skincare Products With You to Your Appointment
Not only should you avoid retinols prior to your facial treatment; you should also let your esthetician know about any and all skincare products you’ve been using on your skin regularly.
Because certain skincare ingredients can sensitize your skin, your esthetician needs to know about your current skincare usage. This will help your esthetician adjust the amount of product used on your face during treatment.
An easy way to let your esthetician know exactly what’s been on your face lately, is to simply bring your products with you to your appointment. That way, he/she can scan through the ingredients list and ensure that your products won’t interfere with any products used during your treatment.
6. Share Your Health/Medical Information
Whether you’re taking certain supplements/medications or whether you have an allergy to a particular ingredient, you need to share this information with your esthetician.
Supplements, medications, and allergies can all impact your skin tremendously. By providing your health and medical information to your esthetician, he/she can customize a facial designed just for you; one with the least potential to irritate your skin.
7. Don’t Wax Right Before Your Facial Treatment!
While it sounds super efficient to book all your spa appointments in one day, waxing isn’t a treatment you should schedule right before your facial.
Waxing essentially exfoliates your skin by exposing a delicate new layer of skin. And because facials usually include an exfoliating step, waxing prior to your appointment could further irritate your already tender skin.
Try and book your waxing and facial appointments at least one day apart.
8. Don’t Schedule Your Facial Right Before a Big Event
As mentioned earlier, your skin may look worse before it looks better subsequent to receiving a facial. For this reason, do yourself a favor, and don’t book a facial before a special event.
The best time to get a facial is one week prior to your big event. That gives your skin the chance to recover from the treatment and for the redness and blotchiness to subside. Once that week passes, you’ll finally get to enjoy that sought-after facial glow!
Thanks for the tip that I should opt for getting a facial waxing service instead of trying to do it on my own. I’m thinking about getting one soon because some of my facial hair are starting to look thicker. For most of my life I just let them be because they used to be not that noticeable.
It was helpful when you said to do research. My cousin was thinking about getting a facial. I’ll pass these tips along to her so that she can know more information about getting one.
It really helped when you talked about the importance of researching an esthetician before choosing one! Recently, my wife and I decided we need a break from our busy lives and decided to go on a self-care weekend. We want to book some massages and facials, so we’ll be sure to read your tips first! Thanks for the advice on looking for a certified professional when booking a facial!