I've always wanted to get a facial. It just sounded so glamorous. Having someone pick out all the right ingredients to make your skin youthful, glowing and rejuvenated sounded like something someone turning 40 might need! My mom, knowing that I had this on my list, gave me a facassage for Christmas last year and I finally took the time to redeem the gift card. Unbeknownist to me, in addition to the facial, I received a full body massage. When they said a facassage, I just assumed it was a message of the face and neck during the facial. The actually body massage was an unbelievable, unexpected joy!!
So, what can one expect during a facial? I guess it depends on the salon and the esthetician. From past experiences, my mom's facials consisted of an all over astringent, steam, mask and moisturizing massage. It also included a massage of the head, neck and shoulders. I was so excited! My esthetician asked me about my skin care regimen, what type of skin I thought I had and if I had allergies. I explained that I used Clinique as my skin care line, that I had combination/oily skin and that I do have sensitive skin that tends to breakout with the use of perfumes and dyes. Upon that information, she started explaining the best products for my skin type and what methods she planned to use.
We started with a steam and astringent combination that felt refreshing. Not at all harsh. She asked me how it felt, if I had experienced any burning. I had not. So, she decided that I could handle a stronger formula and re-applied. That I felt! Between the steam and the astringent, I could feel the burn. To a point that it brought tears to my eyes! Once that was complete, we moved on to the peel. We chatted all the while and I mentioned that I worked with a woman years ago who was constantly experimenting with facials and chemical methods that usually involved chemical peels. I told my esthetician that I was pretty sure I would never get a chemical peel after seeing what they did to her skin. That's when she informed me that I as currently getting a chemical peel. I was startled and taken a back. It didn't feel like it was something harsh on my face, but I was so worried about the outcome. Remember what Samantha looked like after hers on Sex and the City!?!
After the chemical peel came a facial mask. That was super cool and soothing. Probably because my skin had been on fire earlier in the process! After the mask came several different layers of moisturizers that left my skin feeling hydrated and a little heavy. But at the same time, it felt so luxurious! I then received the most amazing head, shoulder and arm massage (all before the body massage) and was left with a lavender therapy that was simply heavenly!
I left the facial completely rejuvenated! I was just sure that my skin looked youthful and glowing, like I had imagined it would. That honestly wasn't the case! It was red from all the work and chemicals and a little sensitive to the touch. It felt like an overexposed sunburn. The next morning, I found that parts of my face had actually been "burned" leaving tiny red scars and some rough patches. I lathered on the moisturizer to help with the rough patches, and today (three days later), the red spots are gone and the peeling has stopped. I am so glad I was able to move the appointment to earlier in the month. I was actually scheduled for this up coming Saturday. I'm pretty sure that with our trip being five days post facial, I wouldn't feel my best and who wants that going into a major vacation on a pretty important birthday!
Would I get a facial again? Possibly. But, I would have to set my expectations up front. Nothing terribly harsh, no chemical peels and an extra massage or two on the neck! I'm sure over time, after multiple sessions, my skin would look amazing. For now, I will take the almost 40 skin that I've grown into (minus a layer now) and the Clinique three-step program I've used for over 20 years!
This is a photo of me post facial about four hours later. And now, with having had my facial, I can say that number 25 is complete!
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