Spa Facials

What is a facial? Most people can tell you that a facial is a spa treatment for the face. That's obvious. But if you've never had one, odds are you don't know all that comprises a facial treatment. There are, in fact, multiple steps that go into giving a good facial, and, for the most part, the process is standardized at all spas.

Licensed estheticians should perform all facials at spas; these special therapists have gone through vigorous training to learn all about facial care. Check to make sure the person performing your facial has a license; some of the steps can be uncomfortable if your esthetician isn't fully trained.

Most spas offer many different kinds of facials, but all standard-length treatments can be broken down into seven basic steps: cleansing, analysis, exfoliation, extraction, massage, mask, and moisturizing. If you get a mini facial, the extraction and mask segments may be left out.

Step 1: Cleansing

The esthetician will begin your treatment with a basic cleansing ritual. She'll open up the pores on your face with warm water, apply a special cleansing product, and then rinse it off. This step is much like how you would wash your face at home, but the products used tend to be of a higher quality than a traditional bar of soap.

Step 2: Analysis

Next, the esthetician will cover your eyes and look at your skin up close with a bright light. Depending on how your spa is organized, you may be either lying down or sitting for this step. In the analysis segment, the esthetician is trying to determine your skin type so she can choose which products will be best for you. She'll probably tell you if your skin is clear, whether it's dry or oily, if it's firm, and may describe the size of your pores.

Step 3: Exfoliation

The details of this step vary from spa to spa. Most treatments will use a steam bath on your face to open pores; sometimes, an exfoliating product is included in the steam bath to slough off dead skin. Other times, an exfoliate is applied after the steam bath and then rinsed off. Either way, expect to come out of this step with younger, healthier looking skin.

Step 4: Extraction

Extraction is a pore cleansing step that can be painful if done incorrectly. In this part of the treatment, your esthetician will pick out all the contaminants in your skin. Extraction eliminates blackheads by removing the dirt caught in pores. But although it's good for blackhead-prone skin, extraction shouldn't be performed on severely inflamed areas covered in acne. Not all facials include the extraction step; you may not need it if you have dry or normal skin, and you can always opt not to undergo the extraction treatment if you don't like the sound of it. A good esthetician can perform extractions quickly and painlessly, so if you're confident in your therapist's abilities, it's worth giving this step a shot.

Step 5: Massage

After extraction, which can be uncomfortable, the esthetician will reward you with a relaxing facial massage. The massage segment is designed to ease any pain, release tension, and stimulate your pores for the rest of the treatment.

Step 6: Mask

Next, the esthetician will apply a mask on your face and neck that is specially designed for your skin's needs. If you have oily skin, the mask will absorb excess oils; if you have dry skin, the mask will be moisturizing. No matter what kind of mask you receive, expect it to remain on your face for about 15 minutes. Then, it will be removed with warm water and a cloth.

Step 7: Moisturizing

To end your treatment, your therapist will apply a moisturizer suitable for your skin type. Sometimes, a toner is applied to your face too.

After the facial treatment ends, your therapist should give you a brief summary of all that she's done. She'll tell you how to continue caring for your skin at home and will probably recommend products that would be ideal for your skin type.

Facts about facials:

Most facials last 50 minutes, but you can find treatments that take 90 minutes too. Some spas offer 25-minute mini facials; these leave out many of the above steps, including the extraction and mask segments. It's worth it to pay a little bit more for the complete therapy.

Facials aren't cheap. A reputable spa will charge $80 or more for a 50-minute session. In some rural day spas, you can find facials for less, but expect to pay much more at a posh city spa or a getaway hotel spa.

Although many spas offer four or five different kinds of facial treatment, they are all pretty much the same thing. Facials that claim to be "anti-aging", "after-sun care" or "oxygen therapy" will incorporate the same steps listed above but will include more specialized products. Remember: it's always the products that change in specialty facials, not the method of treatment.

Regular facials are a great way to keep skin looking radiant, but you shouldn't have a spa facial more than once a month. You can, however, give yourself a home facial using much the same steps. Purchase the products recommended by your esthetician or buy your own spa line. Use these products in once-a-week home facial treatments.