Facials; relaxing or results-driven, which type are you?

Facials: which one to choose?

Something that I have been asked about recently is what is the difference between all the facials on a skincare menu and how would you know which one to choose? The simple answer to this really is don’t bother burdening your brain with the details, just ask your skincare professional to recommend the treatment that is correct for your needs. If you are worried about price just state your budget and ask what can be done under that amount.

Often you will be asked if you want a pampering or a results-driven facial. The differences between the two are:

A pampering facial is one that is mainly performed with relaxation in mind. It will involve a lot of massage, often essential oils, (shudder) and masks. It will not include any modules to correct skin function at a cellular level. Your skin will look and feel better for a day or two afterwards (as a result of the massage draining tissues) but will not have any lasting effects. This is the type of facial to have if you are on a relaxing spa day and want to unwind.

Personally if I want relaxation I will have a massage.

A results-driven facial is one that is performed with long term skin changes and benefits in mind. It is done as part of a professional skincare programme which includes skin analysis, corrective homecare and prescriptive treatments. It may include one or a combination of the following: acid peels, enzyme peels, microdermabrasion, microcurrent, phototherapy. They are not usually taken as a one-off as they are part of an overall programme. You can expect this type of facial to be more expensive. The results will last for a few weeks as long as you use the correct homecare products. (Most people on a Skin Essentials programme will have a salon treatment 3-4 times a year).

Although designed to be results-driven, these types of facials are also enjoyable to have. The Skin Essentials by Mariga prescriptive facial includes a deep facial massage as I believe that massage has great beneficial effects on the skin, and is usually everyone’s favourite part of their treatment.

Do you need a facial? See an earlier post which answers that question here.

Do you like your facials to be relaxing or results driven? Leave a comment and let me know.