Skincare has a bit of an image problem: doctors say a simple routine is best, but at most spas you’ll find a menu of “instant-results” treatments. Do they work?
The science behind professional treatments
These treatments offer an extreme amount of lifting and transformation for the face that cannot be achieved by your at home skincare routine. Our advanced facial treatments contain chemical peels in a higher concentration than at home products which provide a far deeper level of cellular renewal. Microdermabrasion provides an in-depth removal of the stratum corneum far greater than any home exfoliant.
Out on the treatment frontier is the relatively new offering that exfoliates, extracts and infuses serum into the skin – all in one session. Now popular in spas across the country, the high-tech treatment uses advanced hydrodermabrasion technology. The treatment exfoliates the skin, then extracts any impurities and finishes by infusing the skin with powerful active ingredients. Here, therapists share their first-hand experience with the treatment.
Exfoliating treatments contain concentrated levels of exfoliant ingredients. So concentrated that they are not safe for consumer purchase and require the skillful hands of a trained technician to deliver improvements to the skin in terms of texture, tone and appearance.
What the research shows
Research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2019 found that after one month, participants who received a professional facial had a 23% increase of skin hydration and an 18% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. In comparison, a control group using home care products for the same period experienced an 8% increase in skin hydration and a 5% decrease in fine lines and wrinkles. But what do these statistics really tell us about the magic of a professional facial?
Results were more pronounced in individuals who had specific skin concerns such as acne, hyperpigmentation and photoaging as opposed to individuals with normal balanced skin looking for maintenance. Long-term treatments performed by skin professionals can help to maintain healthy skin but the cost-effectiveness to continued at-home care and sun protection is yet to be determined.
Professional advantages go beyond the treatment itself
A trained aesthetician can actually spot the condition that you may not even know that you have. She can also identify the signs of sun damage that you do not even know that you have incurred. In addition, she can determine if you have sensitivities to products that you are unaware of and how your skin could react to using them in a treatment. Always ask for a consultation prior to your first treatment to best determine the correct products and treatment for your skin.
Whereas at home you can conduct your own trial and error process with various routines in order to find the right combination for you, with a professional skin treatment, you can have something tailored to your specific skin type or skin concern. In addition, the therapist can gauge how your skin responds to the treatment, its intensity, active ingredients and techniques and adjust accordingly.
Blackhead extraction is a professional service offered by qualified and experienced therapists that safely extracts blackheads and blackhead congestion from the face, while at home extraction can be dangerous and often do more harm than good.
Quality varies dramatically
The effectiveness of treatment varies depending on the skill of the practitioner and the quality of the equipment. This can vary between spas and other treatment locations.
If you are looking for similar treatments have a look at the practitioners and the facilities along with the qualified aestheticians and the medical grade equipment they use. Although this treatment doesn’t need any prep, ask if they can do a full skin consultation and explain in full detail on what they would recommend for your skin type. When searching for a HydraFacial near me, reading reviews is great but nothing beats talking to someone face to face and asking a few questions.
The cost calculation
While many of the top skincare treatments out there can range in price from $75 to $300 per session (and sometimes even more!), depending on your skin type or concerns, follow-up sessions every month or even spacing them out every three months can often net the same results with a daily at-home skincare routine that’s surprisingly affordable.
For those with persistent acne, melasma, or severe sun damage, the prices of our advanced facials may be worthwhile for the level of improvement they can bring to the skin. For those with well maintained, healthy skin, the value is not as clear-cut. Please keep in mind that these treatments can certainly enhance the appearance and health of the skin, but may not totally transform it.
Bottom line
While a facial “event” may not be for everyone, they offer genuine benefits to the skin for those with specific skin concerns or conditions. With higher concentrations of active ingredients and expert application by a trained therapist, you are likely to gain far better results than by purchasing your own at home skincare products.
The treatments I’m going to share with you are nothing short of transformative. Many of them need to be added into your skincare routine on an ongoing basis in order to get the best results. Some can be done by a skin professional and then you can continue the results at home with products. But please, remember that these treatments will not work if you have unrealistic expectations, or if you are doing things to your skin that are sabotaging it.
There are many topical and ingestible treatments out there aimed at treating puffy faces, and while many of them actually do work, the real question is whether or not you get what you pay for. This will depend on several personal factors, skin type and concerns, budget and priorities.