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Facial treatment after-care
So you’ve just had a facial treatment!
Feeling relaxed? Rejuvenated?
We hope so!
We recently shared a blog post on How to prepare for a facial that shared 5 steps to prepare for your first, or next, facial.
Well, as a natural companion to that post, today we’re sharing what logically happens next: facial treatment after-care!
Whether it was your first or your hundredth trip to the skincare salon, there are some steps you may need to follow after your treatment.
Let’s dive in!
So you’ve just had a facial treatment!
Feeling relaxed? Rejuvenated?
We hope so!
We recently shared a blog post on How to prepare for a facial that shared 5 steps to prepare for your first, or next, facial.
Well, as a natural companion to that post, today we’re sharing what logically happens next: facial treatment after-care!
Whether it was your first or your hundredth trip to the skincare salon, there are some steps you may need to follow after your treatment.
Let’s dive in!
Facial Treatment After-Care
Gentle, or exfoliating?
First things first, we need to establish what kind of treatment you received: something gentle, or something exfoliating?
Gentle
If you didn’t receive a specific treatment and opted for something like a basic cleansing facial, a hydrating facial, or a relaxing facial, then you likely fall in this category. A gentle facial is going to use gentle products that are safe for most skin types. The aim of these facials is usually to calm the skin, or to add hydration.
Exfoliating
An exfoliating treatment would include microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. These kinds of treatments are designed to remove the outer-most layer of your skin, revealing new, healthy, and glowing skin underneath. This also promotes collagen production, which over time, can heal some skin damage, reduce wrinkles, and overall help achieve a younger looking appearance. In addition, it can also promote healing for existing acne as it encourages the skin to turnover new cells.
Gentle facial after-care
Since a gentle facial treatment uses gentle products, you can likely expect to return to your typical skincare routine. You shouldn’t expect to experience any negative side effects like irritation or redness.
If you know you have particularly sensitive skin, you may want to keep an eye out for any unexpected reactions, even if your facialist only used gentle products. Be sure to discuss any of your concerns about potential reactions due to sensitive skin with your facialist during your consultation.
And lastly, keep your skin out of the sun. You should be protecting against sun exposure always, but definitely after a facial. You don’t want to dull your newly glowing and dewy skin! Wear hats and apply a light sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. Your facialist may end your treatment by applying an SPF product, but you’ll want to reapply throughout the day and in the days that follow. Ask your facialist after your treatment for a specific sunscreen recommendation based on your skin type.
After care for a gentle or hydrating facial
Return to your normal skincare routine
Protect your skin against sun exposure
Report any unexpected reactions to your facialist
Exfoliating treatment after-care
If you received an exfoliating treatment during your facial, such as a micro peel or microdermabrasion, you can expect there to be some side effects afterwards.
You may experience some pinkness or redness and some irritation. You may even expect to have some peeling, depending on the strength of your treatment and your skin type. These side effects may take a day or more to appear.
Your facialist may have provided you with a nourishing moisturizer or calming balm to help mitigate your skin’s irritation. Be sure to use this as needed and as instructed by your provider.
A couple of our favorites are the Redness Rescue by MAD and Redness Neutralizer by SkinCeuticals. Our skincare specialist, Teresa, often recommends these products for after a microdermabrasion or chemical peel.
Redness Rescue by MAD Skincare
Redness Neutralizer by SkinCeutials
Because of the intensity of the exfoliating treatment, your skin is more sensitive than normal. As a result, you will want to avoid any additional exfoliation.
Identify any exfoliants you may be using in your routine by their title or description, or by their ingredients, and refrain from using them for 2-3 days. Some exfoliating ingredients to look out for are:
Glycolic acid
Tea tree oil
Benzoyl peroxide
Retinol
Micro-beads
Salicylic acid
As a general rule, most acne fighting products will contain exfoliants, so look at the ingredient label.
If there’s a product or ingredient you’re unsure of, you can always ask your facialist at your appointment, or give them a call after returning home and having a closer look at your medicine cabinet.
Exactly how long you should avoid using exfoliating products after your treatment will vary, so discuss the specifics with your skincare specialist.
Finally, protect your skin from the sun, especially after an exfoliating treatment. Your skin will be more vulnerable than normal, so cover up and wear a sunscreen approved or recommended by your treatment provider.
After-care for an exfoliating facial treatment
Identify any exfoliating products in your routine, and avoid them for 2-3 days
Treat any expected irritation with a calming product like MAD’s Redness Rescue or SkinCeuticals’ Redness Neutralizer
Protect your skin from sun exposure
Report any unexpected reactions or extensive irritation to your facialist
Discuss expectations with your facialist
The best way to define your particular facial after-care is to discuss the specifics of your treatment, your skin, and what you can expect.
It’s always beneficial to ask your facialist about the specific treatment you’ll be receiving. A good facialist will be proactive in this area, and let you know not only what to expect during and after your treatment, but how exactly the treatments or products work on your skin. In our Cedar Rapids skincare salon, we value educating our clients, and explaining our treatments is a big part of that.
An ongoing relationship with a skincare specialist is a big benefit here. This ensures your facialist knows and understands your skin well and how it reacts to specific products and treatments. This understanding informs recommendations for the treatments best-suited to achieve the skincare results you’re looking for. Familiarity with your skin also aids your provider in crafting an after-care plan best suited for you.
Is this reaction normal after a facial?
As mentioned above, an exfoliating treatment like microdermabrasion or a chemical peel, can leave you with some redness or irritation, but how do you know if what you’re experiencing is normal?
First, talk with your facialist directly after your treatment. In addition to asking for what you can expect after the particular facial you received, ask specifically when you should worry or when to call them. Their guidelines can help keep you at ease as your skin responds to your treatment.
Most of the time, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. But it’s always good to be prepared, especially if this is your first time seeing an esthetician.
In general, if you start to experience itchiness, excessive redness, or your skin starts feeling really warm, it is probably time to call your skincare specialist and let them know what’s going on. You may be having a bad reaction to an ingredient you weren’t aware you were allergic to. Your facialist can give you instructions and may have a specialized product to suggest depending on what was used during your treatment.
Again, this isn’t a common occurrence. And when in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact your facialist. They’re the expert and will be happy to advise you.
Facial after-care summary
The exact steps to follow for your facial treatment after-care will depend on your specific treatment and skin type. Discuss the specifics of your treatment and what to expect when you get home in the days to come. Be sure to follow their advice and instructions above all!
Here is a summary of the general post-facial guidance we’ve discussed above:
Discuss your treatment with your skincare specialist and what you can expect during and after facial
If you received an exfoliating facial treatment, refrain from using exfoliating products in your at-home skincare routine for 2-3 days or as directed by your facialist
If you experience normal irritation after a microdermabrasion or chemical peel, you can apply a soothing skin product like MAD’s Redness Rescue or SkinCeuticals’ Redness Neutralizer to calm the skin at home
If you did not have an exfoliating treatment, return to your skincare routine as normal
Protect your skin from sun exposure, regardless of the type of facial, but especially after an exfoliating treatment
Regardless of the treatment you received, if you experience a side effect or reaction you didn’t expect, always call your facialist to discuss it
Most importantly, listen to and follow the specific guidance from your facialist, and call them if you have any questions or concerns
Ready to get your own facial? We’ll be happy to see you in the salon!
Meet your Cedar Rapids Skincare & Electrolysis Specialist:
Teresa Dove
Teresa is the proud owner and operator of Professional Image Enhancement. She is a Licensed Cosmetologist (L.C.) and Licensed Electrologist (L.E.) based in Cedar Rapids and has been providing professional skin care and permanent hair removal to her clients from all over Eastern Iowa for over 25 years. She regularly attends the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference for continuing education and to stay on top of the industry.
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What to get a facial before an event? Read this first!
We want to look and feel our best for our event. People aside, there are likely going to be tons of photos taken of us at this event, so we’d like the best version of our skin memorialized. Glowing, hydrated, youthful looking skin, all traits a facial can help achieve, is quite the seller!
So that’s exactly what we’re tackling today. Not only when to actually schedule your facial before an event, but also the side effects of facials from the various treatments they include, and how that impacts your skincare timeline.
What do you think of when you think of a getting a facial?
Luxury.
Relaxation.
Beauty.
Rejuvenation.
Treating ones self.
Glowing skin.
Felling your best.
All these positive adjacent characteristics is probably why we often think of facials and specialized skincare when preparing for a big event.
We want to look and feel our best for our event. People aside, there are likely going to be tons of photos taken of us at this event, so we’d like the best version of our skin memorialized. Glowing, hydrated, youthful looking skin, all traits a facial can help achieve, is quite the seller!
Not to mention that planning for a big event can be stressful! So the thought of enjoying a relaxing and rejuvenating facial (or five) sounds like pure heaven. It might even be the very argument you need to try a facial for the first time.
But how do you actually incorporate a facial, or a collection of facial treatments, into your event planning?
We’ve had brides, class reunion attendees, and other clients with big events on the horizon, call us up and want a complete skincare transformation 2 weeks before said event.
And while we empathize with wanting to look our best, and dedicated skincare can make impressive transformations happen, they don’t happen overnight. Moreover, the more intense skincare treatments that can help make those leaps in the skin rejuvenation direction, are the exact treatments you don’t want to be having so close to an important event.
So that’s exactly what we’re tackling today. Not only when to actually schedule your facial before an event, but also the side effects of facials from the various treatments they include, and how that impacts your skincare timeline.
Let’s jump right in!
When should you schedule a facial before an event?
What “big events” are we talking about?
Since we’re discussing how to optimize our skin looking its best, when we say “big events”, we’re largely talking about events where you will see many people, and/or be seen by many people. Events where you are concerned about presenting the best version of yourself. These would include, but of course are not limited to:
Weddings
Engagement parties
Graduations
TV appearances
High School or college reunions
Photoshoots
Being a presented speaker
For all these types of events, we really want to be putting our best foot forward, and having a skin care plan is a great piece of accomplishing just that.
Not all facials are created equal (and shouldn’t be)
Facials can be as unique as the skin that’s being treated. In fact, they’re at their best when they are personalized for the individual. This is why personalization is one of our core focuses in our Cedar Rapids based salon for any service we provide our clients. Your skin is unique, so your skin care should be, too!
In turn, this means that facials can cause different results and side effects based on the different treatments and products used in that particular facial. All this variation stems from the varying initial goals for a facial for a specific client and their unique skin.
A facialist faced with a client with dry, mature skin with the goal of hydration, will choose a specific set of treatments and products. When that facialist is then faced with a client with young, acne-prone skin with the goal of treating existing acne, the provider will choose a completely different collection of treatments and products.
Benefits from a facial before an event
While a single facial isn’t going to completely transform your skin (we’ll talk more about achieving dramatic results for an event further on), there are some real benefits you can take away from just one or two treatments.
A very popular facial treatment for existing clients at our salon is the Micropeel, especially for weddings. It gives a “glow of youth”, makes the skin look more alive, and helps makeup go on smooth and easy. This is often a recommendation from our skincare specialist, Teresa, when she is already familiar with a client’s skin and knows it can tolerate the treatment.
Other facial treatments can help to heal existing acne, promote collagen production, and provide nourishing hydration. Plus, getting away from the chaos of event planning can help reduce stress levels, which has its own impact on our skin.
If there are specific benefits you’re looking to achieve, talk with your skincare specialist for help choosing the best personalized facial treatment for you.
Temporary side effects of facials to consider
Since we have a variety of different facial treatments, each one will have its own collection of side effects with varying levels of severity. With the more severe corresponding to more time needed between it and your event.
If you’re getting a facial with a more intense treatment, i.e. microdermabrasion, the use of an exfoliating product, or a chemical peel, this is where you’ll see those more intense side effects. You may experience some side effects ranging from general irritation and localized pink or redness, all the way to a higher redness presence and peeling.
How long it takes for these side effects to subside also depends on how intense your treatment was, and your individual skin’s reaction. And while we only offer lighter chemical peels in our salon, you still may need a week or two, or more, for your skin return to event-worthy display.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are facial treatments and products that are designed to be very gentle and nourishing on the skin. These kinds of facial options are much safer to have closer to your event date.
However, even if you’re considering a gentler facial, and don’t intend on trying out an exfoliating treatment, Teresa, our skincare specialist at Professional Image Enhancement in Cedar Rapids, recommends to never have your very first facial earlier than a month before an important event.
“A client can have reactions, and you just never know. You have to be sure. That means start your treatments way before your event.
If they’ve never had a facial before, try it a month before a big event. Then they know how their skin reacts and can have a treatment closer to their big event.”
Finally, your facialist will tell you what you should and shouldn’t expect after a specific treatment. Some amount of redness and peeling can be expected for certain treatments, but if you’re ever concerned that something is not right, always give your facialist a call.
Looking for bigger results? Start before the facial
If you’re looking for something more than just an hour of relaxation, but really making your skin look it’s absolute best, you’ll want to start far before your event date.
In order to achieve dramatic skincare results, (think healing and preventing acne or reversing aging) you will need multiple treatments spanned over many weeks. But your dedication will be rewarded!
Depending on the current state of your skin and what skincare goals you want to ultimately achieve, there can be 1-2 weeks in between treatments, which quickly ads up. For this reason, we’d recommend booking your initial skincare consultation at least 6 months before your event. This will give you enough time for a facialist to make a solid skincare treatment plan for you that can address all your concerns. And it will give your facialist plenty of time to really get to know your skin.
If you’re a veteran of facials and have a great ongoing relationship with a specific facialist or skincare specialist, booking an appointment with them well in advance of your event is still a good idea. Since they know your skin well, they can help guide you to an event-prep treatment plan that will fit all your skincare goals and get your skin event-ready.
A facialist that knows your skin well will be able to provide the utmost personalized treatments, maximizing your results. The more time you dedicate, the better results you will have.
Schedule A skincare consultation
Getting to know your skin with a consultation is the perfect first step when you want to look your best for whatever event or celebration is on your horizon.
Your schedule depends on your goals
The exact timeline for when to book your facial before your event ultimately depends on what kind of treatment you’ll be including in your facial and what your goals are.
Check which situation best applies to you, and see our recommendations for when to book your facial before your important event.
Looking for dramatic skincare results for your event?
Begin: 6 months - 1 year before your event
Whether you’ve ever had a facial before or not, visit a skincare specialist to discuss your long-term skincare goals leading up to your event. Together, make a skincare plan and start scheduling your treatments.
Never had a facial before and interested in trying one out specifically for your event?
Begin: At least 1 month before your event
If this is your first foray into facial treatments, schedule a skincare consultation and first facial as a trial no sooner than 1 month before your event. This will give you and your facialist time to see how you skin reacts and plan your event facial.
A facial treatment veteran looking for a polish?
Schedule: 1-2 weeks before your event
If you already have a good relationship with a facialist who knows your skin well, and depending on your skin, you could be a great candidate for a Micropeel. This treatment gives amazing benefits for an event like smooth makeup-application and a glow of youth!
Always feel free to connect with your esthetician even sooner than we’ve listed here. Remember, the more time you have, the better results you can achieve, and the better your facialist can get to know your skin and recommend the best treatment for you.
Additionally, not all treatments are appropriate for all treatment goals or skin types. So always discuss your goals and desires with your facialist or skincare specialist.
After your event
Phew! You made it through your big event! Be it a wedding, class reunion, or public speaking event, you’re likely coming down from a bit of stress, or at least adrenaline! This is a great time for a follow-up facial treatment.
Now that the event is over, one option is to focus on those more intense treatments, like a chemical peel, now that you don’t need to worry as much about their side effects.
We’d encourage you to consider other treatments as well.
As stated earlier, you’re likely coming down from some stress and adrenaline, and that can definitely impact our skin. Time in a calm and relaxing facial treatment can help treat your stress itself. Soft music, low lighting, gentle massage… Can you feel your stress melting away already?
As for the effect of stress on the skin its self, many people experience stress-related acne which can be partly caused by stress-triggered excess oil production. So post-event, you may experience some lingering acne. A facial focusing on treating oily skin and acne is a great option if this is the reality for you.
If your event was outside, maybe in the hot, humid, and sticky Iowa summer weather, where your skin was exposed to pollution, sweat, and sun, your skin could wildly benefit from a deep cleansing facial.
And of course, as we’re constantly saying all over this blog, take some time to speak with your skincare professional of choice. They’ll take a closer look at your skin and how you specifically are reacting to coming down from your big event, and can recommend the best treatment for you.
Meet your Cedar Rapids Skincare & Electrolysis Specialist:
Teresa Dove
Teresa is the proud owner and operator of Professional Image Enhancement. She is a Licensed Cosmetologist (L.C.) and Licensed Electrologist (L.E.) based in Cedar Rapids and has been providing professional skin care and permanent hair removal to her clients from all over Eastern Iowa for over 25 years. She regularly attends the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference for continuing education and to stay on top of the industry.
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How to prepare for a facial
Many of our clients have also been regular patrons of facials, but not everyone has already been introduced to this area of skincare, and trying to break into the world of facial treatments can be daunting.
So today we’re talking about facial prep! While chatting with Teresa about this topic, I gleaned these 5 steps to take to prepare for your first, or next, facial.
A facial feels like such a luxury. I remember being so excited to get my first facial treatment as a teenager, finally old enough to start playing in this world of skincare. Lucky for me, Teresa — skincare specialist, esthetician, and owner & operator of Professional Image Enhancement, is my mother. So I’ve been enjoying the spoils of regular facials throughout my adolescence and adulthood (when I happen to be home for a visit). They almost feel like second nature to me now.
Many of our clients have also been regular patrons of the salon, but not everyone has been previously introduced to this area of skincare, and trying to break into the world of facial treatments can be daunting.
So today we’re talking about facial prep! While chatting with Teresa about this topic, I gleaned these 5 steps to take to prepare for your first, or next, facial.
How to prepare for a facial
Step 1: Define your skincare goals
Before diving into all the fun of skincare products, ingredients, and finding yourself an esthetician, we need to cover our basics.
“The most important knowledge are the goals a client has.”
So ask yourself what is inspiring you to seek out a facial in the first place, and even skincare in general. Here are some goals you can consider:
Repairing past damage to skin
Preventing further damage from the sun and pollution
Managing dry skin and increasing hydration
Healing existing acne
Managing and preventing future acne
Reducing the appearance of acne scarring
Treating fine lines and aging skin
Preparing for aging skin
Evening skin tone
It’s when we have a clear picture of your skincare goals, that you and your esthetician can be on the same page and work together in the same direction.
Step 2: Become familiar with your current skincare products
In order for a facialist to create an effective facial treatment for you, they need to get to know your skin. One big way they do this is via a window into your at-home skincare routine. Of course this means you need to get familiar with what you’re actually using in your routine.
“The client has to be knowledgeable about what they’re using, to be open to share their routine, and what they might react to or that their skin doesn’t like. That will give me an idea of what kind of skin they have.”
First, it’s good to also make note of the types of products you’re using (cleansers, toners, serums, creams, etc), and what the product is aimed to do: an acne-fighting cleanser, an anti-aging moisturizer, an under-eye serum for dark circles. This further informs the aesthetician on your skincare goals, and they may have a good idea of what type of ingredients are likely to be a in particular type of product aimed at a particular focus.
Take some time to dig through your medicine cabinet, and take mental notes (or actual ones) of the key ingredients in the products you’re using and how often. Some ingredients to keep an eye out for are salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol.
Finally, keep in mind the products and ingredients that tend to give you bad reactions. Do acne products always leave your skin red and irritated? Do you tend to stay away from salicylic acid? Is there anything you know you’re allergic to?
All of this information is going to be very helpful for your aesthetician.
Step 3: Find a facialist
Now comes the exciting, yet daunting task of choosing a facialist. Searching “facial” for Cedar Rapids, Iowa alone, returns well over 50 businesses!
After narrowing it down by personal recommendations or those that are most conveniently located for you, there are some qualities you want to look for.
Besides being sure they have adequate education for their field, you’ll really benefit from finding a provider who focuses on personalization. If the aesthetician talks about taking the time to get to know your skin and catering their services to you and your skincare goals, then you’re in really good hands.
“They have to search for someone who is going to customize the facial for them. No book or training will train them to do that. I’m going to try and meet the needs of your skin according to what I see and what you describe to me. If you have a little acne, I will do a little to treat it.”
A combination of foundational education and a lot of experience is what culminates to provide a truly personalized facial experience.
“The bottom line is finding someone who will customize their treatment and knows the biology and anatomy of the skin to do it correctly. That is what I recommend to everybody.”
That’s exactly what Teresa has done for 30 years!
Step 4: Don’t schedule your first facial right before an event
When it comes time to schedule your appointment, avoid anything very soon before a big event: wedding, prom, photoshoot, etc. Particularly if you’ve never had a facial before. Right before an important event is the last time you want to try anything new with your face.
If you have facials regularly and enjoy a history with a facialist or aesthetician that knows your skin well, they can be more specific about the type of treatments that would be a safe choice closer to one of those big events
“Never have your first facial right before an event because you never know. If I know their skin, if they’re an existing client, we will see what kind of facial they can have before the event. This is not the time to try anything.”
Step 5: Come as you are
If in advance, you’ve spoken with your chosen aesthetician in more detail about a particular treatment, follow any instructions for products or ingredients to avoid. Otherwise you can follow your routine as normal, just be sure to include that routine in what you share during your consultation so it can be taken into consideration for your treatment.
You don’t need to worry about leaving off your makeup that day, as your facialist will take care of any makeup removal before your treatment. You’ll also be changing into a facial-appropriate robe or wrap, so your outfit is also something you don’t need to be too concerned about.
Finally, some clients are a bit nervous about sharing their skincare routine, or lack of a routine, with a professional. But rest assured your aesthetician is simply concerned with being well informed in order to provide you the best service. No judgment found here!
We hope these steps are leaving you feeling confident for your first, or next, facial treatment! Teresa at our skincare salon in Cedar Rapids would be happy to see you whether you’re a facial novice or veteran. If you’d like to get on our schedule, give us a call at (319) 373-9596 or request an appointment online.
Facial prep FAQ
We’re sure you’ve still got some questions! Here are some common ones we get about prepping for facials. If you still have facial questions of your own, schedule a skin care consultation at our salon in Cedar Rapids by calling (319) 373-9596 or by requesting an appointment online.
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Do I need to remove my makeup before a facial?
If you have a previous engagement before your facial and would like to wear makeup, that’s perfectly fine. You don’t need to go to the trouble of avoiding it or removing it before your appointment. Your aesthetician will take care of that for you as prep for your treatment. What you can wear on your face after your facial of course depends on the type of treatment you receive. Be sure to ask your facialist about this after your appointment.
What should I avoid before a facial?
If you are planning on a treatment that is on the aggressive side, ie. a microdermabrasion or chemical peel, you want to be gentle on your skin for the week leading up to your appointment. This would involve avoiding your harsher ingredients like retinol or benzoyl peroxide. Also be sure to wear your sunscreen and protect your face from those UVBs.
If you’re having your very first facial, the aesthetician will likely want to start gentle regardless in order to start learning about your skin and to see how it reacts.
Regardless of what you’re using at home, a knowledgable aesthetician can put together a facial treatment that will be a compliment. The bottom line is to be very clear about what you’re already using so your facialist can plan accordingly, and always talk with your specific treatment provider about any details.
How should I wear my hair for a facial?
At your facial, your aesthetician will use a cloth or paper headband to wrap all the way around your hairline. You’ll also be laying on your back. So, well-involved updo’s will likely be inconvenient, and if you’ve spent time slaving over a curling iron, you may be disappointed after laying on your hairstyle for 45+ minutes. Casual is better here. Hair down or in a low ponytail will be just fine.
What should I wear to a facial?
After your initial consultation and it comes time for your actual treatment, you will be provided a towel, robe, or wrap to change into. So the clothes you wear to your appointment aren’t particularly important. But perhaps opt for something that’s easier to get in and out of. This may be the time to pass over the full lace-up boots or that dress with a zipper in the back that you can’t quite reach.
Meet your Cedar Rapids Skincare & Electrolysis Specialist:
Teresa Dove
Teresa is the proud owner and operator of Professional Image Enhancement. She is a Licensed Cosmetologist (L.C.) and Licensed Electrologist (L.E.) based in Cedar Rapids and has been providing professional skin care and permanent hair removal to her clients from all over Eastern Iowa for over 25 years. She regularly attends the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference for continuing education and to stay on top of the industry.
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8 Things You Need to Know About Acne Facials
Acne remains one of the most common skin conditions in the United States, and is well represented in the reasons many of our own clients come to see us. Famously, it is most often associated with those in their teen and young adult years. But as many of us know all too well, acne can also follow us far into adulthood.
Today we’re talking about just one of the treatments we offer in our Cedar Rapids salon to address, treat, and prevent acne for our clients: the acne facial.
The world of skin care is vast and ever-expanding. There are always new headlining ingredients, new treatments, new products, fads as far as the eye can see — all claiming to be your ultimate solution. But the things that stays the same? The reasons people seek out skincare advice or skincare treatments. One of the biggest is, of course, acne.
Acne remains one of the most common skin conditions in the United States, and is well represented in the reasons many of our own clients come to see us. Famously, it is most often associated with those in their teen and young adult years. But as many of us know all too well, acne can also follow us far into adulthood.
Today we’re talking about just one of the treatments we offer in our Cedar Rapids salon to address, treat, and prevent acne for our clients:
THE Acne Facial
An acne facial is a specific kind of personalized facial that specifically focuses on treating acne. A skincare specialist may preform an acne facial to treat acne currently present on the face, or as a part of a regular professional skincare routine to prevent acne from reappearing. For those that suffer from regular acne, or even circumstantial acne, for example from stress, adding acne facials to their skin care routine could be a real benefit, and we’ve seen the results in our salon to prove it.
Ready to dive in?
8 Things You Need to Know About Acne Facials
1. No two facials are the same
If you’ve spent any amount of time on our website or at our salon, you’ll already know that personalization is part of our core salon philosophy. Acne might be the most straight forward support for this. As any acne sufferer can tell you, the first thing you try to treat your acne isn’t likely the last thing you try to treat your acne. And if it was, then you were definitely one of the lucky ones, and the rest of us are only a little bit jealous.
When it comes to treating acne with any kind of service (facial or otherwise), there are a lot of different elements to consider.
To start, you may have heard of some well-known different skin types: dry, oily, combination. You may have also seen “aging” or “sun damaged” thrown in the mix. But did you know there are also different types of acne? White heads, black heads, cystic, and papules just to name a few. Each have their own properties and best practices for treatment.
Beyond the physical differences between clients, there are also environmental elements to consider: time of year, pollution, and even lifestyle.
All of these elements together create a complete profile, all of which needs to be considered when crafting the right acne treatment solution for your unique profile. The most crucial thing is to understand is the complexity of acne. It’s true that anybody could just use the same thing or have the same treatment, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it will have the same result. So, we have to cater things for each person.
2. You need to bring your own products
Not to be used in the facial treatment itself of course! But do bring the complete collection of the skin care products you’re already using and including in your daily / weekly / monthly routine — in the bottle and everything! This way, we can read all of the ingredients, and even research the name of a particular product if there is information missing from the label. This helps to fill in the fuller picture of the current status of your skin.
What if you’re an old client coming back to the salon after a hiatus? “My skin care specialist knows me and my skin, do I still need to bring in my products?” Knowing the skin is very important, but it isn’t enough, even if we have been seeing a client for years.
Even if I see the skin and know the skin, I need to know the routine. Are you missing the toner? If you’re using retinol, I don’t want to use salicylic in conjunction, so I’m going to remove that from the treatment.
— Teresa Dove, Licensed Cosmetologist, Owner
3. Some acne products may make your acne worse
Acne is a personal problem. In the way that it is often something people may find embarrassing, but also in the way that the cause and nature of your acne will be different from the next person’s. Your acne is personal to you. That’s why, someone could be using XYZ products or ingredients, and say, “this is working for me”, and give it to their friend who is also suffering from acne, and it ends up over-drying their friend’s skin while they themselves never had that problem.
Here’s a great example:
Teresa has two daughters, Katherine and Rosemarie. Both pull some weight in the salon — Katherine manages the website and social media, and Rosemarie is the occasional model for our photoshoots. Both also have had acne since puberty, and both treat it very differently.
Katherine swears by benzoyl peroxide. Rosemarie’s skin can’t tolerate the stuff. For her, benzoyl peroxide dries our her skin way too much, she develops a rash and her acne actually gets worse.
Even sisters can’t always share acne products!
In the salon, we take baby steps, and we start with the knowledge of each client’s personal chemistry, and their type of skin. It can get very complicated!
Sometimes we have clients come in that are over-treating their acne at home. You have to be careful, more is not always better. Overusing the products, using the wrong products, too many products… Just because it says “for acne”, it might not be treating your acne. It could actually exacerbate the problem. It’s about what your skin will tolerate.
— Teresa Dove, Licensed Cosmetologist, Owner
4. Even an acne facial needs a moisturizing treatment
People assume that if they have acne, they don’t need moisturizer.
Possibly the worst misconception we have around acne is that, nearly universally, people try to dry the skin to kill the acne. And while that can be a really good, and sometimes necessary, place to start, we have to be careful not to get extreme, not to go too far.
When doing an acne facial, we are always going to include a moisturizer. We want the face to have water, not oils. So to prevent the over-production of oils, we have a moisturizer at the end or in between the treatments.
5. What to expect at your appointment
We have talked about how different and varied your acne facial can, and should, be. But there is a rhythm that Teresa follows during her initial appointment with a new client seeking to treat acne. This is the skin care consultation.
First off, we start with Evaluating the Skin. Actually physically looking at the skin, both with the naked eye and really closely with magnifying goggles. Is there sun damage? Redness? Is it oily or dry? Are the pores clogged? Etc.
Next is Visiting with the Client. This is where we address all the products you’ve brought in and discuss how you might change your at-home routine to more accurately address your acne based on Teresa’s skin evaluation.
Finally, Teresa will Create a Treatment Plan. With all the information gathered from the skin evaluation and discussing your current products routine, this will provide all the information to determine what course to take. This treatment plan can include both in-salon treatments such as additional acne facials, as well as an updated at-home skin care routine with more appropriate products for your skin.
The skin care consultation is almost like working with a coach to navigate your acne.
6. One treatment is probably not enough
As relaxing and soothing and pampering as an acne facial may feel, it alone is no magic bullet.
Much like taking a multivitamin for just one week isn’t going to have a long-lasting impact on your overall health, one acne facial isn’t going to fully correct your acne.
But don’t be worried, you won’t be chained to the salon. You may need more regular treatments closer together in the beginning of your acne journey, but as it gets under control, you may need less in-salon support.
7. Your first facial may not actually be for treating your acne
The treatment that Teresa will perform at your initial appointment after your skin care consultation will entirely depend on the status of your skin when you arrive. And that may mean your skin isn’t ready for an active acne-fighting treatment.
We recently had a client come in for their first acne facial, and with them they brought in a lot of over-the-counter acne fighters. The main ingredient they were using was retinol, which has a great reputation for fighting acne! But, they were still fighting with their acne.
That’s because they were allergic! On top of that, they were dealing with exacerbated irritation. Due to the irritation, the skin was producing excess oil. In this case, Teresa could not do an acne treatment. Instead, she did an anti-inflammatory treatment to address the allergy and irritation before anything else. By the third treatment on the third week, she was able to finally treat the acne.
8. Your acne treatment may need to change over time
Just as we change and evolve and grow and age, so does our skin. Our lifestyles may change, or we may even move and experience a whole new environment that our skin now reacts very differently to.
With our changing life, our acne treatment needs to follow.
As you continue to meet with your skin care specialist, they will be able to notice changes in your skin when you return for your appointments, but also be sure to share changes that you are seeing at home. They will be there to help keep your skin and acne in check no matter what life brings you.
Acne Facial FAQ’s
We’re sure you’ve still got some questions! Here are some common ones we get about acne facials. If you still have acne facial questions of your own, schedule a skin care consultation at our salon in Cedar Rapids by calling (319) 373-9596 or by requesting an appointment online.
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How long will it take for my acne to go away after an acne facial?
Like many things in skin care, particularly as it relates to treating acne, results are highly personal and dependent on many factors. You may see some improvements in your acne in the days immediately after your acne facial, but you will still need to consider your overall acne treatment in a more holistic way with your skin care specialist. They will come up with a treatment plan for you specially based on your unique acne and skin. As your treatment progresses, they’ll also be there to monitor and change direction as needed throughout your treatment.
How long does an acne facial last?
In salon, you can expect an acne facial to last 45-60 minutes depending on the specific treatments that will be used and the number of treatments that will be included in your particular visit. Your initial appointment that includes the skin care consultation will take a little bit longer.
How often should I get acne facials?
Depending on your goals, it may be best for you to book a weekly, biweekly or monthly acne facial. If you’re working on healing existing acne, you may need more frequent appointments. The treatment you receive at each appointment may also vary. For example, if you receive a chemical peel treatment with one acne facial, your skin care specialist will want to follow that up with something more moisturizing and soothing to the skin, and not another chemical peel shortly after the last.
If you have made it past the stage of healing existing acne, and are now on to maintaining your new clearer complexion - first of all, congrats! In this stage, you may not need as frequent of visits to see your local skin care specialist. You could be looking at a monthly or bi-monthly treatment schedule.
Meet your Cedar Rapids Skincare Specialist:
Teresa Dove
Teresa is the proud owner and operator of Professional Image Enhancement. She is a Licensed Cosmetologist (L.C.) and Licensed Electrologist (L.E.) based in Cedar Rapids and has been providing professional skin care and permanent hair removal to her clients from all over Eastern Iowa for over 25 years. She regularly attends the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference for continuing education and to stay on top of the industry.
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