Beauty Myth: Facials Will Make Your Skin Irritated and Breakout

Heading to the spa for your monthly facial should be a wonderful experience, but have you been deterred from going for fear of emerging from the treatment room red, irritated and broken out? While this less than luxurious result has become a common perception, this can be filed under beauty myths! If performed correctly, facials are meant to be nourishing and rejuvenating for the skin and you should never leave a treatment looking like you just went through a boxing match! We’ve got the insider information on why this misconception has come to be and what facials should really be doing for you!

Prior to every facial service, your esthetician should always conduct a consultation to ensure that potentially reactive elements are not included during your service. If these precautions are not taken, then there are many factors that can cause irritation. Hot towels can often be too stimulating and cause redness and inflammation. Another problem with using towels is that fabric softeners sometimes contain fragrances and ingredients that can be too harsh for your skin, so putting these directly on your face could cause a problem.

Extractions, while they are a fundamental part of an effective facial, if done too harshly can really take a toll on your complexion. Remember you didn’t get pimples overnight – it may take a few sessions to clear them, but it’s worth the wait so you don’t leave looking red, blotchy and irritated! If your esthetician takes simple proactive measures, such as not exceeding 10 minutes when performing extractions, checking with you to make sure you’re not experiencing pain, using desincristation solution prior to extractions to make the process easier and using High Frequency current post extractions (current that helps sanitize skin) you will be ensured to have no irritation! Also, your esthetician should not be using comedone extractors, which are tools that aid in extractions but could potentially cause scarring.

When it comes to breaking out post facial treatment, this can sometimes be from bacteria. This is where you need to ask your esthetician a few questions! Proper sanitation is key to not spreading bacteria on your glowing skin! Find out if the spa uses uni-dose packaging, like The Repêchage Four-Layer Facial®. This facial, along with all of Repêchage’s signature facials, have each product individually packaged for one time use to make sure that there are no hands being dipped into product jars which can lead to bacteria ending up on your face. Also make sure that all facial tools your esthetician is using are sanitized in an auto-clave, which is a device that sterilizes using high pressure saturated steam. If the products are comedogenic, they have the potential to aggravate skin, clog your pores and potentially lead to breakouts as well.

Once you leave your wonderful facial treatment your skin should be gorgeous and glowing, but it’s important to remember to protect it! Apply a protective day cream Hydra 4® Day Protection Creamto help shield your skin from environmental aggressors that could cause irritation post treatment. In addition to helping protect, hydrate and moisturize your skin this lightly whipped formula is soothing and calming.

Now you can see that the myth of facials causing irritation and blemish is simply not true! It is all about both you and your esthetician taking the appropriate measures to make sure that you are able to achieve a fabulous facial that will leave your skin looking radiant, luminous and visibly improved right away!

What was the best facial experience you’ve ever had? Tell us in the comments below!