There was a time when I thought facials were just a cash grab in the skin care industry. However, since experiencing facial masks over the past few years, my outlook has changed dramatically, especially after face masks have addressed everything from clogged pores to my hyperpigmentation.
But even I—someone who spends my days researching and writing stories about topics like skin care—can be overwhelmed by all the options on a spa menu these days. That’s why I’m taking the time to break down some of the best facial deals out there.
European Face
As we dive into each of the different facials, we want to remind you that most facials can be customized. However, they have a basis – this applies especially to the European face, which requires a more minimalist approach.
According to King, a typical European facial treatments entails cleaning, exfoliation, extractions, a moisturising mask, and perhaps a massage. When asked if this type of facial is suitable for sensitive skin, she noted that it’s all about the touch. Chicago offer 60-minute European facials tailored to your needs.
Hydra Facial
The Hydra Facial was the first facial I tried a few years ago and I saw immediate results. So what makes the treatment so special? Vortex technology. The Hydra Facial is a popular treatment that uses Vortex technology—a unique absorption and delivery system that helps remove impurities from the skin, King explains.
Gentle lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid are applied and absorbed to exfoliate and remove, and hyaluronic acid, peptides, and antioxidants stay on the skin. If you’re curious about how much dirt is coming out of your pores, ask your doctor to look at the clear cup after the service. He can be intense but cool at the same time.
As for what skin types will benefit the most from this facial treatment , King says that because of the acids used to exfoliate, it can be a great treatment for oily, acne-prone skin. Most treatments take about 30 minutes.
Face Carving
Most of us have a gua sha tool at home that we may or may not use as often as we like. But lucky for us, there are spa services like Canyon Ranch’s Resculpt Facial, which includes clinical-grade products from French skincare brand Biologique Recherche, gua sha techniques and microtechnology.
Additionally, boutiques like Skin Camp offer 15- to 30-minute facials (which can be customized with accessories) that include gua sha sculpting. But will these treatments change your skin? If done right, yes. Although the results are mostly temporary.
Gua sha is meant to be an act of self-care, slowing your breath and rhythmically contouring your face with a stone to release muscle tension and activate the lymphatic system, King says. And when used correctly, the gua sha tool can create a lymphatic drainage massage that reduces facial swelling for up to 24 hours.
Facial Acupuncture
Facial acupuncture Acupuncture has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Today, many use the practice of cosmetic acupuncture to address skin care concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles. There’s a reason for this:
When you puncture the skin with needles, you cause microtrauma to the skin, which activates a wound-healing cascade that stimulates collagen production and blood flow, King says. . However, he notes that there is little data on the effectiveness of these treatments. That being said, King tells us that fractional lasers and microneedling have data showing their effectiveness at stimulating collagen.
For those with skin conditions caused by stress, King said, another benefit of acupuncture is that it can help reduce stress, which can benefit skin conditions that are made worse by stress.
Microdermabrasion And Microcurrent Facial Treatment
Beauty buzzwords are sometimes just that – all buzz and no results. However, both microdermabrasion and microcurrent technologies are options that live up to the hype, and Joanna Vargas’ Triple Crown Facial, loved by the beauty entrepreneur’s celebrity clients, uses both technologies together. We started with microdermabrasion with a diamond bar, Vargas said.
Then, with a gentle electric current, we reduce swelling, tone muscles, tighten the skin and shape the face. At the end of the first treatment, the jawline will be clearer, the cheekbones will be more defined and the clients will have younger, fresher eyes. The last step is a treatment with oxygen-enriched vitamins, which will give the skin an instant glow.
After a microdermabrasion treatment, King says, “the skin may feel temporarily tight and dry, and there may be some redness, which should disappear within 24 hours.” As for the use of microcurrent technology, King says that because it emits a low-voltage current, there isn’t much scientific data to support anti-aging claims. As prejuvenation and maintenance, he recommends microcurrent technology, as the results tend to be minimal.