With all the new at-home masks available, from charcoal to bubble to sheet, you might figure making a trip to an esthetician for an extravagant treatment is no longer necessary. But there’s something to be said for having a pro examine your skin and treat it accordingly. (Regular facials are a healthy skin habit for a reason.) And come on—getting pampered while an ocean soundtrack plays on loop feels like perfection.
But not every facial is created equal, and if you end up with an esthetician who doesn’t take your specific needs into consideration, your skin could end up worse off. Here’s how to know you’re getting a quality facial—and the signs that indicate you’re not.
She Should Analyze Your Skin Type
Your esthetician should spend a few minutes analyzing your skin and asking you questions before getting started to know how to tailor the treatment for you. For example, if an acid peel is part of the facial protocol, it is vital that the esthetician know what acid strength to use and how long to leave it on the skin in order to avoid adverse effects.
The Room Should Look Clean
Before you close your eyes and get zen, take a quick survey of the room. It should look exceptionally clean, especially the tools that will be used (watch out for these six surprising signs your nail salon is gross, too). “The esthetician should cleanse her hands prior to performing extractions and wear gloves and of course, the areas to be extracted should be thoroughly cleansed too. Sterilized tools are important since nonsterilized tools could carry bacteria and viruses that could infect your skin, especially during extractions. Most estheticians use individually wrapped lancets that are used once and then disposed of. If your esthetician isn’t using a disposable tool, ask to make sure it has been sterilized.
Extractions Shouldn’t Take Forever
(So again, ask about her training first!) Another way to know if your esthetician is legit is by how efficiently she gets the job done. Spending too much time squeezing one pimple means the esthetician doesn’t know how to correctly extract. If an esthetician attempts to extract a blemish that’s not ready to come out, you can leave with damaged skin. When in doubt, ask to skip the extraction portion of your treatment.
Check for Irritation
Unfortunately, there’s no better way to test the quality of your facial than by playing a game of “wait and see” with your skin after your appointment. Basic facials *shouldn’t* cause you to walk out with that red-faced complexion. If you didn’t come in with redness, you shouldn’t leave with any irritation. Leaving with dried-out skin is also a bad sign—an esthetician should choose products that won’t dry out your skin type. And of course, one of the main draws of booking a facial instead of going the DIY route is the relaxation factor. The esthetician who skips that and launches into an endless sales pitch—or who laments the condition of your skin to try to make you feel like you need them to save it—isn’t focused on giving you the best, most zen-like experience. In short, if your esthetician doesn’t have you leaving the appointment relaxed and ~glowing~, it’s probably time to break up.
If you want a flawless facial, you should get it done by beauty professionals. HESS is a salon studio that provides numerous beauty services. Our stylists can give you an excellent hairstyle in our hair salon and barbershop. Also, you can get all other nail salon services, makeup, massage therapy, eyebrow threading, and hair extension services at our beauty salon. Contact us to get more information on the beauty salon rentals.
At HESStudios, we also offer salon suite rentals perfect for makeup artists, waxing services, hair salons, barbershops, natural hair salons, and eyelash extensions. Rent a studio today!