Taking the time to invest in myself and going to get my first facial was the best thing I’ve ever done.
A little science behind it🖍 Skin is the biggest organ on the human body, and it is often neglected! It is your first barrier against the outside world, and it holds your together (literally!). Paying attention to your skin and how it looks is often the first indication that something isn’t right in your body. Oddly enough it is also the last spot to receive nutrients and hydration.
Now to the spa 🌸 before I got my first facial by a licensed esthetician, I thought I knew everything. My skin was “clear” with occasional monthly breakouts. I was expecting to lay down under those lights and be praised for how well I’ve kept up with my skin. I watch so much YouTube, I know everything I need to know about taking care of my face. WRONG. The first thing you do is write down all the products you use, how often you use them, and your general skincare routine. I can’t explain to you the look on the professionals face when she saw what I was doing. “Using a deep pore cleanser twice a day and using two different astringents twice a day as well!?” She said, “no wonder you struggle with oil control and uneven skintone.” I was shook. Learning that witch hazel and sea breeze were the same exact thing was a shock to me! (Shows you how much I actually knew about skincare)
Then comes the exam. After going through family history, genetics has a lot to do with how your skin works, and everything else. Now it was time for the fun stuff. She covered my eyes with aloe soaked cotton pads and turned on this huge ring light above my face. Having someone all into my pores and the tiny things that made me insecure about my skin, honestly made me a little uncomfortable. But if you know me, you know that I am down for anything if in the end I can come out with more knowledge! She tells me that my products are too harsh for my skin and it was actually causing more harm what good. (WHAT!) “But my skin is clear, what do you mean?” Dry. Dry was the word I was not expecting to hear because I have always struggled with oil control. How could I be dry AND oily? Here’s the thing... your face naturally produces the perfect amount of oil to keep your skin healthy and alive. Not having the proper products for your skin, will instantly dry them out. Also, taking extremely hot showers, not drinking enough water, your environment, are all things that take away from the moisture of the surface of your skin. So now your skin has to work 10 times harder. What does that lead too? Over production of oil. Your body now is over compensating for what is being taken away. I know crazy right? With the over production of oil comes faster cell renewal, which leads to dry skin, which leads to acne. (Follow my blog for a post all about acne coming soon 😉)
After a good cleansing, a mask, more cleansing, another mask, extractions(yes, be ready to have your pores deep cleaned and all pimples popped), and about 4 different moisturizers I was finished. I looked in the mirror and let me tell you I was so happy! My skin looked amazing! I have never seen so much life and natural glow on my bare face! The entire time I was asking questions and making sure I had an understanding of what skin type I had. What I should use and how do I keep up with it after I leave the office. These people are trained to know your skin. Everyone is different. Every skin is different. The only way to know is to do your research and find an esthetician near you! DO NOT be afraid to read reviews before hand and don’t be afraid to ask questions. No professional expects you to come in one time and magically know all the things they spent months in school for! Education is key!
My next post will be about my post-facial experience. What new things I’ve implemented, and also what I wish I would’ve known before going into my first facial!
Thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far. I’m so excited to share my knowledge with you guys. Hopefully this will help someone out there!
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Disclaimer I am NOT a licensed esthetician, I am simply sharing my experience and my knowledge with you guys.