Facials are not just to pamper yourself. They have a tremendous impact on the health and vitality of your skin. We‘re going to look at 12 surprising benefits of regular facial treatments you may not expect.
Even if you perform an extensive daily skincare routine, there is always room for improvement with a professional facial. Regular facials are a great way to help you look your best and slow down the aging process.
And if regular facial treatments aren’t in your budget, check out our Take Action section below for 4 products that will get you facial benefits at home.
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please note that I’ve linked to these products purely because I recommend them, and they are from companies I trust. There is no additional cost to you.
What is a facial?
A facial is a treatment performed by a professional esthetician that deep clean your skin to remove dirt, oil, toxins, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
The benefits of facials extend far beyond cleansing and can help the overall health of the skin. Treatments can be tailored to your skin’s specific needs. When complete, you will have radiant, youthful, healthy skin.
Professional facials use medical-grade products that are only available in a doctor’s office. These products will give you better, quicker results than over-the-counter products because medical-grade products are stronger and better at solving skin problems.
What are the different types of facials?
Different types of facials are geared towards different skin types and problems. Each will have its own benefits of regular facial treatment.
Classic facial
The classic facial consists of deep cleansing, exfoliation, pore extraction (with or without steaming), and hydration. It is a basic facial that benefits every skin type and any age. This facial is the building block for more specific, tailored facials that address particular skin issues of the patient.
Acne facial
Acne facials address acne, excess oil, and milia. Estheticians utilize special tools to help extract clogged pores and milia under the skin. Extractions are done gently to avoid harming the skin.
Oxygen facial
During an oxygen facial, the esthetician applies pressurized oxygen and hydrating serums to help plump the skin.
Hydrafacial
Hydrafacial is a revolutionary deep cleaning device that uses a wand to perform the entire facial. The wand cleanses and exfoliates the skin.
Next, a peel is applied to loosen dirt and dead skin cells, which are vacuumed away, leaving a smoother skin texture. This is followed by antioxidants and peptides applied to the skin.
Dermaplaning
This technique helps exfoliate dead skin cells, dirt, and fine facial hairs from the skin’s surface to give you softer, smoother skin.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion utilizes a device to exfoliate dead skin cells while helping to improve the appearance of scars, fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots, and acne marks, reduce fine lines, and decrease enlarged pores.
It also helps stimulate collagen production to improve the appearance of fine lines. Many times, chemical peels are combined with microdermabrasion for better results.
Lymphatic massage facial
Lymphatic facial massage stimulates lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness, increase blood circulation, reduce tension, and rid the body of toxins.
Microcurrent facial
This facial involves utilizing electricity to help lift the skin and improve fine lines and wrinkles by increasing muscle tone.
High-frequency facial
This utilizes electric current to kill bacteria causing acne and stimulate collagen production to erase fine lines and improve skin tone.
Galvanic facial
This is another facial that uses electric current to help products absorb better and enhance skin hydration.
LED light facial
LED facial utilizes different wavelengths of light to target specific concerns. The red light will stimulate collagen production, while blue light kills the bacteria causing acne.
PRP facial
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is extracted from your blood and then applied to your face. It delivers anti-aging growth factors to help rejuvenate the skin. It also helps with other skin conditions.
Enzyme facial
An enzyme facial involves utilizing face masks that contain different fruit enzymes or herbal extracts to help with scarring, acne, or rejuvenation.
Microneedling
Microneedling devices use many small needles to prick the skin and cause controlled microdamage.
This damage stimulates collagen production to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and minimize acne scars. It can be combined with PRP, which is called the Vampire facial.
What are the benefits of regular facial treatment?
Facials offer a variety of benefits, some of which depend on the type of facial. There are even facials for sensitive skin that you can get on a regular basis.
1. Lower stress
Studies have shown that facials activate the sympathetic nervous system to reduce stress and lower anxiety levels to improve your mood. When pressure points on the face are massaged, this can improve the health of different organs in the body.
2. Cleanse
Facials deep clean the skin and pores to remove dirt, oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and toxins, that you are unable to remove at home. This thorough cleaning enhances the absorption of skin care products. It also prevents breakouts.
3. Anti-aging
Facials stimulate collagen production to reduce fine lines and age spots. Application of antioxidant products during the facial will protect your skin and prevent collagen breakdown by free radicals from the sun.
4. Increase blood circulation
Facials enhance blood flow to increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. This boost in blood flow also gives you a radiant glow.
5. Detoxifying
Facials remove toxins and waste that can accumulate on your skin, which leads to breakouts and damage to your collagen.
6. Acne and pore reduction
By removing dirt, oil, and dead skin cells, facials unclog pores and reduce acne breakouts.
7. Exfoliation
Exfoliation of dead cells gives you smoother, more radiant skin. It also prevents dead skin cells from clogging pores and causing pimples.
8. Skin tightening
Different serums are applied during the facial that stimulate the production of collagen to help tighten the skin.
9. Reduce eye bags
Facial massage can reduce puffiness and eye bags. It enhances lymphatic drainage to improve the appearance of this delicate area.
10. Rejuvenation
Some serums and products can be used to reduce hyperpigmentation and give you a more even tone and texture of your skin.
11. Increase absorption of products
By removing debris from the skin, facials enhance the ability of products to penetrate the skin and aid in anti-aging or preventing breakouts. Your products will work better and make your skin look better.
12. Glow
Facials can help your skin glow by using specific serums to hydrate dry, dull skin and exfoliate dead skin cells.
What types of facials are best for specific skin types?
Some facials can benefit every skin type, while others are tailored to specific skin types.
- Normal skin – If you have no specific issues or problems with your skin, a classic facial or Hydrafacial is probably best for you.
- Oily or acne-prone skin – These skin issues can benefit from acne facial, Hydrafacial, LED facial, microneedling, and enzyme facial.
- Dry skin – Hydrafacial and oxygen facials can help hydrate the skin.
- Hyperpigmentation – Hydrafacial, microdermabrasion, PRP, microneedling, and enzyme facials can help reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone.
- Fine lines and wrinkles – Dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, microcurrent facial, high-frequency facial, galvanic facial, LED facial, PRP, microneedling, and enzyme facials will help stimulate collagen production to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
How often should you get a facial?
For best results, you should get monthly facials. If that is not in your budget, at least four times a year to help maintain your facial skin glow.
The bottom line
Professional facials are not just an extravagance but can be great for the health of your skin and are one of the best ways to care for your skin.
Facials can be customized to your specific skin issues to get all the benefits of regular facial treatment.
Facials not only cleanse your skin but also exfoliate, detoxify, and tighten your skin. They deliver anti-aging benefits and will give you smoother skin and a healthy glow.
Take Action
If you are having problems with your skin, such as acne or fine lines, do your research and find a reputable licensed esthetician to do your facial. Healthier skin can be a reality with regular facial treatments.
Regular facials can be expensive. Investing in great skincare products can also be a great option. Having a great exfoliating cleanser, face serum, and Gua Sha stone can be a great start if regular facials aren’t in your current budget.
Here are some favorite facial-like products at Wellness Trickle that are more affordable than regular facials and will still offer many benefits of regular facial treatment.
- Facial oil/serums – these add concentrated nutrients into your skin. The Renewing Night Serum is THE BEST.
- Gentle exfoliator – exfoliators help to remove dead skin cells. This gentle exfoliator is our favorite.
- Gua sha stone – you can give yourself a lymphatic facial massage with a great Gua sha stone.
- LED face mask – get all the benefits of a red LED light facial with The Red Light Face Mask.
Resources
Alkhawam L, Alam M. Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. Facial Plast Surg. 2009 Dec;25(5):301-10.
Austin E, Geisler AN, Nguyen J, Kohli I, Hamzavi I, Lim HW, Jagdeo J. Visible light. Part I: Properties and cutaneous effects of visible light. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 May;84(5):1219-1231.
Badran KW, Nabili V. Lasers, Microneedling, and Platelet-Rich Plasma for Skin Rejuvenation and Repair. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Nov;26(4):455-468.
Diogo MLG, Campos TM, Fonseca ESR, Pavani C, Horliana ACRT, Fernandes KPS, Bussadori SK, Fantin FGMM, Leite DPV, Yamamoto ÂTA, Navarro RS, Motta LJ. Effect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review. Sensors (Basel). 2021 Oct 19;21(20):6943.
Fore J. A review of skin and the effects of aging on skin structure and function. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2006 Sep;52(9):24-35; quiz 36-7.
Huang A, Nguyen JK, Ho D, Jagdeo J. Light Emitting Diode Phototherapy for Skin Aging. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020 Apr 1;19(4):359-364.
Leo MS, Kumar AS, Kirit R, Konathan R, Sivamani RK. A systematic review of the use of platelet-rich plasma in aesthetic dermatology. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015 Dec;14(4):315-23.
Xu X, Zhang H, Yan Y, Wang J, Guo L. Effects of electrical stimulation on the skin surface. Acta Mech Sin. 2021;37(12):1843-1871.
I’m suffering from rosacea and trying different products to help my skin. My hairdresser told me about the demodex mites which has me wanting to scrub my face to the bone. Ugh any recommendations of products that can really help me would be appreciated. I have infrared light, galvanic, microcurrent, ultrasound devices to use. My husband is a chiropractor and had these therapies in his clinic. I know how to treat sprains and strains. Not sure about settings on the devices we have. Any information is very much appreciated.
Hi Wendy, I’m so sorry to hear about your rosacea. I’m a rosacea sufferer as well. I know everyone is different, but here are a few things that have really helped me in the last couple of years. I still have flares, but I find I can ease symptoms faster now.
1. Red light therapy. Dr. Trent wrote an article about red light therapy for rosacea here. I’m not sure which infrared device you have, but if it has a red light setting, definitely give that a try. It’s not a quick fix and you will need to stick with it. I have more information about how you can use your device in this article and this one.
2. Be careful scrubbing your face! You don’t want to do more damage. Your hairdresser is right about the demodex mites. Though not considered “clean skincare,” I have at one point had to get a cream for the mites from my dermatologist. It’s their own proprietary cream, but it contains Ivermectin, Metronidazole, Niacinamide and Azelaic acid. The Ivermectin helps with the mites. This cream helped a lot when my rosacea was out of control. It may be worth checking with your dermatologist for something that can help.
3. Limiting sugar, wine and gluten have helped a ton for me. Though I know, not always easy. I noticed even after a glass of red wine the night before, my symptoms would immediately return.
I hope that helps. Feel free to reach out any time. Good luck!