13 Expert Tips That'll Take Your Facial to the Next Level

Avoid Active Ingredients Ahead of Your Facial

If you're going to get a facial with exfoliating acids and/or enzymes, go easy on other strong actives leading up to your treatment. Celebrity esthetician, Joanna Vargas, suggests staying away from retinol in particular for a 10-day period before the service to avoid being extra sensitive during your facial.

Don't Get Botox or Filler Beforehand

Dermatologist, Dendy Engelman, MD, recommends waiting two weeks after getting Botox and/or filler before getting a facial to allow for everything to settle properly. When getting a facial, your esthetician will be massaging your face, which could make your injectable migrate if it hasn't settled yet. In this case, it's much better to be safe than sorry.

Communicate with Your Esthetician Beforehand

Your facialist isn't a mindreader, so it's important to talk to them about the state of your skin before they start working on it. Dr. Engelman says you should communicate with them about any skin conditions you may have (eczema, psoriasis, allergies, etc.), whether or not you've had any recent skincare treatments or procedures, if you're taking any medications, and if you're pregnant/breastfeeding.

Prep With a Pore-Cleansing Treatment

Prep your pores by de-clogging them of any buildup and debris. “Nothing improves the skin more strikingly than a deep pore-cleansing treatment,” Katherine Tomasso, the director of brand education for Yon-Ka Paris, says. “To help to ensure all of the skin’s congestion and oxidized oils can be removed during your treatment, use a hydrating concentrate with sodium PCA, vegetable glycerin, brown algae, and lactic and citric acids, such as Yon-Ka's Booster Hydra +, before your treatment." Tomasso says this will soften and prep the congested areas, so your facialist can successfully remove pore-clogging debris. Additionally, clay masks such as the Kiehl's Deep Pore Mask will help purify the skin by absorbing excess oil.

Doing this will also help to reduce the ouch factor during extractions. “Think of this step simply as a pre-treatment home care step that will enhance your facial results.”

Skip Coffee the Day of

Coffee jitters and total relaxation don’t mix. So avoid caffeine beforehand to make your facial more enjoyable. Tomasso recommends cutting back on your coffee intake and switching to herbal tea for at least 24 hours prior to your treatment. “This will help keep you more relaxed, enabling the professional aesthetician to optimize your service,” she says. Your post-facial beverage choices need a little adjusting, too, adds Tomasso. She says you should double the amount of water you typically drink. “This will assist with the removal of toxins, and will help keep your skin clear and radiant.” 

Don't Wear Makeup to Your Appointment

This feels obvious, but it's important to note: maximize your time in the spa by showing up bare-faced and ready to go. “Wearing little to no makeup will free up more time for your aesthetician to work on correcting your skincare concerns and flaws,” Tomasso says. “A good facial treatment is worth every penny spent; this will help your aesthetician get right into the real therapeutic parts of your service.” You don't want to waste those precious minutes you're paying so much for by forcing your aesthetician to do something a cleansing wipe could also do.

Request Aromatherapy

Take your facial to the next level by integrating mood-enhancing scents to the experience. Spa manager, Natallia Mirharodskaya, says to ask for lavender essential oil for extra relaxation. "We initially use it to calm the nervous system," she says. "[It] also lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and helps to reorganize brain waves for our guests to feel more calm." To reduce physical pain, she recommends asking for eucalyptus, turmeric, chamomile, thyme, and ginger essential oils as they have shown a greater positive effect compared to control treatments in various pain reduction studies.

Customize Your Facial

There are so many factors that can impact what your skin needs at a certain moment, so it makes sense to make your facial as customized to your current condition and goals as possible. "No two clients have the same skin and your skin behaves differently month to month depending on the weather, your diet, your sleep schedule, and your stress levels," furthers Vargas. She adds that speaking to a professional ahead of your treatment and having them look at your skin to see what is needed for you is a crucial step in skin health. And if you're wondering what add-ons to consider, she suggests things like microcurrent, LED light, and oxygen as they're all non-invasive and suitable for the most sensitive of skin.

Play Soothing Music

Most spas will have a set playlist they use to set the mood, but other times they ask clients what they want to listen to throughout their treatment. "Relaxing melodies enhance concentration and effectively reduce stress levels," says Mirharodskaya. "We incorporate spa music featuring nature sounds, gentle raindrops, and soothing instruments to encourage optimal relaxation for our clients."

Prevent Over-Exfoliation

“Your aesthetician should not stack more than two gentle chemical exfoliators during the same session,” Tomasso says. Double exfoliation with gentle chemical exfoliators or very lightly textured products is usually perfect for most skin types, but stacking chemical with physical exfoliation should always be avoided. “Adding any other exfoliating steps, such as microdermabrasion, is too aggressive and could lead to irritation and even hyperpigmentation in the worst case.” Your facialist should usually tell you what she’s doing, but if she doesn’t walk you through the steps, just ask. 

Don't be Startled by Redness Post-Treatment

Extractions, even when preformed by a professional, can irritate the skin. If you have a big event coming up, don’t schedule your facial in the days leading up to it. Plan to do it about a week out, as a really intensive facial will often leave you a little red or blotchy for a day or two before the glow kicks in. And that said, if there's lasting irritation, go see a dermatologist—a facial should never leave you with negative results.

Take Care of Your Skin Post-Facial

Immediately following your facial, Dr. Engelman says to avoid touching your face to reduce the risk of introducing dirt or bacteria "as your skin is more sensitive and vulnerable." Furthermore, she says to use gentle skincare products, like Cetaphil's Gentle Cleanser, that won’t irritate your skin, and avoid products that contain harsh ingredients like fragrances or exfoliants. "Instead, opt for mild, non-comedogenic cleansers, serums and moisturizers," she suggests. 

Get a Massage After—Not Before

If you’re making a day of it, don’t negate the benefits of a good spa day with poor scheduling. Get your massage first. Nestling your face into the massage table after it’s just been cleansed, exfoliated, and treated isn’t going to improve your skin’s glow. Do your steam post-massage and pre-facial. Steaming after a massage may help open up your pores, prepping them for a thorough cleansing. However, steaming after a facial might prevent the products from absorbing into your skin.