After a long week at work, of school, or of binging your favorite Netflix show eight times in your comfiest pajamas, you probably want to treat yourself and take a moment to relax for your weekend.  There are lots of ways to go about doing this, but our favorite way of going about doing this is having an at-home or in-spa facial!

No matter where your facial takes place — at the spa, at home, even at a doctor’s office — a facial is a great way to not only relax, but also do your skin a huge favor.

What Is A Facial?

A facial is a type of skincare treatment that gets rid of skin impurities and promotes healthy, well-nourished skin.  The basic facial steps include cleansing, exfoliating, extracting, massaging, and hydrating; of course, there can be variation in the order of steps as well as what steps are included or excluded.  These steps will give your skin a deep, nourishing treatment that your normal skincare routine doesn’t always offer.  

Such facial steps like exfoliating and extracting are especially great in purging your skin of dead skin cells, clearing clogged pores, and promoting regeneration of new and younger skin cells.

Massaging at the end of your facial is icing on the cake, as it works ingredients from the products into your skin.  It also increases blood flow, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and releases tension in your face.

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Types Of Facials

There are two main types of facials that you can have.  The first is one that’s professionally done in a salon, spa, or office.  The second is one that you do yourself in the comfort of your own home.  Both in-spa and at-home are great options for your skin and offer plenty of benefits that you will be thanking yourself for.

Professional Facials

Whether you go to a spa, salon, or medical facility, you get treatment by an esthetician who will be doing their best to take care of your skin.  It might be overwhelming when you first go and get a facial done, so we’ll guide you through the professional facial steps that you’ll be going through.  

• Step 1: Cleansing.  Your esthetician will use a cleanser for your face that will aid in getting rid of makeup, oils, and dirt.  The product will be specific to your skin type and will ensure a nice, clean face.
• Step 2: Exfoliating.  This can come in the form of chemical exfoliants, facial scrubs, creams, etc.  Exfoliating will take away that layer of dead skin cells, clearing up and brightening your face in the process.
• Step 3: Extracting.  This part of your facial goes one step deeper in trying to get those impurities out of your face.  Your esthetician will steam your face to make it easier to extract any whiteheads, blackheads, or other impurities that are clogging your pores.
• Step 4: Massaging.  We’re almost done with the facial!  Here you will get a lovely face massage, something that helps with relaxing facial muscles and improving blood flow.  Face massages are also great in helping with lymphatic drainage (as it reduces swelling and stimulates circulation).
• Step 5: Hydrating.  This often comes in the form of a face mask, with it being targeted towards your skin type.  Thereafter, your esthetician may apply any additional toners, serums, creams, moisturizers, etc.

This whole process takes an average of about 60 minutes, with some services taking as little as 30 minutes or as long as 90 minutes — much of it depending on the kind of treatment that you would like.  

As for the price point, the average cost of a facial can be anywhere between $70-$100.  Though depending on the treatment, say just a basic or a special treatment, the prices can vary quite a bit.

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At-Home Facials

As luxurious as going to a spa or salon for a facial might make you feel, maybe you don’t have the time, the money, or you simply don’t feel like going.  This is when you might opt for an at-home facial.  Lucky for you, the steps are pretty much the same– you’re just getting a facial without the help of an esthetician.

Step 1: Cleanse. 

In this case, you might want to double cleanse, first using an oil cleanser followed by a gentle foaming wash to make sure you get all of the dirt and oil off your face.

Step 2: Exfoliate.

Next up, let’s get rid of those dead skin cells by exfoliating your skin to reveal that new layer of skin cells.

Step 3: Extracting.

This step might be the hardest to do without knowing what you are doing and could be the most damaging if you don’t properly prepare.  You can take a hot shower or steam your face using a steamer or a warm towel to widen your pores to make it easier to remove blemishes.

Step 4: Massaging.

You can massage your face using just your fingers, or you can use tools that will help with that relaxation of facial muscles and get that blood flowing.

Step 5: Hydrating.

Now that we’ve come to the end of your at-home facial, you’re going to want a product that will keep your face super hydrated and refreshed.

Note: If you don’t want to mix and match your own products, there are most definitely kits that you can buy to have your at-home facial experience.

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What’s The Verdict: In-Spa Or At-Home?

Both in-spa and at-home facials have their own perks.  In-spa is better for those who want to leave their skincare in the hands of an esthetician, and it’s also a great way to pamper yourself a bit.  At-home is definitely a more cost-effective option and better if you want more control over the steps and the products you want to have in your facial.  And if you want to, you can switch it up between in-spa or at-home facials. 

Ultimately, the choice is yours when it comes to doing what is best for you skin!

We hope this taught you more about what facials are, both at-home and in-spa! Have you gotten a facial? What was your experience? Tell us in the comments.

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