What To Expect at That First Facial

Posted on Leave a commentPosted in Skincare

Ready for your first facial? This soothing and cleansing treatment is a favorite of many, but if you’re a first-timer here’s what you can expect during your appointment.

Check-in
After you arrive, you’ll be guided to a comfortable room for your facial. You’ll be asked to put on a robe and get comfortable. You’ll fill out a health form, which will help our aesthetician understand your skin type and issues.

Cleansing
Your facial will begin with a cleansing treatment. This is meant to remove any makeup and dirt to prep your skin for the facial.

Exfoliation
Some form of exfoliation, usually an enzyme that digests dead skin cells and is packed with antioxidants and other nutrient-rich ingredients, will be applied to your face. This process is usually followed with a hot towel or steam to soften the skin for extraction.

Extraction
Blemishes are removed, including blackheads. You’ll experience some pressure during this process, but it shouldn’t be very painful since the skin has been prepped for this through the first part of your treatment.

Massage
Expect a soothing massage of your head, neck and shoulders. This is not only relaxing, but it promotes blood flow and muscle relaxation which helps reduce wrinkles over time.

Mask
Depending on your skin type and the needs of your skin, a custom mask will be applied to your face. There are a variety of masks to pick from. For example, a hydrating mask can help with dry skin. A clay mask can treat oily skin, and an oatmeal mask can help irritated skin.

Moisturizing
Before you go, special serums and moisturizer will be applied so you are as hydrated and glowing as possible.

SPF
If it’s daytime an appropriate SPF will be put on you. Sometimes even some skin care makeup to keep you looking good all day.

If you liked your facial, schedule another one before you leave. A monthly facial can keep your skin looking bright and youthful. Call to schedule your appointment today.

The Importance of SPF

Posted on Leave a commentPosted in Skincare

We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen, but which SPF is best? A walk through the sunscreen aisle reveals dozens of options, with varying SPFs. The highest SPF protect is 100, but does that make it the best? It’s just one of the many questions consumers have when it comes to the dizzying array of sunscreens. Check out these frequently asked questions to learn more.

What does SPF measure?
SPF, or sun protection factor, measures the product’s ability to block the sun’s UVB rays. Those rays can turn your skin into a fiery-red hide. It does not take into account UVA rays, which can damage skin and lead to certain kinds of cancer.

Does SPF 100 offer the best protection?
People assume the higher the SPF, the better the protection. Sunscreen with SPF 50 offers twice the protection of SPF 25, right? Wrong. Sunscreen with SPF 15 blocks 94 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, SPF 50 blocks 98 percent and SPF 100 blocks 99 percent. Yes, SPF 100 offers the highest protection, but it’s not significantly more than its double-digit competitors. Anything higher than 15 or 30 SPF needs chemicals to make it work which can cause allergic reactions and is often what most people hate about the “gross feel” of sunscreen. Plus, doctors fear consumers who buy products with SPF 100 apply it less, making it less effective than other options. No matter what the SPF, you should apply sunscreen every two hours and as soon as you get out of the water.

When do I need SPF?
Whether it is a day at the pool, walking from your car to the mall, or an afternoon walk in the park, make sure that you are arming yourself with sun protection so that you can enjoy many sunny days ahead. It’s also good to remember that you can burn in the shade. UVA rays penetrate in the shade, through windows, and even through many fabrics. If you’re going to be outside a lot look into SPF clothing and be sure you wear your SPF every day!

What to look for?
Rather than focusing on the SPF number, look for a broad spectrum sunscreen with as little chemical as possible. You want the first ingredients to be Zinc or Titanium Dioxide. These will protect against both UVA and UVB rays, offering full protection without chemical. Sometimes a chemical SPF is needed for extra sticking power during sweating or water activities. In these cases aim for something that still uses Zinc and Titanium Dioxide but also with a little chemical. The jury is still out of most of these, but the least disturbing to me is Octinoxate. It doesn’t clog and has a very low allergy report.