While HydraFacials, Peels, and Facials are a great way to correct your skincare woes, there’s another (at-home!) treatment to try: CosMedix face masks. These three masks are designed to tackle some of the most common skincare issues — think dryness, redness, sensitive, acne-prone skin, and the list goes on — to provide you with a more radiant, healthy-looking complexion.
You’ve got your cleanser, toner, your favorite serums, but your skincare routine is missing something big… Well, actually, it’s quite small: FOREO’s Luna mini. With 8,000 sonic pulsations per minute, this facial brush is essential to achieving brighter, clearer, and healthier skin. To help you make the most of your LUNA mini, we asked our 2nd Street District assistant manager, Jen, to show us how she uses her LUNA mini.
{Guest post by one of milk + honey’s expert estheticians, Bella G.}
One of the most frequent questions I receive is “how often should I get a facial?”… The thing is — there’s no standard answer. Instead, here are the factors and questions I ask to frame a response and “plan of action” for the best type of skincare for you.
What type of skin do you have?
– Someone with active, chronic acne might need to initially come more often (sometimes as much as every week in the beginning), so the esthetician can perform extractions to help stop the breakout cycle and closely monitor how the skin is doing on the prescribed at-home skincare.
– Mature skin benefits from monthly facials to stimulate circulation and remove dead skin cells that dull the complexion.
– Normal and sensitive skin types can go for longer periods, but I think all skin types should come in at least quarterly.
What’s your budget?
– I’d rather see you once a year than not at all. This gives us a chance to talk about your skin. I can answer any questions you have and can set you up with an at-home skincare regimen that meets the needs of your face and wallet.
– Choosing to invest in your skin this year? Come every month. Then we can add peels, make sure that you are on some form of vitamin A as well as an epidermal growth factor, and regularly apply micro-currents to the skin to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
Is there an issue you want to focus on?
– Hyper-pigmentation can be radically reduced with a series of peels spaced two to three weeks apart.
– Acne can benefit from regular extractions and an occasional peel to help purge any deep congestion.
– Just want to relax? There is something about having another person’s hands on your face, head, neck and shoulders that creates a deep state of calm. Facials are actually a great stress reliever!
I will say that the ideal is that I get to see you every month. Your outermost layer of skin (the stratum corneum) renews itself approximately every 28 days. Getting a monthly facial means that you can enjoy having a refreshed appearance immediately and better penetration of any products you are using at home. Over time, you get the benefits of having your new cells replicated by the now healthier treated cells, and all your products will work faster and more effectively. There is definitely a cumulative effect to having regular facials.
– Increases blood circulation allowing for optimal skin health.
– Decreases puffiness, sallow complexion, and detoxifies by stimulating the lymphatic system.
– Facial massage smooths fine lines and promotes collagen production.
– Cleanses pores on a deeper level, preventing the stretching and widening of pores that can happen overtime with unchecked accumulation of oil and debris.
– Helps even tone and lighten dark spots.
– Slows down the aging process.
You can’t underestimate the value of taking a little time out for yourself every so often. Energy follows thought, and what we choose to focus on can — and does — bring about real change.
I was reluctant. I was skeptical. I have seen the light. Yes, I received my first facial.
Why should a (35-year-old) man receive a facial? Great question. My first motivation comes from my wife. After all, it’s my wife who found the place where I get my haircut, and made sure very early in our relationship that I was done with pleated pants. So when she started commenting on my face wrinkles (that’s what they are technically called, right?), I wondered if I should do something about it. You see, she’s the type who actually applies some sort of lotion/sunscreen to her face every single day. If I may speak for all men, we find the idea of sunscreen on your face even on cloudy days, or work days very amusing. If I may speak for all women, they just rolled their eyes at my last comment.
I showed up to milk + honey spa and was ready for my scheduled Signature Facial. That’s right, I didn’t even go with the Men’s Facial for the main reason that it doesn’t include extractions. I’ll get to what that means shortly.
The first thing I was asked to do was change into a robe. I was confused and explained I was getting a facial and not a massage. Perhaps I should back up. Before this treatment, here is what I thought would happen:
1. Get gunk scrubbed into my face.
2. Get heavier gunk stuck on my face.
3. Get gunk peeled off of my face.
4. Eat the cucumbers that were placed over my eyes.
That’s it. That’s what I knew. Needless to say, I was wrong. Facials are from your shoulders and up. Once in my robe, and once in the treatment room I was ready for my facial.
Hayley was my esthetician and did a great job explaining everything to me. My favorite part was that in the beginning she asked if I wanted to know what she was doing, or wanted this to be quiet relaxation. I wanted to know. After examining my skin she commented there was light sun damage and my skin was dehydrated. She was correct, because I just finished nine days of SXSW. She cleansed. During this process she also gave attention to my shoulders, neck, scalp and face. I realize I might be technically wrong to call this a full out massage, but that’s exactly what it felt like. Insanely relaxing. It almost felt like whatever she was doing to my skin was secondary.
Next up were extractions. The polite way to say this is that she removed built up dirt, but we’re all adults here. She was popping zits people (in a very professional way). Hayley explained she doesn’t recommend doing this at home, and one of her key advantages is the angles she is able to take when removing the dirty little problems. I freely admit to having moments in front of the mirror, removing acne. I don’t like it one bit. Especially because I have the type of skin that will remain red with intense pinches. At the end, I fully expected a face dotted with red land mines.
The facial masque was next. In my head, this was going to finally be the boring part. I’d get the masque on, and then sit and wait. While some of you find this relaxing, I get antsy. Guys, don’t worry about being bored during a facial, because this is the best part. After the masque was applied, Hayley started working the arms. That’s right, you receive a full hand/arm massage. At this point I felt like I was discovering a secret world of enjoyment and at any moment a group of women would burst in the room with a cease and desist order. That never happened. Instead I was in a state of perfect relaxation.
After Hayley removed the masque, I received some intense moisture that my skin desperately needed (remember, SXSW). Then Hayley recapped what she did to my skin, and what I could do to my skin going forward. First off, she recommends quarterly facials, and at the most once a month. She also recommended some products. I picked up the Environmental Cleaner since I loved the scent during the treatment.
With everything finished, I looked in the mirror to see the damage. None. There was nothing. I wasn’t filled with red blotches. Hayley did her job quite well. That wasn’t the most amazing part. I felt my face, specifically my nose. Guys, remember the first time you shaved in high school? I could not believe how smooth my face was. This was the same thing. My face was ridiculously smooth.
Every single smell was amazing. Nothing was flowery, or reeked of perfume. Citrus, red wine, and ginger were the main aromas I remember. In fact, nothing seems feminine about the facial. Is getting acne taken care of girly? Is a neck or arm massage something you wouldn’t love right now?
I love to think in absolutes. So I posed this question to myself, “If I could only choose facials or massages for the rest of my life what would I do?” I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think facials. That hour with Hayley was insanely relaxing (OK, I admit extractions don’t feel great), plus I don’t want to spend time taking care of my face everyday. I know I’m not going to do it. If milk + honey spa is willing to take that job on, I’m happy to hand it off.
I was reluctant. I was skeptical. I have seen the light. Yes, I received my first facial, and I loved it.
Disclosure: Jeff Bayer does freelance work for milk + honey.
