Have you heard of facial treatments? They’ve become one of the most popular cosmetic skincare procedures on the market. A facial treatment can rejuvenate and improve the appearance of your skin while also protecting it from early aging in the process. But what exactly are facial treatments are used for?
What Is a Facial Treatment?
A facial treatment is a multi-step, noninvasive cosmetic procedure that involves a combination of a face mask, massage therapy, steam to improve the appearance, as well as the overall health, of your skin. During a facial treatment, a face mask consisting of a proprietary blend of nutrient-rich ingredients will be applied to your face. As the face mask sits, it will cause your skin to contract, thereby making it tighter. At the same, your skin will absorb nutrients from the face mask.
In addition to the application of a face mask, you’ll also receive a massage from a massage therapist. The massage therapist will gently manipulate your muscles and soft tissue to encourage drainage of your body’s lymphatic system. It’s a soothing and relaxing process that can will lower your stress levels. Finally, a facial treatment includes a portion in which your skin is exposed to steam. The steam isn’t hot enough to burn or otherwise injure your skin. Rather, the temperature-controlled steam is used to safety stimulate blood circulation through your body.
Facial treatments are designed primarily to remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, but they offer many other benefits. By combining massage therapy, steam and a face mask, facial treatments are used for a variety of purposes, some of which include the following.
Exfoliation
Facial treatments are frequently used for exfoliation. Our bodies constantly shed old skin cells while replacing them with new skin cells. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for old skin cells to accumulate on the layer of the skin where they clog pores and contribute to an uneven complexion. When dead skin cells aren’t removed, they’ll build up inside pores. Acne-causing bacteria may then multiply inside the clogged pores, resulting in the formation of acne. But even if it doesn’t cause acne, the presence of all these dead skin cells can create the appearance of an uneven skin tone. Your skin may look darker in areas where a substantial amount of dead skin cells have accumulated and lighter in areas with fewer dead skin cells.
There are other ways to exfoliate your skin, such as chemical peels and exfoliating creams or lotions. Nonetheless, a facial treatment offers a soothing and relaxing way to exfoliate your skin. Dead skin cells will bind to the face mask. When the face mask is washed from your skin, the dead skin cells will be removed with it.
Flushes Toxins
You might be surprised to learn that a facial treatment can flush toxins from your body through lymphatic drainage. Consisting of a massive and complex network of fluid-carrying vessels, the lymphatic system plays a key role in your overall health. It’s used to carry white blood cells to various parts of the body where infection-causing bacteria, viruses or fungi are present. Additionally, the lymphatic system keeps toxins in check by removing them through perspiration or urine. If you have a weak or slow lymphatic system, toxins may build up to the point where it adversely affects your health.
The massage portion of a facial treatment will stimulate your body’s lymphatic system so that it’s able to flush toxins more quickly and effectively. Known as a lymphatic drainage massage, it involves long and repetitive strokes — typically using light to moderate pressure — that direct toxins towards various organs where they are removed naturally. You may feel the urge to urine shortly after receiving a lymphatic drainage massage. This is completely normal, as it indicates your body is trying to get rid of excess toxins.
Collagen Production
In addition to flushing toxins, facial treatments stimulate the production of collagen. Of course, collagen plays an important role in the appearance and health of your skin. The protein is responsible for giving skin its strength and elasticity. As we age, however, our bodies will produce less collagen. And when your collagen levels decrease, your skin will become susceptible to injury, wrinkles and fine lines. You can keep your skin youthful and healthy by seeking a facial treatment.
When you get a massage during a facial treatment, your body will produce more collagen. The manual manipulation of your muscles and soft tissue encourages your body to produce more collagen, which is used to strengthen and support the development of healthy skin.
Clears and Prevents Acne
With their ability to exfoliate your skin, a facial treatment can help clear and prevent acne. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), 50 million Americans suffer from acne each year, making it the most common skin condition in the United States. While acne breakouts are bound to happen at some point, a facial treatment can help clear and prevent them.
As previously mentioned, acne is often the result of clogged pores. If you don’t take a proactive approach towards removing dead skin cells, they’ll accumulate inside the pores of your skin where they contribute to blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and other forms of acne. To clear and prevent acne, you must remove dead skin cells so that they don’t clog your pores. The face mask used in facial treatments is designed for this purpose. It will remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin while also replenishing your skin with vital nutrients.
Smoother Skin
Facial treatments are frequently used to promote smoother, younger-looking skin. If your skin currently looks or feels rough, a facial treatment might be the solution. It will remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of skin while stimulating the production of collagen in the process.
Allowing dead skin cells to go unchecked doesn’t just increase the risk of acne; it promotes rougher skin. Combined with low collagen levels, dead skin cells can affect the texture and appearance of your skin. You can achieve smoother and younger-looking skin, however, with the help of a facial treatment.
Increased Circulation
Finally, a facial treatment will increase circulation. Both the massage therapy portion and the steam portion of a facial treatment will stimulate blood flow through your body. Good circulation is important for many reasons. If blood can’t easily travel through your body, your immune system may struggle to fight off infections. Good circulation also promotes proper organ function. The lungs, heart, muscles and liver all rely on blood to function. If you suffer from poor circulation, you may restrict these or other organs in your body from receiving a sufficient amount of blood.
The culmination of these effects can result in a wide range of symptoms. People who regularly suffer from poor circulation may experience fatigue, trouble sleeping, memory recollection problems and even hair loss. You can lower your risk of circulation-related problems by seeking a facial treatment. The massage therapy and steam portions of the treatment will both increase circulation so that blood can flow freely through your body.
Want to learn more about facial treatments? Request a free consultation today!