• Consultation. A facial should begin with a consultation. The Esthetician might have you fill out a form that has questions about your skin concerns, your diet, how much water you drink, drugs and supplements you take, and products you are currently using. This can affect your skin and what kind of treatments she recommends.

• Cleansing. After wrapping your hair with a towel or headband, the Esthetician begins a facial with a thorough cleansing, using cotton pads, Esthetician wipes or sponges.

• Skin Analysis. The Ethetician covers your eyes and looks at your skin through a brightly lit magnifying lamp. He or she is determining your basic skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive or normal) and skin conditions (acne, blackheads, whiteheads, aging, sun-damage, dehydration, etc.) The esthetician then chooses the appropriate products and treatments, and consults with you about what he or she sees and recommends.

• Steam. Most facials use a machine that directs a thin vapor of warm steam to your face. This is relaxing and helps softens up any blackheads and whiteheads to be extracted. If you have very sensitive skin, the esthetician may not use steam.

• Exfoliation using a mechanical or chemical exfoliant. Mechanical exfoliants have a gritty texture that rubs away the surface dead skin cells. This type of exfoliation usually happens during the steam. Chemical exfoliation uses enzymes and acids to loosen the bond between skin cells. A gentle enzyme treatment can be done during the steam. Stronger chemical peels, which vary in intensity, can be a stand-alone treatment or part of the facial. It is not generally an “upgrade” and done in a series. It is not done with steam.

• Facial mask targeted to your skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature) and condition.

• Final application of toner, serums, moisturizer and sunscreen if it’s daytime.

• How Much Does a Facial Cost? At a minimum, a facial usually starts around $50 at a day spa and can go high at Special masks and serums also make the price higher.

How Often Should I Get A Facial?

It varies from person to person. Ideally, get a facial monthly because that’s how long it takes the skin to regenerate. Try to have a facial at least four times a year, as the season changes. You may need it more frequently if you are trying to clear up a case of acne, especially at the beginning. Otherwise, once a month is plenty. You can overdo it, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Variations on the Classic European Facial

You might look at all the different facials and feel confused about which one to pick. Do you want an anti-aging facial, an oxygen facial, a collagen facial or a deep-cleansing facial? If you pick the wrong facial for your skin, a good Esthetician will advise you in the treatment room and change the treatment to something suited for your skin.

Variations on the classic European facial include the mini-facial (a 30-minute treatment that usually skips extractions). Use a line formulated for mature skin, with ingredients like vitamin C, and you have an anti-aging facial. It’s an oxygen facial when a mist of pure oxygen is part of the treatment, or the products are formulated to deliver oxygen to the dermis. It’s a collagen facial (also anti-aging) when special collagen sheets are placed on the skin. An acne facial will pay special attention to extractions. A photo facial is a separate light treatment to achieve specific results like boosting collagen or treating acne.