The Professional Facial

A treatment built around your skin that day

A professional facial is less a fixed menu than a sequence the provider adapts as they go. It usually starts with a short conversation about your skin, your routine and anything you would like to avoid, followed by a close look at the skin under good light.

The usual sequence

1. A short consultation about your skin and the products you use.
2. A thorough cleanse. Make-up and the day are removed, often in two steps.
3. Gentle exfoliation. A mild scrub, enzyme or acid product lifts dead surface cells.
4. Extractions, only where appropriate and with your agreement.
5. Facial massage for comfort and relaxation.
6. A mask suited to your skin that day.
7. Finishing products: moisturiser, and SPF in the daytime.

Knowing the steps makes a first appointment much less mysterious. Two treatments with similar names can be very different appointments, so the step list is the honest comparison.

Questions worth asking

• Which steps are included, and which are optional?
• Which products will you use, and do any contain ingredients I react to?
• Is there anything I should stop using before or after, such as retinoids or exfoliating acids?
• Who will perform the treatment, and what training or licence do they hold?

This guide is general information, not medical advice, and does not describe any particular provider’s service. A qualified professional can advise what suits your skin and health history.