I used to ask this question until I had a facial myself. Anyone who’s every gone for a professional facial would agree that they are pretty great. Obviously how much you enjoy your facial will be determined by the esthetician and the products she uses. At Fantasia, because SkinCeuticals is the skin care we promote, our esthetician uses these professional products on the clients having facials.

Other than just being good for your skin, a facial is a great way to chill out and relax. And after you have relaxed and hopefully let go of stress, you will leave the salon with glowing skin. Your skin will feel so good in fact, that you will not want to put make up on. This is one reason I prefer to have a facial late in the day. I just hate to put anything on my glowing, clean, hydrated skin!

At Fantasia, our facials are European Facials. These relaxing treatments take approximately one hour and there are several aspects to the treatment. Your esthetician will begin with deep cleansing of the skin. Next she will perform a skin analysis on you followed by exfoliation. If needed, she will do extractions for you. This is followed by a relaxing massage of the face, decolletage area and shoulders. She will then apply a soothing mask and after removal of the mask she will hydrate your skin.

One might think suffering through the extraction phase of the facial would be nasty but, if performed correctly, it is not that unpleasant. It is necessary that extractions be done to prevent spots (blackheads) from getting worse but it is best left to a professional as doing it yourself can break the skin and end up making things worse.

Probably one of the best parts of having a facial is the massage as mentioned above. This is the part of the experience where you can relax and truly enjoy being pampered. This amazing super calming feeling is just a side benefit of the facial massage as it’s main purpose is to increase blood circulation which, in turn, plumps the skin and helps you achieve that healthy glow.

Just when and how often you need a facial really depends on your budget. In talking with the esthetician at Fantasia, she suggest that you begin having facials in your mid twenties and suggest a routine of once every six weeks. If this is not do-able, you could have them seasonally. Many women do this because with the changes of the seasons can come skin changes. Everyone’s skin is different and your esthetician can work with you to customize a program suited to your needs.

A good esthetician will tell you what products she is using on your face. You will not be pressured to buy products, at least not at Fantasia. If you have indicated to your esthetician that you would like to see a change in some facet of your skin, whether it’s less break outs, better hydration, fewer lines, reduction in sun damage, etc, she can act as your partner in helping you to achieve your goals. If you truly want to see a difference in your skin, you will have to participate by taking care of it with a daily home regimen. Fantasia recommends SkinCeuticals products and will educate you as to how to use them.

If you have a special occasion coming up such as birthday, anniversary, holiday- ask for a gift card from Fantasia or a salon where you can treat yourself to a facial. You will be glad you did!