Booking your first facial can be intimidating, with an incredible amount of options.
Before You Go…There’s not much you need to do to prep for a facial — skip any at-home, do-it-yourself facial treatments at least one week before your appointment.
Arrive on time…When you check in, the spa will give you an intake form asking a few medical questions….an online form is found in the menu ~under New Client Forms.
What To Wear…No need to wear anything special to your appointment. You’ll have the option to change into a robe or remove your shirt and slip under the covers.
The Facial…A basic facial typically has four steps: cleansing, exfoliating, massaging of the neck, face and shoulders and applying a mask for your skin type
The cleansing portion (not surprisingly) consists of removing any makeup and dirt from the skin to prep it for the facial — even if you come without makeup,this step is included to make sure every last bit of your face is squeaky clean.
The exfoliation process helps to slough off any dead skin sells — it preps the skin for extractions
Expect A Little Steam… you may experience hot steam during the exfoliation process to help open your pores. Some people love the feeling, while others get a little suffocated — if you’re in the latter group, speak up.

Depending on the type of facial and the amount of time booked, extractions may be part of your facial experience. During an extraction, the esthetician removes whiteheads and blackheads from the skin using either fingers wrapped with gauze or a tool …extractions do hurt a bit so You should speak up. “It’s your time and you should be comfortable. …If you’re not sure you want to try extractions you can request that it be skipped altogether.
Speak up if something hurts, burns or stings, especially if the esthetician didn’t give you a warning first.
Do not wait to speak up, as it could be a reaction to a product or ingredient… Your esthetician needs to know, in case they need to remove whatever is causing discomfort.”
The massage can be done for simple relaxation or to help with lymphatic drainage, lifting or pressure points.
As for the mask portion…”The mask helps to drive more nutrients into the skin and can help to soothe and calm the skin as well. The mask is generally something that is done to leave you with a nice glow.
And don’t forget the final steps: “Your facial should always be completed with a moisturizer, eye cream or serum.
After The Facial
Depending on what type of facial you have, you might experience a bit of redness or irritation immediately after — if that happens, ask how to handle…If possible, enjoy the rest of your day makeup free. “Give your skin space and relax.
A typical full-service, 60-minute facial can run anywhere from $75 to $150 — a more advanced, medical facial can hit $250 or more
Tipping is just like restaurants — 15 to 20 percent is customary for good service.

Follow Up
If you enjoyed your facial, book another one! Over time, facials can help to keep your skin clean and healthy. If you’re ready to become a regular, space your appointments anywhere from two weeks to a month (or more) apart….but not too often as it can damage the skin… set some boundaries to give your face a chance to heal.
Even infrequent visits, tailored to your budget and schedule, can have skin-healthy benefits. And no matter how often you get a facial, the real key to healthy skin is taking care of it every day.
Home care is the most important thing. Prevention is much easier than correction.
That means daily cleansing and moisturizing, plus regular exfoliation.