Choosing the Right Facial for Your Skin: Exploring Different Types and Benefits

Author

Dr. Stephen Cosentino

Skin care facials take many forms, but all have one primary goal: to leave your facial skin looking younger, healthier, and more vibrant than before.

Facials can be done at home, and many patients happily go the DIY approach. But professional hands generally produce better results. Cosmetic professionals have access to medical-grade equipment and other tools that regular people don’t, too, not to mention facial aesthetic training courses open only to certified aestheticians and cosmeticians.

Facial Types & Benefits

Of course, before you choose a provider, you need to figure out which type of facial is right for you. From chemical peels to microdermabrasion treatments to laser resurfacing, there are many options. Note that facials are customizable, so many procedures combine elements from more than one type.

HydraFacial

HydraFacial is one of the newer facial treatments on the market. It uses a special application and suction system to gently exfoliate and extract impurities from your pores and dead skin cells from the top layer of your face. Exfoliants usually include lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. The procedure ends with a gentle application of hyaluronic acid and peptides to the skin.

Acupuncture Facial

This popular skin care procedure uses ancient Acupuncture techniques to stimulate collagen production. It’s useful for patients with persistent fine lines and wrinkles who don’t want injectable treatments like Botox or dermal fillers.

European Facial

This is a “classic” facial that provides:

Gentle cleansing and exfoliation
A hydrating mask
A massage and possibly heat application

Vampire Facial

This increasingly popular anti-aging treatment gets its scary-sounding name from its active ingredient: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) taken from your own bloodstream. Patients and providers swear by its restorative properties; many say it takes years off your appearance.

Microdermabrasion Facial

This type of facial utilizes a diamond-tipped wand (or less often crystal-tipped) to exfoliate the face and stimulate the skin’s wound response. That increases collagen production and can temporarily lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Laser or Light Facial

This type of facial uses intense pulsed light (IPL) or medical-grade lasers to exfoliate the skin and stimulate the wound healing response. The indications are similar to microdermabrasion facials and chemical peel facials (described below), and it’s often included as part of a facial treatment package.

Chemical Peel Facial

A chemical peel facial uses salicylic acid and other chemical exfoliants to scrub the top layer of skin and remove dead skin cells. Many patients say it leaves them looking and feeling younger.

Brightening Facial

Many providers recommend brightening facials for patients with uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, age spots, and other benign skin abnormalities. Appropriate for all skin types, it uses a special type of vitamin-rich peel that smooths out differences in skin tone and lends a brighter appearance.

Oxygen Facial

This is a newer type of facial that uses the power of oxygen to exfoliate and restore the skin. This triggers a physiological response that may promote skin health. Some providers combine oxygen treatment with ultrasound, massage, and other facial treatment techniques.