Flawless Face & Body

An important Q & A on skin care:

Why should I have a facial?
No matter your age or gender, your skin can only look its best if you care for it.

Consider these things: you eat right so that your body feels good and performs as it should; you exercise to keep your muscles strong and your body in shape; you change the oil in your car to maintain the engine; you do a little housework, daily, so that your home stays clean all month long.

A facial does for your skin what a month of exercise and eating right does for your body – it noticeably improves the skin’s look and feel. Through cleansing, exfoliation, and use of professional products, I can make a lot of progress towards improving your skin in a single session. I have the experience, techniques, products and equipment that cannot be replicated at home.

Why should I have regular facials?

A great facial will reward you with results!  However, there are certain undeniable truths to how your skin and body work.  Your skin will continue, all year long, to be affected by the sun, elements, make-up, gravity, and age.  Your body will continue to produce new, fresh skin cells, however they will be trapped under the dead cells you cannot properly exfoliate away at home.  While, yes, your skin will benefit and be better off after your facial, a one time treatment will not give you the ongoing results or protection you need.  Regular facials (especially with an appropriate at home regimen) will help prevent breakouts, keep your surface cells healthy, and ensure that your skin looks and feels its best.  If your main goal is to improve a skin condition (aging, acne or sun spots for instance) a series of treatments with proper at home care is necessary. While it varies from person to person, the usual frequency is every 4-6 weeks.

What is involved in a facial at Flawless Face & Body?

At my spa treatment room, every treatment is a balanced blend of relaxation and results-driven facials. 

At your first appointment, you will be asked to complete a brief client intake form and we will discuss your skin care goals and concerns. I will step out of the room so you can change into a comfortable gown and make yourself comfortable on the facial table.  To promote relaxation, soft music is played and the lights are lowered.  Some or all of the following steps will be performed, depending on your skin analysis and the treatment you have selected: 2 deep cleanses, skin analysis, exfoliation (removal of surface cells by enzyme, chemical or manual exfoliation), extractions (removal of blackheads), high-frequency treatment, application of mask and vitamin-enriched serums, massage, moisturizer and sun protection. Suggestions for home care will be provided.

Am I going to be pressured to buy products?

No. I do not push products or spend the appointment time trying to sell you stuff. If you indicate that you have a specific concern for your skin, or that you are looking to improve your skin care, I will partner with you to achieve that goal. If you truly want to see a difference in your skin, you will have to participate in taking care of it and maintaining the work done in the facial room. Sometimes, this means changes in your at-home product use is necessary. I will always do my best to recommend products that are customized to your skin and budget.

I’m not sure how to get started. What facial is right for me?

No problem! If this is your first facial (or if it’s been a year or more), I recommend taking a look at the Facial Treatment page of my website.  These treatments are considered to be effective and safe for first time clients and for regular maintenance. They are a good way to determine a starting point for your future treatments and needs. Click here to see the treatments.

Still not sure? No worries. I can always recommend the treatment for you or customize a facial that fits you perfectly!

For most of you, I’m sure that getting or staying fit and healthy is on your New Year’s Resolution list.  This resolution made the Top Ten list for 2011/2012 and it’s one of mine, too.

But staying fit and healthy means so much more than dieting and exercising.  Your skin is the largest organ of your body and needs attention and daily care.  Failing to make your skin a priority can have long-lasting (and sometimes devastating) consequences.  Fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and even skin cancer are all consequences of neglecting and abusing your skin.  The good news is that you have control over your skin care choices, and even the most neglected skin issues can be dramatically improved!

This year I resolve to help YOU achieve the skin health you want!  Here are some Skin Care resolutions that will dramatically improve your skin:

#1  Identify Your Skin Problems… and resolve to change it!

You don’t have to just accept fine lines, acne, dry skin, oily skin, or sun damage!  In fact, many skin issues can be reversed or dramatically improved with very little effort.  It could be as simple as realizing that you are using the wrong cleanser or sunscreen.  If you have long term skin issues, don’t just ignore them.  Get a professional consultation and find out what it will take to get on the path to fixing it.  I do free consultations, and any dermatologist or Esthetician worth seeing will do the same if they have the same goal I do: optimal skin health for every client and educating their clients.

#2  Reconsider Your Routine

From having a drug store cleanser to having the most expensive department store brands decorating your bathroom counter, your skin care regimen could be hurting your skin.  It’s time to take stock of your products (or lack of products) and be sure that what you spend your money on is a) helping and not hurting, b) doing what the product says it will do, and c) worth your time and money.

When choosing  a product to apply to your skin, there are 3 basic categories: drugstore/store shelf products, department store products, and professional products.  There are a lot of expensive products out there that do not follow through on their claims, just as there are drugstore products that fall short.  A lot of times, a $200 moisturizer from the department store is hype, marketing, and packaging with no more benefit than the $13 moisturizer at CVS.  More expensive does not equal more active or more results. 

I use a professional skin care line that I know is rigorously tested.  I can read the label or look at their website, and I know what the ingredient is that is working hard to improve my skin.  I can see and feel improvements.  And what’s more, professional products are often less expensive, and give better results, than department store lines.

Feel your skin.  Look closely.  Are you dry? Oily? Dehydrated (fine lines along the jawline or cheeks will show if your skin is dehydrated).  Have you been using the same cleanser or moisturizer for years… just because?  Because its what you always buy or because it smells good?  Are your products expired?  Most importantly, are you happy with your skin care products?  Are they doing something beneficial for your skin?

Empty your make-up bag.  How long have you used that foundation or mascara?  Did you know that your mineral or organic products need to be replaced much more often because they expire quickly?  Is your eyeshadow or lipstick still hanging out from 1985?  The older your makeup is, the more chance that it has been contaminated by old sponges, dirty hands or unwashed brushes.

This New Year is a chance for you to toss out the old, the things that aren’t working for you, and to bring in more products that make you happy and that you feel proud to talk about.  Start using products that put your hard earned money to work for you.  You are going to buy a cleanser or eye cream.  Make sure it’s worth your time and money.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog.  I’ll reveal a few more New Years Resolutions for your skin health.

If you’re ready to change some things around, to find products that work hard for you and your goals, let me know!  While I love my products and stand by them, I want my clients to use something, anything, that will improve their skin.  Contact me for a free consult and I can put together a dream skin care regimen for all price points! 

Nicole Bennett

~your skin therapist

760-877-4814