New Esthetician? Here’s How to Get the Best Facial + 4 Skin-Clearing Tips
Your skin deserves the best care, and finding a new esthetician can feel nerve-wracking. Right now, I’m in the process of relocating my skincare studio from Chicago to Colorado, and I feel for my skincare clients because I know it can be hard to find a beauty practitioner you really connect with and feel good about spending your money with. Will your new esthetician understand your skin like your previous esthetician did? Will the facial be worth it? Will you get the same results?
The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your experience is smooth and beneficial. Plus, I’m sharing pro tips to keep your skin glowing between facials!
When meeting an esthetician for the first time they should do a consultation to get to know your skin and skin care goals before starting treatments.
scrub me secret: An esthetician red flag? 🚩 Someone who doesn’t do a consultation upon your first meeting. Your esthetician should either verbally have a conversation with you about your skin goals and current skincare routine and/or have you fill out forms before your service. If your esthetician doesn't get to know your goals or the products you currently use, they won’t be able to provide you with the best service.
How to Get the Best Facial & Keep Your Skin Clear Between Visits
First, I’ll give you my guide to finding a new esthetician and getting the best facial you possibly can. Then, I’ll list 4 things that will help keep your skin clear, healthy, and beautiful in between facials.
What to Do Before Booking a Facial with a New Esthetician
Do Your Research
Before booking, check reviews, social media, and the spa’s website to get a feel for the esthetician’s expertise. If possible, choose someone who specializes in your skin concerns or the specific services you desire. You can search the internet for terms like “acne facial,” “gua sha facial massage,” “lymphatic drainage massage,” “custom facial”, etc, and start finding practitioners near you. Then, check out their reviews and credentials.If possible, seek out recommendations from friends or peers who have healthy, radiant skin. Even if it’s a stranger in your workout class or the receptionist at your dentist’s office, I’m sure they would love a compliment about their nice skin and will be happy to share with you if they have an esthetician.
Know Your Skin Goals
On my consultation form, I have a question that asks, “What is your #1 skincare goal?” I want to know what you expect to get out of your facial and at-home skincare. Is it cleaner pores, a clear complexion, fewer wrinkles, a more radiant glow, or less redness? Whatever your main skincare goals are, be able to articulate them to your new esthetician so they can help you best.
scrub me secret: If you are a member of my monthly email newsletter, you got a list of my personalized esthetician recommendations in Chicago and the Chicagoland area. ✨🧡
How to Make the Most of Your Facial Experience
Healthy skin is always the goal!
Communicate Clearly
During your consultation, be upfront about your skin history, allergies, and concerns. If you’re using retinol, exfoliants, or prescription treatments, mention them so your esthetician can use or not use certain ingredients during your facial. Mention if you have gotten Botox or filler in the past month. And if you have any filler at all, it’s good to mention that, but it's not totally necessary.Ask About Ingredients & Techniques
If you have sensitive skin or specific preferences (like avoiding synthetic fragrances or ingredients you are sensitive to), ask about the products and techniques they use. A good esthetician will be happy to adjust the treatment to suit your skin’s needs. You can also describe to them facial treatments you have received in the past that you really like; this can be helpful so they can customize something for you.Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up
Whether the pressure is too firm during extractions, your steam feels too close, or a product stings more than expected, let your esthetician know! Your comfort is key to a great facial experience. Clients often ask me questions during the facial, and I don’t mind answering any of them.Follow Their Aftercare Advice
Post-facial care is crucial. Avoid heavy makeup, excessive sun exposure, and harsh skincare products for at least 24-48 hours. Stick to gentle hydration and SPF to let your skin heal beautifully. I love using a cleansing balm or creamy cleanser to clean my skin for a few days following my facial- something super gentle.
scrub me secret: If you have questions about what your daily AM and PM skincare routine at home should be ask your esthetician if they could send you a suggested step-by-step skincare routine. Some will charge for this service, but it is worth it to have a professional rework your skincare routine for you.
4 Simple Ways to Keep Your Skin Clear Between Facials
🌿 1. Find Products Your Skin Likes and Stick With Them
I often meet people that love to try and buy new skincare items. While it’s so fun to be skincare obsessed (i know I am) it’s also way better for your skin if we can find cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, etc that your skin responds well to and stick to those items. Switching products up often or adding too many new products to your routine at one time can results in breakouts, sensitivity, redness, or an overall unbalanced skin barrier.
Facials every 4-6 weeks + proper homecare = clear skin
If you’re interested in buying a new product or replacing one you’re currently using, seek out expert advice or choose products that contain ingredients similar to products you have used and liked before.
💧 2. Sleep, Hydration, Daily Nutrition
Treating your whole body well is important for many reasons. For immune health, mental health, overall health of our internal organs, etc. But if we are strictly talking skin, what we eat, how much we sleep, and how hydrated we are plays a big role in how our skin looks and feels.
Consistent, good sleep results in less puffiness, a more lifted and “awake” looking eye area, and more overall luminosity. Daily hydration helps our lymphatic system to work better (detoxifying the body) and it also helps keep our skin healthy and more plump feeling. Focusing on drinking water is also a great way to decrease the amount of sugary, caffeinated, or alcoholic beverages you have. Lastly, the type of food we eat very much effects our skin. A diet that contains more fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins from natural sources will give you the best chance of healthy, clear, and radiant skin. Some people do have allergies or reactions to certain foods that result in skin or gut health issues. If you’re having bad acne or dietary issues I always suggest checking in with a doctor or professional nutritionist.
scrub me secret: Sea salt electrolytes help your body absorb and retain hydration more effectively. These essential minerals support fluid balance, keeping you refreshed and replenished throughout the day. I love Pique tea sea salt electrolytes and Paleo Valley electrolytes.
🧺 3. Change Your Pillowcase Weekly - Always Use a Clean Face Cloth
Dirt, oils, and bacteria on an unclean pillowcase can cause whitehead breakouts and blackhead congestion. Putting on clean pillowcases weekly reduces the likelihood your pillowcase will make you breakout. If you like to remove your facial wash with a washcloth or microfiber cloth, you need to use a fresh clean towel every time. Using a dirty cloth to cleanse your face won’t get your pores properly clean. Clean face cloths and clean pillowcases are secrets to super clear skin.
☀️4. Prioritize Daily SPF and Daily Cleansing
Let’s be real, performing your perfect skincare routine AM and PM 7 days a week can be a demanding task. If you ever feel like the cleansing, toner, serums, moisturizer, face massage etc is too much for you, remember that as long as you’re cleaning daily (with a cleanser thats right for your skin and has good ingredients) and using SPF moisturizer every day, you’re doing what you need to keep your skin healthy and protected. So if you ever feel like you can’t do your skincare routine just cleanse and apply your SPF in the AM and regular moisturizer or facial oil if its nighttime. That is better than skipping your routine in full. Double points for double cleansing 😉
scrub me secret: more questions about your skincare routine? Blog posts like “Product Layering- The Proper Order To apply skincare” and “9 Tips for Improving Your Skincare Routine” will be so helpful for you!
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