Facials - Worth It?
As an esthetician who consulted with patients about Botox, collagen, and other cosmetic procedures, I came to expect a certain amount of wariness. This industry involves so much over-promising and under-delivering that I was braced for suspicion. Once someone determined I was more interested in educating than selling, they would relax. Once they found out I was an esthetician given to outbursts of commission-sabotaging honesty, they would lean forward and ask “so… are facials really necessary?”
Alrighty. As an esthetician, you can guess which answer I’m collecting data for. But still, I’d have to say no. Facials are not necessary. Food, shelter and a water source, that’s necessary.
But facials are helpful. Estheticians help alleviate acne and rosacea, they help people age with grace, they brighten and invigorate, relax and beautify (excuse the VET), and at times restore lost confidence. Estheticians invest their time and money in researching the best new treatments and products for their clients, and they are invested, both emotionally and financially, in their client’s improvement.
A good esthetician takes a thorough history, notes skin concerns and issues, and tracks treatments and their effects. They partner with clients to develop a strategy for the maintenance and preservation of skin health.
By working with and analyzing the skin, an esthetician can fine tune a take-home regime. A good regime, if followed, will account for about 80% of the results.
So, back to the original question “are they necessary”, and let’s assume the subtext: “are they worth it?” It may sound like a zen cop-out, but you must seek the answer from within. No one knows your budget and priorities better. What I will say is I don’t think it’s a coincidence that people I meet with great skin – skin that looks healthy, hydrated and well-cared for - see estheticians regularly. Part of it is probably due to the attention/stimulation from facials and the good quality products their esthetician recommends. They've also been lectured to death about sun protection and at some point have thrown up their hands and pledged to wear sunscreen habitually, the best anti-aging cream on the market.
