11 Actions Your Skin Specialist Wishes You'd Cease Performing:
Quench Your Skin Cravings with the Perfect Facial
A top-notch facial isn't just a beauty indulgence; it's a powerful skincare booster. From banishing breakouts to reducing hyperpigmentation, these treatments can work wonders. But to get the most out of your session, heed these expert tips from three veteran estheticians. They might vent about a few pet peeves, but their advice guarantees a better, brighter complexion.
- Samantha Susca, lead esthetician at Casa Cipriani in the heart of NYC
- Daisy Severino, esthetician and owner of Seda Skin Studio on Long Island
- JoAnne Valentine, esthetician and owner of Reset Skin and Wellness on Long Island
Stepping Out with Freshly Coiffed Tresses
"Penciling in a hair salon visit right before your facial isn't the best plan," admits Daisy Severino, owner of Seda Skin Studio. "If you're fretting about your roots or your headband ruining your style, it could impede my ability to treat your skin effectively, potentially leading to issues around the hairline." So, show up with hair from yesterday or earlier-a tad oily roots or a slightly flattened 'do won't matter much.
Slathering on Actives Before You Arrive
"When active ingredients are in play, it restricts the treatments I can perform, potentially affecting the final outcome," Severino warns. Instead, she suggests avoiding active ingredients (like vitamin C, glycolic acid, and retinol) around three days prior to your appointment.
Shopping Till You Drop During Your Wait
"When you browse the products available during your wait, it's alright to jot down items of interest," reveals Samantha Susca, Casa Cipriani's lead esthetician. "However, hold off on purchasing them until after your facial. Your skin care specialist might have distinct suggestions for your skin, and it's wiser to accept their guidance instead of the receptionist's."
Snagging Bargains from Doubtful Sources
"Not everything on the web is on the level," Susca cautions. "Some products may even be past their prime, triggering skin irritation. It's always a safer bet to buy skin care through the expert who recommended it."
Procrastinating Questions Until Afterward
Another of Susca's pet peeves: "Waiting until after the facial to fire off questions about products, treatments, and post-care directions." Instead, engage with your esthetician during the session. If they're occupied with another client afterward, they probably won't have time to address your queries fully.
Trying Extraction or Dermaplaning at Home
"While self-care is great, some tasks—like extractions and de-fuzzing—ought to be left to the pros," Susca asserts. "Trying these at home with specific tools could lead to permanent damage."
Expecting Miracles With Minimal Effort
"When clients pay occasional visits and neglect their home care routine, it's frustrating for both of us," admits Severino. "Each session feels like we're back to square one, which makes achieving tangible results difficult. Regularity is key in skincare; it calls for dedication and effort to see improvements."
Sweating it Out in the Sauna or Steam Room
Sure, saunas are delightful, but "shooting off to the steam room right after your facial can undermine the treatment benefits," notes Severino. "We've just slathered on beneficial products on your skin, and sweating it all off can dry your skin and wash away those benefits." ( opt for a pre-facial visit or steer clear of the sauna afterward.)
Hoping for an Instant Brightening Effect
"Something I wish clients would quit doing is expecting immediate results from a single treatment, especially when it's their first one," shares JoAnne Valentine, owner of Reset Skin and Wellness. "I'm here to help you in the best, most effective way possible, but it takes time and patience to correct years of skin damage, especially when it comes to pigmentation, one of my specialties."
Rushing through Product Trials
"One last thing I wish clients would quit after a facial: switching up their skincare products before they give them a chance to work," says Valentine. "Products require time—six weeks or more—to show their magic. It's sometimes hard to be patient, but clients need to trust the process."
Vanishing on Your Esthetician
"If you experience a reaction after your treatment, it's crucial to reach out to me promptly and inform me about what's happening so I can rectify the situation," Severino emphasizes. "Dealing with the issue yourself can aggravate it; please give me the chance to help fix it—don't disappear!"
- Daisy Severino warns against applying active skincare ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid, and retinol for three days before a facial as it could restrict the treatment and affect the final outcome.
- Samantha Susca suggests waiting to purchase skincare products recommended during a facial session until after the treatment, as the esthetician might have specific suggestions for the client's skin.
- Avoiding self-extraction or dermaplaning at home is a tip given by Samantha Susca to prevent permanent damage.
- JoAnne Valentine, owner of Reset Skin and Wellness, wishes clients would quit expecting immediate results from a single treatment, especially when it comes to hyperpigmentation, and instead trust the process and give products time to work (six weeks or more).
