Dehydrated skin is the worst. It’s rough, itchy, and feels like you have a permanent sunburn. So what do you do? You use moisturizer, but it’s not enough!
Good news: hydrating facial treatment can be an effective way to deal with the issue.
Contents
What is a Hydrating Facial?
A hydrating facial is a type of facial that cleanses, exfoliates, and moisturizes the skin by using a combination of products and gentle massage techniques.
The process can be done in two different ways depending on the person’s skin type. An oily face will require more external cleansing, while a dry face will need an internal cleansing treatment.
Water is the main ingredient in both types of facials, so you can expect your face to feel quite moist afterward. A recent study vouches for the fact that water alone can improve the skin barrier. Hydrating facials are ideal for anyone – men and women, no matter what their age.
What Skin Issues Does it Address?
- Dryness, flakiness, and fine lines
- Uneven skin tone
- Sagging skin
- Damaged skin
- Pollution damage
A hydrating facial is not meant to replace your regular skincare routine but rather to supplement it with additional moisture and hydration in areas where your skin may need it most (i.e. if you live in a cold, dry area).
The Benefits of Hydrating Facial
Super hydrating
A hydrating facial is particularly beneficial for people with dry skin who experience flaking and redness, although anyone can benefit from a hydrating facial as it leaves the skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.
Adds plumpness
The hydration from this non-invasive treatment will leave skin looking plump and full which can make fine lines less noticeable temporarily before further damage occurs from environmental factors or UV exposure over time if protective measures aren’t taken to repair the damage.
Calms the skin
Hydrating facial treatments tend to be a lot more relaxing and calming because a warm, moist environment is comfortable regardless of your geographical location or season, unlike air-conditioned rooms that can feel cold regardless of what time of year it is for those not used to winter weather.
Enhances skin tone and texture
With exfoliation, dead skin is removed without compromising the skin’s moisture or oils. Maintaining the equilibrium of the skin’s hydration and ensuring proper circulation of water results in improved skin texture.
Helps your products absorb faster
The pH level of your skin will either remain balanced or become more acidic depending on what products are used during the treatment. Therefore, any actives you apply afterwards (such as acids) will work better on an acidic instead of an alkaline pH level; this applies not only to face products but also to body products.
Affordable
Having an affordable and effective price makes it popular in spas as well as at-home routines due to its affordability.
While some spas will focus on a specific aspect of a hydrating facial—such as just deep cleansing or just moisturizing—others might offer several different types that address various skin conditions such as aging, acne, and sensitive/irritated skin.
What It’s Like to Get a Hydrating Facial
Receiving this facial is similar to getting a hydration massage. You will feel relaxed and pampered! During your treatment, you can read or just kick back and relax while your esthetician applies hydrating products to your face following the pampering massages.
After your session is over, your face will feel ultra-moisturized, and you will look gorgeous. The best part of any facial is that it provides temporary relief from the stresses of everyday life.
Before and After
The picture shows the skin before and after regular hydrating facial treatments! There is an overall healthy glow and the skin looks more plump and hydrated.
How Much Does a Hydrating Facial Cost?
The prices vary depending on where they are done, for how long, and the packages being offered. For example, spas charge about $75 for 60-minute hydrating facial treatments while some other places might offer it for about $100 for 75 minutes. However, there are so many benefits to receiving this type of treatment that we believe the cost is worth it!
Who does it?
Hydrating facials are given by aestheticians who have been trained to assess skin type and provide appropriate products/procedures based on it.
If you want a spa experience, this would mean going through different steps of hydration depending on what your skin needs are during the facial appointment itself which usually takes about 60 minutes from start to finish.
How often should I get a hydrating facial?
For people with dry, sensitive, or flaky skin types, they may want to get more frequent treatments of about 2-4 weeks apart. This is because their skin will continuously need hydration until it’s finally at normal levels. Those who have oily, normal, or combination skin types can stretch out the time between their facials to 4-6 weeks.
DIY Hydrating Facial At Home
You can get your own hydrating facial done by simply following these steps:
Step #1: Cleanse
Make sure you are using a gentle cleanser, one that has little or no irritants in it. Massage it gently on the skin because this will stimulate blood flow all over your face.
Step #2: Exfoliate
The goal here is to remove any extra dirt or grime so we can start fresh! Physical and chemical exfoliants are available; you can pick one based on your skin type and see which one works best for you. If you don’t have any, try using a soft washcloth instead – it will wipe away those useless cells without harming your skin.
Step #3: Mask
At home, you can opt for different types of masks that can be bought from drugstores and what not. Ensure you know which ingredients are best for your skin type so that you can reap their benefits. They mostly target hydration issues but there are also ones that address other concerns such as acne or aging. You just have to buy them accordingly!
Step #4: Moisturize
This final step may seem counterintuitive since we just took out all the oils but our skin does need moisture so do not forget to add it back. Pick a good moisturizer and massage it gently into your skin so that it can be absorbed by your face effectively. If you have oily skin, use oil-free moisturizers while those with dry skin should look for ones that contain shea butter and sunflower seed oil.
Step #5: Protect
Protect – Once you have completed all the steps above, make sure you protect yourself from further harm by wearing a sunblock that has at least an SPF of 30 or higher! As a result, you will help prevent future damage to your skin since exposure to UV rays can cause wrinkles and accelerate aging!
How to Get the Most Out of your Facial Experience
Cleanse gently
Use an acid-free cleanser before the facial so that the pH level of their skin is closer to 5 or 6 instead of 7 or 8 (depending on how dry their skin is); if you want them to cleanse beforehand make sure they do it properly (avoid harsh exfoliants like salt, sugar, and other abrasive products that can strip off natural oils).
Eat right
Prior to the treatment, eat something that contains fat. Choose foods with healthy fats such as avocados and fish that are easy to digest since the products will be applied on top.
Suggestions for food include:
- You can dress spinach salad with any kind of dressing, except for oil-based ones. That’s because oil left on your skin can affect the absorption of any actives you apply afterward.
- Eggs (fried/boiled/soft boiled)
- Chicken breasts
- Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, trout)
- Avocados (mashed/whole with lemon juice; avoid guacamole because of its high oil content unless you are extremely dehydrated)
Suggestions for drinks include:
- Hot water with lemon juice (no sugar added)
Any type of tea (i.e. green tea, white tea, black tea; avoid herbal teas that contain mint or other herbs that can dehydrate the skin if consumed in large quantities over time). - Unsweetened fruit juices like orange juice or cranberry juice without pulp.
- Avoid drinking alcohol at least 12 hours before and after the facial so you don’t cause dehydration.
Do not use saunas or steam rooms during this time because the heat will make your skin more dehydrated. Also, avoid exfoliating your skin before you come in for a facial.
Hydrating Facial Aftercare
Skincare products to use after a hydrating facial include:
- Sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher if you are going outside anytime soon
- Medium-weight moisturizer designed to hydrate your skin without making it greasy -Avoid extremely lightweight moisturizers unless necessary because the skin will absorb water from the air and become dry.
- Keep your skin clear for 24 hours following your facial. If you do need to use make-up, opt for a mineral product that will not clog your pores.
What if my skin feels tight after the treatment?
If your skin still feels a little tight after a hydrating facial it can be due to any of these factors:
- The skin was exfoliated beforehand which means pores were opened up allowing for moisture to escape too quickly into the atmosphere as well as removing protective barriers that keep moisture in or around the face.
- The treatment may have been too gentle but if they feel as though there isn’t much hydration left over afterward it could mean the cosmetic products used were ineffective or not enough.
- You didn’t eat or drink fatty foods before getting the treatment.
The takeaway
When it comes to skincare, hydration usually means getting rid of dryness and tightness which is why a regular hydrating facial is good for those with such skin types.
This hydrating treatment for the face takes care of all the major skincare concerns at once. You can get this done at a spa such as Seven Heart Spa or opt for masks that you just apply over your face and leave on overnight too!
Just make sure that whatever option suits you best, follow the schedule and results will definitely show themselves after continuous treatments.
This answers a lot of questions I had about a hydrating facial. Looking forward to reading more from you!