Pampering yourself with a relaxing facial is a good choice; a facial can do wonders for your tired and dull skin. A good facial helps balance the elasticity of your skin while detoxifying it from within. No wonder they say beauty is skin deep!
Did you know facials can also be de-stressing? There are several benefits to a good facial but only if you follow these seven rules.
Here are some things you should avoid doing immediately after a facial:
1. Do not exfoliate
Yes, exfoliation is great otherwise but not when your skin is sensitive from a fresh facial. Most facials include a chemical or physical scrubbing session for deep-cleansing your skin. Over-scrubbing your skin is a bad idea and would make your skin prone to inflammations. We suggest skipping the scrubbing routine for a minimum of five days.
2. Use a gentle face wash
Trust me ladies, there is no way around a good face wash. This holds especially true after a facial. Harsh face washes tend to irritate your delicate skin, leaving its natural balance disturbed. Switch to a mild face wash as a habit and avoid the one with scrubbers or microbeads.
You can opt for the Himalaya Moisturising Aloe Vera Face Wash. Aloe Vera has a soothing effect on skin and it is highly anti-inflammatory. Besides, it also helps to moisturize the skin, providing it with essential nourishment.
3. Avoid the sun
It may come across as weird but beauty experts believe that stepping out in the sun just after a facial is not wise. This belief has its basis in dermatological reasoning. Sun rays are either way damaging to the skin, which is why experts recommend wearing a minimum of SPF 30 before stepping out. However, after a facial, your skin is more vulnerable owing to the intense exfoliation. This makes it all the more prone to damages from sun rays.
Here are a few recommended facials:
- Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+
- Lotus Herbals Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel with Pa+++ and SPF – 50 protection
- Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte Gel Sunscreen
Avoid spending unnecessary time outdoors. If going to a salon for the facial, try to schedule it for the evening. Use a scarf to shield your skin, if necessary, while heading out!
4. Say no to heavy makeup
You are already perfect and glowing. Push away that heavy makeup for a week and let your natural beauty do the talking! Facial opens your pores up, making the skin vulnerable to bacterial growth. Putting on a heavy concealer after just getting a facial will only enhance the chances of breakouts.
Post-facial breakouts are very common because we often forget going easy on the skin. This also holds true for any skincare product that can be deemed harsh for the skin.
If your skin feels irritated, try using ice to soothe it. You can also try soaking a cotton pad in ice-cold water and dabbing it gently on the face. Follow this up by applying aloe vera to soothe the skin.
5. Stay hydrated
The skin needs hydration. Getting a facial is just not enough; you need to back it up with proper hydration. It’s true what they say – water helps to keep the skin fresh and glowing. It also helps to hydrate the skin tissues, thereby improving the elasticity of the skin.
You can also try detox water for your skin. Cut a slice of lemon and an apple and put it in 2 litres of water, along with a handful of fresh mint leaves, a tsp of cinnamon and some ice. You may also add strawberries to add to the flavour. Detox water helps purify the skin and can be especially helpful to bring out the glow after a facial.
6. Avoid the waxing session
That waxing session before your facial may seem really unavoidable, but it’s better left out. Your deeply exfoliated skin will only get more irritated by a rigorous waxing session. Although it may be really convenient to align your waxing schedule with your facial, don’t do that! Waxing rids your epidermis of dead cells and brings out a new layer of cells. The harsh chemicals or exfoliants from your facial will only irritate your freshly waxed skin.
Postpone your waxing schedule by a week. It is as bad to get a facial wax right after your facial.
7. Don’t extract your pimples
Try not to request your beautician to extract your pimples. This can actually make things way worse! They can easily get irritated and flared up, leaving permanent scars on the skin. Chicago-based aesthetician Meghana Prasad said in a blog that she doesn’t want her clients picking at their skin any further, as it can cause irritation and potential scarring.
Now that you know what to do and more importantly not to do, pamper your skin with a refreshing facial.
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