The Secret To Better Skin

If you’re anything like me, summer isn't exactly friendly to your skin. We all love the bronze-y summer glowing skin that the warmer months give us, but I’m not exactly a fan of the dryness that follows it. Vacations, outdoor activities, and sunbathing are all some great perks of summer, but they can be a huge opportunity for the sun to damage your skin. If you want to enjoy the sun, repair your skin, and pamper yourself a little bit all at the same time, skincare services like facials can be a great way to counteract that damage and put your face back on the right track. (So maybe you can have your metaphorical cake and eat it, too.) 

For this post, I received the Oliver’s facial and see how skin treatments would fit into my skin care routine. So if you're constantly asking, "How do I get better skin?", the answer might be to pamper yourself a little more often.

That Tan Looks Good Now... But What About Later? 

I’m well aware that putting a 375º flat iron on my hair, clogging my pores with foundation, or laying out to get a couple shades darker aren’t necessarily my “healthiest” life choices, but we all make sacrifices for our beauty routines. Ideally, for whatever sacrifices you’re making you also have some kind of reparative treatments to counteract some of the damage you’re doing.

Skin is especially important because its the largest organ in your body. While a split end from a flat iron here or there isn’t going to kill you, not having a well-balanced skincare routine can seriously damage your skin, causing early aging and wrinkles. Although you may not see wrinkles, smile lines, or excessive dryness now after spending all day in the sun, they’re more than likely to pop up in the future. Preemptively treating issues now can lead to better skin in the future, so you can keep looking healthy and glowing no matter what age you are.

Are You Feeling Stressed Out? Maybe It's Time For A Little Pampering

Skin treatments aren’t meant to be done everyday, so there is a definitely pampering factor to them. However, skin treatments like facials lower stress levels and provide tons of relaxation which can have actual, tangible benefits to your health. Countless studies have shown the negative effects of stress on the body for your health, looks, and general well-being. Spa treatments completely relax you and the added face, arm, and neck massage that is included in our facials doubles the benefits. Massages release oxytocin into your body, which directly counteract stress hormones, making you feel immediately more relaxed. 

Many of us have jam-packed schedules and remembering to take time to take care of yourself mentally often takes a back burner to school, jobs, and family obligations. Sure, being pampered sounds great. But seeing as many of us have fairly busy lives I’m sure feeling de-stressed is even more appealing. Keep this all in mind for the next time someone makes you feel high-maintenance for wanting to get a facial or any other skin treatment. You can tell them it’s just for your health, like eating a salad or hitting the gym.

Don't Have Any Skin Troubles?

While I love skincare products, I don’t have very problematic skin. Being in college full time and working comes with its own set of stress, so even though I may not suffer from severe acne or dryness, I am still looking to get healthier, better skin and lower my stress levels. So, I can still benefit from the relaxation and massage properties of skin treatments.

Even if you’re like me and don’t necessarily have any specific skin issues, facials and other skin treatments can still benefit you by mellowing you out, reducing acne or dark spots, and exfoliating the dead skin cells from your face.  Which pretty much everyone has, unless you frequently get dermaplaning treatments or have somehow maintained baby soft skin as an adult. (If the latter's the case, call me. I have a few questions.) 

Overview of The Oliver's Facial

The Oliver’s Facial is our signature hour long skin treatment. It's great for all skin types provides a well-rounded treatment for a variety of potential skin issues. The Oliver’s facial includes a skin analysis, complete cleansing, steaming, facial massage, exfoliator, mask, and moisturizer. The facial's exact steps and products are custom blended for your needs. So, let your aesthetician know of any specific issues you notice with your skin beforehand. The Oliver’s facial is a great starting point to skincare because even if you don’t know your specific needs or have more regular skin, there’s many different steps that cover all the bases.  

I’d definitely recommend the Oliver’s facial for anyone who wants to improve their overall skin health but may not know where to start. It's also a great option if you have regular skin that you want to perk up. 

Setting the Mood 

To preface, I’ve never had a facial before. So I was definitely excited for some relaxation during my work day. (It’s worth mentioning that at this point my friends are more than jealous of my internship. I mean, a facial during work hours? How could they not be?) I was also looking forward to the prospect of having a new step in my skincare routine that would hopefully give me better skin. 

Clients at Oliver’s know how busy it is here. While our location is large, we also offer a wide variety range of services. On a typical day there's customers in and out of the door every minute and it’s very lively in here. The spa room I was in completely cut off the typical salon noise and chatter from the outside. The room was dimly lit and relaxing music was playing. and I was tempted to take a nap before we even started. (The super comfortable bed I was laying in was more than a little enticing). 

My Experience: The Products

One of our aestheticians, Jen, performed the facial on me. She started off by asking questions about my skin and any trouble areas I had. I told her I had fairly tame skin, not really any acne issues but some occasional dry skin. She then explained the steps of the process that she was going to do.

I'm not a big fan of strong smells or perfumes in my skin care products. Anything with too harsh of a smell reminds me of chemicals that I definitely don't want on my skin.  All of the products that Jen used on me either had no smell, or smelled natural and light. I attest this to the use of Aveda and Jan Marini products. Aveda only scents their products with all naturally sourced ingredients and Jan Marini is a top innovator in research for new skincare products. (You can check out my blog on that here!) The products felt weightless and were getting fully absorbed into my skin.  

My Experience: The Treatment

Jen first applied steam to my skin to open my pores. I was suffering from allergies that week so it helped clear my sinuses as well.

Between each of the steps Jen massaged my face which was very relaxing. Around halfway through the facial, I also received a small arm, neck, and upper back massage. Different layers of exfoliators, hydrating creams, moisturizers were applied with soft brushes and sponges to my face. Next, Jen applied a super hydrating mask. The mask was left for a few minutes to fully treat my skin. (This is the point where I nearly dozed off.) A final facial moisturizer was applied and left on. My skin absorbed it and I had no residue. Finally, the facial ended with an Aveda Lip Saver which was smooth and lasted for hours.

The After Effects: Was I Glowing Like A Goddess?

Immediately following the facial, my skin was extremely soft and hydrated. One of my pet peeves are the dark circles under my eyes after waking up. The morning after the facial, they were much lighter. My face looked brighter and rejuvenated and  I felt refreshed and glowy for the rest of the day. I ran errands and met with friends without a bit of makeup on my face. 

As for the next day, I definitely noticed my skin looking much nicer in the morning. The under eye circles I usually wake up with were less noticeable. I noticed my skin looking evenly colored, so I used less foundation. The foundation that I did wear sat on my skin more nicely. Because of this, I didn't have to use any powder or setting spray. 

Unexpected Effects

One of the biggest differences I noticed wasn't a physical change from the facial, but a mental one. My face looked and felt so amazing afterwards that I became more aware of what I was doing to it. My skin is pretty resilient, so I sometimes slack on my daily skincare routine if I'm feeling lazy. Which I usually am. After the Oliver's Facial, I was dying to keep the glow I had so I've completely stepped up my skincare routine as a result. 

All of the physical benefits of the facial aside, I'm more conscious of how I'm treating my skin. The facial made my skin look better in the short term, which made me want it to look better in the long term. Also, if your skin looks healthier, you may be able to cut out some of your makeup routine. A more strict skincare routine, using less makeup, and feeling less stressed out are all indirect perks I noticed from my facial. Eventually all these little changes can build up. So, the occasional facial has a ton of indirect benefits that give you better skin.

The Road To Better Skin Continues 

Is a one-time facial going to give you completely flawless skin? Of course not. But they’re great for times when your skin may need a boost, like before a special event. They're also a great idea if you need a little kickstart to your skincare routine. Over time, I can absolutely see how repeated facials can improve the overall health of your skin and stress levels. Unfortunately, there is no cure-all that will give you better skin, de-stress you, and take 20 years off of your face. (And any product or service claiming to do that immediately is probably a sham.)

However, with periodic facials to rejuvenate and mellow you out a little bit you can definitely get better skin. In other words, if you’re planning on going to a tropical vacation and laying out in the sun for a week straight, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to “counteract” some of that “damage” with a facial right when you get home. You should do it for your health, right?

Thank you to our talented aesthetician Jen for treating me to the Oliver’s Facial!

For more information on how to get this service from one of our many amazing aestheticians, call us at (610) 366-8808 or book online.