What an Anti-Aging Facial Can and Cannot Do

An anti-aging facial can make skin look smoother, fuller and more rested by hydrating it well and massaging the face. It can soften the look of fine lines, especially the ones that come from dryness. It cannot erase deep wrinkles, lift sagging skin or reverse years of sun damage. Knowing which is which helps you decide whether it is worth booking.

What is an anti-aging facial?

At Spathetics, the Anti-Aging Facial is a facial for fine lines and loss of firmness. It centers on four things: hydrating products, facial massage, an anti-aging mask and an under-eye mask.

It is a gentle, surface-level treatment. Nothing in it involves needles, lasers or strong peels.

What can an anti-aging facial do?

Soften the look of fine lines

Skin that is short on water shows every crease. When the surface is well hydrated, it plumps slightly and fine lines look shallower. This is the most visible result of the facial, and it is real, though temporary.

Make skin look more awake

Facial massage brings blood flow to the surface and relaxes the muscles of the brow, jaw and around the eyes. Skin tends to look fresher and less drawn afterward.

Help with tired-looking eyes

The skin under the eyes is thin and dries out easily. An under-eye mask gives that area a concentrated dose of moisture, which can make it look smoother and less puffy for a while.

Help your products work better at home

Well-prepared, hydrated skin takes in moisturizer more evenly. A facial is also a chance to have a licensed esthetician look at your skin and tell you what your routine is missing, and what you can stop buying.

What can it not do?

• Erase deep wrinkles. Lines that are set into the skin, the ones you can see when your face is at rest, do not go away with a facial.
• Lift sagging skin. Loss of firmness in the jawline, cheeks or eyelids comes from changes deeper than any product or massage reaches.
• Remove sun spots or broken capillaries.
• Replace medical treatments. Injectables, lasers and prescription products do different work. Spathetics does not offer them, and a facial is not a substitute for them.
• Last forever. The plumping effect fades over days as your skin goes back to its usual state.

Any treatment that promises to take ten years off in one visit is selling something. What a facial offers is skin that looks and feels its best for its age, and that is worth having.

Why does skin look older in winter?

January is hard on skin in central Illinois. The air outside is cold and dry, the furnace runs all day, and the humidity indoors drops. Skin loses water faster than usual.

The result is that lines you barely noticed in August look sharper now. Much of that is dehydration, not sudden aging, which is why a hydrating facial tends to show its biggest difference in the winter months.

How long do the results last?

The smooth, plump look right after a facial lasts a few days to a week or so for most people, depending on your skin and how you care for it afterward.

The longer-term benefit comes from regular care. Skin that is kept hydrated and looked after month to month generally stays in better condition than skin that gets attention once a year. See how often you should get a facial for how to pace it.

What makes the biggest difference between facials?

What you do every day matters more than any single appointment.

• Sunscreen, every morning. Sun exposure is the largest outside cause of lines, spots and loss of firmness. Nothing else on this list comes close. Yes, in January too.
• Moisturizer, morning and night. A richer one in winter.
• Gentle cleansing. If your face feels tight after washing, your cleanser is too harsh for the season.
• Not smoking, and enough sleep. Both show in the skin.
• A retinol or retinoid, if it suits you. These are the most widely recommended ingredients for fine lines. Prescription strengths come from a doctor or dermatologist, who can tell you whether one is right for you.

If you are not sure how to layer those products, see what order your skincare products should go in.

Who is it a good fit for?

• Skin that looks dry, dull or tired, at any age.
• People starting to notice fine lines around the eyes and mouth.
• Anyone who wants a relaxing facial focused on hydration and massage more than on extractions.
• People with an event coming up who want their skin to look rested for it.

If breakouts or clogged pores are your main concern, a different facial will serve you better. And if you are using a prescription retinoid or have had a recent cosmetic procedure, tell Ashley before your appointment so she can work around it.

Is it worth it?

If you go in expecting hydrated, smoother, more rested-looking skin and some quiet time, yes. If you are hoping for the result of a medical procedure, no. You can read what is included and see the current price on the Anti-Aging Facial page, compare all facials, or book an appointment online.