What Happens During Your First Facial, Step by Step

A first facial is simpler than most people expect. You lie back while your skin is cleansed, looked at closely, steamed, exfoliated, cleared of clogged pores where it needs it, massaged, and finished with a mask and moisturizer. You do not need to know anything in advance. Here is each step in order, using the Deluxe Facial as the example, along with how to get ready and what your skin does afterward.

What happens before the facial starts?

Expect a few questions first: what you use at home, what bothers you about your skin, and whether you have allergies or take any medications. The medication question matters. Prescription retinoids, isotretinoin (Accutane) and some other treatments change what is safe to do to your skin.

Answer honestly, even if your whole routine is soap and water. There is no wrong answer, and it helps Ashley choose the right products.

You do not have to arrive bare-faced. The first step takes off makeup and sunscreen anyway.

What are the steps of a facial?

1. Cleansing

Your skin is cleansed to remove makeup, sunscreen and the day’s oil. This is partly so the products that follow can work, and partly so your skin can be seen as it really is.

2. A close look at your skin

With your skin clean, Ashley looks at it up close: where it is dry, where it is oily, where pores are clogged, whether it seems sensitive. What she sees shapes the rest of the appointment. This is a good time to ask questions.

3. Steam

Warm steam softens the surface of the skin and the oil sitting in your pores, which makes the next steps gentler and more effective. Most people find this part relaxing.

4. Exfoliation with an enzyme peel

An enzyme peel uses enzymes, often derived from fruit, to loosen the dead cells on the surface of your skin. The word “peel” sounds stronger than it is. Your skin does not visibly peel or flake afterward. It simply looks smoother and brighter once that dull top layer is gone.

5. Extractions

This is the step people are nervous about. Clogged pores, such as blackheads, are cleared with careful pressure. It can be briefly uncomfortable, mostly around the nose, and it is over quickly. In the Deluxe Facial the extractions are gentle, and you can always ask to go lighter or skip them.

6. Massage

Facial massage relaxes the muscles in your face, where a lot of people hold tension without noticing, around the jaw and between the brows. It is common to nearly fall asleep here.

7. A mask

The mask is chosen for your skin that day. Dry, tight skin gets something different from oily or irritated skin. You rest while it works.

8. The finish

The mask comes off and moisturizer goes on. Before you leave, ask what Ashley noticed about your skin and what would help at home. One or two specific suggestions are worth more than a long list.

Does a facial hurt?

No. Extractions are the only part that can be uncomfortable, and only for a moment. Everything else ranges from neutral to very relaxing. If anything stings, burns or feels like too much pressure, say so. Nothing in a facial needs to be endured in silence.

How should you get ready for a first facial?

• Skip scrubs, exfoliating acids and retinol for two or three days beforehand.
• Do not come in with a sunburn. Reschedule and let it heal.
• Make a note of the products you use, or take a photo of them.
• Mention every medication, including anything a dermatologist has prescribed for your skin. If you are under a doctor’s care for acne or another skin condition, check with them before booking.
• Come as you are. Makeup is fine.

What does your skin do afterward?

Right away, your skin feels clean and soft, and it may be a little pink where extractions were done. That usually fades within a day or so.

• Skip makeup for the rest of the day if you can.
• Hold off on exfoliating products for a few days.
• Wear sunscreen. Freshly exfoliated skin is more sensitive to the sun, even in January.
• A few small breakouts in the following days are not unusual after a first facial, and they pass.

That settling period is the reason to book about a week ahead if you want a facial before an event. There is more on timing in when to book a facial before a big event.

Is winter a good time for a first facial?

It is one of the better times. By January, cold air and furnace heat have left most skin dry and flaky, and moisturizer does not absorb well through that dead layer. Clearing it away makes everything you put on at home work better.

The Deluxe Facial is the classic place to start and the one most clients book. If you would like a shorter first visit, the Express Facial covers the cleanse, a gentle exfoliation and a mask or treatment. You can compare all six facials and their current prices, and when you are ready, book an appointment online.