Facial massage
Massage improves blood flow and circulation, leaving the skin looking plumper and fresher. Deep facial massage is one of the hot trends in spa treatments.
The new Bioline facial at Auckland’s Chuan Spa uses acupressure strokes and Formé Spa’s Vitamineral Power facial employs massage to help increase the penetration of active ingredients.
Best if… you want a relaxing but still effective facial.
Light peels
A blend of lactic, salicylic and alpha hydroxy acids is used to resurface the skin without any flaking or damage – you should feel some tingling, though.
Peels are ideal for treating thinning skin and fine lines. You may need a series, several weeks apart, to see real benefits. Caci Clinic’s anti-ageing IP5 facial includes a peel and is available nationwide. About Face clinics use peels combined with Omnilux light therapy to improve inflamed and acne-prone skin.
Best if… your skin is sun-damaged and pigmented.
Vampire facial
Kim Kardashian made this one popular. It uses growth factors from a small amount of your own blood and these are injected into your face (a numbing cream is applied to reduce pain). This facial encourages regeneration.
Auckland’s Clinic 42 is among the med-spas offering it. They combine the treatment with a Derma Pen, a skin-needling technique that causes micro-injuries to the skin and increases absorption.
Best if… your skin is crêpey and losing firmness.
Vitamin infusion
A mild electric current and sound waves are used to increase the penetration of vitamins into the skin. This is great for damaged skin and is a treatment that’s widely available.
Best if… your skin is starting to show signs of ageing.
Five facial tips
Even a simple pampering spa facial should be more effective than applying lotions and potions at home. Charlie Price of Langham Hotel’s Chuan Spa says this is because professional products supply a higher concentration and quality of active ingredients. A well-trained therapist will be able to analyse your skin and tailor your treatment.
Prior to a facial, avoid harsh exfoliation, waxing or threading as they may make your skin more sensitive.
Always describe your skin, habits, lifestyle and general health to your therapist. Also, brief them on what bothers you about your complexion and how you’d like to see it improve.
For the best results, aim for a facial once a month. Some celebrities have been known to have five in a week to get red carpet-ready but most of us don’t have the time or funds for that.
After a facial, stay free of make-up that day and keep out of the sun as your skin will be more prone to UV damage.
