Types of Facial Treatments – How to pick the right one?

Overview | Types of facials | Types of facial treatments | Deciding on a treatment | Skin self-care

Facials are perhaps one of the best ways in which anyone can relax and rejuvenate their skin. You would know what I mean when I say we all do eagerly await the soothing experience of a facial after a hectic week. 

However, did you know that there are many different types of facials, each with their own purpose and effects? While some cleanse the skin, others hydrate and brighten the skin. While some help to clear up skin conditions like acne, others help to battle pigmentation.

In this article, I will take you through the many different types of facials and facial treatments you can opt for in pursuit of healthy, happy skin days!

What are the different types of facials?

There are two main types of facials. They are:

1. Medi-facial – Medi-facials are medical-grade facials that are customized based on an individual patient’s specific skin needs and goals. They are result-driven facials designed to target specific problems to repair, restore, brighten or revitalize. There is no downtime required after this painless treatment and results often show immediately after you leave the clinic.
   I have personally ideated and designed a range of Medi-facials, which are offered at The Bombay Skin Clinic, to help with a variety of skin problems. Some of these include the SuperJet Facial, The Bombay Brightening Facial, The Bombay Infusion Facial, The Bombay Hollywood Laser Peel, the Anti-clock facial, and many more. These generally last only around an hour on average. From hi-speed micro-jet sprays to exotic ingredients like licorice and Scutellaria; from Vitamin C cleansing milk to enzymatic face peels, these Medi-facials give you radiant, youthful, and revitalized skin almost instantly. Most medi-facials use advanced technology such as Q switched laser light, HIFU, and Dermapen to ensure that your skin gets the best treatment it can for that glow that really shows.
2. Acne facial – This type of facial is specifically targeted to soothe and minimize active acne and pimples. At the Bombay Skin Clinic in Mumbai, many of my patients have seen truly outstanding results from the Acne Healing Facial. This is a comprehensive five-step program designed for reducing redness, inflammation, and acne.
   Let me take you through a brief overview of this facial. I begin by using a vitamin C-rich cleansing milk to remove makeup and dirt, followed by a high-speed micro-jet for exfoliation and cleaning oil glands. Post this, I apply photodynamic light therapy to stimulate blood flow, improve lymphatic circulation, and reduce inflammation; light therapy is known for encouraging natural cell healing and renewal.
   Next, I use an oxygen water spray to deliver pulsated oxygen to the skin, followed by an acne deep peel to treat the epidermis. Oxygen rejuvenates and heals the skin, while the peel reduces acne. Finally, hyaluronic acid is injected via no-needle pressure oxygen injection to strengthen skin cells. As an add-on, I apply a specially formulated Korean face mask to further brighten the skin.

What are the different types of facial treatments?

Facials include many different types of skin treatment procedures to help achieve the individual skin goals of my patients. Let me take you through some of the most common brightening facial treatments used. 

1. Chemical peels – Chemical peels come in a variety of concentrations and strengths to help gently peel off the top skin layer by effectively tackling the dead cells on the surface of the face. These peels help to diminish signs of aging, eliminate surface scarring, even out pigmentation, and work against active acne. As per Stanford Healthcare, chemical peels are also super-effective when it comes to treating wrinkles. I recommend a light or a medium peel for my patients. Deep peels are rarely performed anymore and I personally do not advocate them.
   I offer various types of peels that contain a variety of exotic and tested ingredients for effective skin rejuvenation at The Bombay Skin Clinic. The most popular peels opted for by my patients include Black peel, Enzyme peel, Pumpkin peel, Yellow peel, Salicylic peel, Glycolic peel, Miami peel, Inno peel, and TCA peel. Each one has its own purpose. There is usually no downtime required and temporary side effects may include minor redness, skin sensitivity, and tenderness which are completely normal.
2. Microdermabrasion – One of the best facial treatments, microdermabrasion involves the use of tiny crystals to sand away the top layer of dead skin cells from the face, revealing smoother and softer skin underneath. It is one of the best treatments for eliminating acne scars and age spots.
   As noted in research by Harvard Health Publishing, there is no downtime to microdermabrasion. However, some post-procedure skin tenderness and redness are to be expected and let me assure you that these are completely normal. My patients have seen a marked improvement in their skin appearance after undergoing this non-invasive facial treatment. Do note that microdermabrasion has now been replaced with a newer technique known as hydradermabrasion. This is also due to the fact that microdermabrasion, if done aggressively can leave the skin dry and irritated.
   Hydradermabrasion is less invasive in nature as compared to microdermabrasion. This technique uses water to treat the skin. This water is laced with peptides and serums, which help moisturize the skin while also cleansing it. In this procedure, the skin gets rid of impurities through gentle suction. Hydradermabrasion is suited to all skin types.
3. Laser facial – A laser facial is useful in helping clear the skin and bring out a glow. Using a combination of lasers – each with their own effect – the dermatologist works on your skin to help bring out its best by getting rid of bacteria and stimulating collagen production. Laser facials can also deal with stubborn spots of hyperpigmentation. The best part is that most laser facials do not take long and can be done in around 15 minutes.
4. Hollywood Laser Facial – True to its name, The Hollywood Laser Facial is one that is preferred by the A-listers of Hollywood including Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian. This facial is the perfect way to rejuvenate your skin minus the downtime that often accompanies other laser treatments. The Hollywood Laser Facial begins with a cleansing milk that is enriched with Vitamin C. This is followed by hydradermabrasion that helps remove dead skin cells and hydrate the skin. Next, a carbon peel is applied, after which a Q-switched laser treatment is done to improve skin clarity. This is followed by the application of aloe vera and the treatment is rounded up with a hydrating mask to brighten the skin.
5. JetPeel facial – A non-invasive JetPeel facial combines a liquid, such as water, skin nutrients, and oxygen to create a jet stream of micro-droplets that deeply penetrate the skin. This exfoliates the skin without causing irritation. Once the face has been cleansed, the JetPeel hand-piece delivers a customized solution to treat skin concerns like milia, under eye circles, hyperhidrosis, and blackheads in a concentrated stream.
   JetPeels are highly customizable to each patient’s skin type and needs. They offer a needle-free, no-downtime way of skin treatment that helps to dramatically improve the texture and appearance of the skin. As per the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, JetPeel is a safe and effective skin rejuvenation technique and can be used in conjunction with other techniques like laser resurfacing or chemical peels.
   One of the biggest advantages of JetPeels is that this treatment naturally hydrates and oxygenates the skin while removing all impurities. The treatment improves circulation in the skin and reveals a natural glow. I even recommend an infusion of vitamins to enhance this treatment further.
6. Pumpkin facial – This facial makes use of the gentle, soothing, and tremendously beneficial properties of pumpkin to help bring a healthy glow on your skin. This vegetable is rich in vitamin A, C, zinc, and potassium, which help to fight free radicals and anti-oxidize. It provides vital nutrients to improve your brightness, stimulate collagen growth, and get rid of dead skin cells.
   I perform The Bombay Pumpkin Facial at The Bombay Skin Clinic in Mumbai for advanced exfoliation and deep moisturization. This seven-step facial treatment takes about only 45 minutes and makes use of crystal-free hydradermabrasion to remove dead skill cells and infuse and bath the skin with water. Next, the star of the treatment – a natural pumpkin peel – is applied to improve overall texture, smoothness, and clarity of the treated skin. This is followed by a green tea neutralizer, dry collagen mask, and biopeptide rejuvenation serum. The facial ends with an Omega 3 marine mask for a fantastic glow.
7. Vampire facial – This is another facial that is favored by elite Hollywood celebrities. Vampire facial consists of microdermabrasion followed by a PRP treatment. In PRP, the patient’s blood platelet-rich plasma is applied on the skin. This plasma has growth factors, which encourage the development of new skin cells and promote healing.
8. Men’s facial – A man’s skin needs are slightly different. Men’s facials are specifically designed to deal with skin concerns that men may have such as razor burns, acne, or roughness. Men’s facials usually consist of deep cleansing, exfoliation, and massage. The products used are different from what is used for women, as these have a more masculine scent.
9. Fruit  facial – A fruit facial is one that is formulated based on fruit acids such as citric acid and glycolic acid. Fruit facials are loaded with vitamins and help to detoxify the skin.
10. Gold facial – A gold facial follows the standard steps of cleansing and exfoliation with the added advantage of a gold face mask. While this type of facial is quite expensive, it is worth the price, as gold is an antioxidant that leaves your skin healthy, glowing , and free from sun damage.
11. HIFU facial – The high-intensity focused ultrasound skin treatment uses ultrasound to promote skin healing and rejuvenation through collagen production. The facial works on the layers of skin that are below the actual surface of the skin. I recommend this facial for patients above the age of 30 years.
12. PRP facial – PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma that uses platelets from the patient’s blood to be injected into their skin via microneedling techniques. This helps in skin cell regeneration to heal the skin.
13. Diamond facial – This is a facial that is priced on the higher-side but is best suited to sensitive and damaged skin. A diamond facial peel helps to bring out your skin’s natural brightness by removing dead skin cells.
14. Glass skin facial – This is one of the latest trends in facials that sees the skin left with a glossy, glass-like texture after treatment. This facial is intensive and has many levels of treatment. These levels include double cleansing as well as applying several layers of toner and other products to achieve the translucent look, which needs constant maintenance.
15. The Bombay Infusion Facial – This signature treatment helps to hydrate the skin and bring out its natural glow. The infusion facial has been designed with multiple levels of treatment such as vitamin-enriched cleansers, hydradermabrasion, skin peels, and  electroporation and electro-osmosis to help in the maximum efficacy of treatment. I also use aloe vera gel in this treatment.
16. Photodynamic light facial – This treatment uses a source of light and a photosensitizing molecule to treat a variety of skin problems including acne. It is an outpatient procedure.

How do you decide on a specific facial treatment?

This is a common question put across to me by many of my patients. They often wonder how to best choose between the wide array of facials available. Well, making this decision depends on a number of factors. For example, what type of skin do you have? Is it oily, normal, or aging?  Do you have any active skin conditions? Are you allergic to any particular chemicals or natural substances? Is your skin tone light, medium, or dark? What are your skin goals? Do you want to take care of sun damage or work towards acne-free skin? The answer to these questions will help determine the right facial treatment for you.

I personally make a complete assessment of my patients’ skin, skin needs, medical history, physical condition, allergies, and the like before recommending a particular line of treatment to ensure their overall well-being. That being said, it is best to visit a professional dermatologist and get a consultation on your skin type and problems. Your dermatologist would be the best person to choose a facial for you. 

Is there any self-care required after a facial?

Yes. When it comes to facials, I always recommend some dos and don’ts for my patients. For immediate post-treatment care, I advise not exposing your face to excessive sunlight.   

You should be especially tender with your skin, so avoid scrubbing it and using harsh cleansers over the next few days. Wash your face using mild products, like non-comedogenic creams or foams. Stay away from steaming and heating treatments. Also, switch to a titanium oxide sunscreen to protect your skin.

The best way to manage your skin after facials is to only use the skin products that have been recommended by the dermatologist. 

There is also a difference that I want readers to note between medical facials, home facials, and salon facials. A medical facial  is done by a professional dermatologist and it works at the levels of cells. These help if you have deep rooted skin problems. A salon facial is not really customized but would cost you less. Finally, a home facial is one that you can use for regular maintenance of skin health but you should never rely on this as a complete solution for skin problems. 

Closing thoughts

I can safely say from personal experience, and years of experience treating patients, that brightening facial treatments can really transform your skin. The key to getting your best skin possible is working together with your dermatologist and attending all recommended follow-up sessions. Consult with a certified dermatologist for facial treatments that leave your skin healthy and happy.

References

1. Stanford Healthcare: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/c/chemical-peel/conditions-treated.html
2. Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/aging/want-to-take-years-off-your-face-these-treatments-can-rejuvenate-your-skin
3. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/laser-resurfacing
4. National Centre for Biotechnology Information : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15785274