Trying something new for the first time can be scary - especially if you don’t know what to expect and it involves a stranger not only touching your face, but also applying unknown products to your skin! My goal is to help you better understand what a facial is, what to expect at your first appointment, and hopefully convince you to try a facial out for yourself.
My first facial was not glamorous at all, taking place on the sales floor of an Ulta Beauty in the Twin Cities back in 2016, but it was nothing short of life-changing! You see, I was 18 years old, freshly graduated from high school and community college, starting in the world as an adult, and my teenage acne was (back) in full swing! 2 years prior, I had seen a dermatologist for acne treatment, where I received a combination of oral antibiotics and topical prescription acne treatments - which worked beautifully at clearing my skin… until I stopped using them. The issue really stemmed from the fact that I didn’t know how to care for my skin. Of course I washed my face and used all the over-the-counter topicals I could find, but nothing kept me clear. It wasn’t until I took a chance on trying out a facial for the first time that things changed for the long term. Why? Because a licensed skin professional analyzed my skin, thoroughly consulted with me, listened to my concerns, and designed a customized treatment plan just for me and my unique needs. Within 3 months of seeing my new esthetician regularly and using the products she recommended to me, my skin was once again clear - but for real this time! Like, for real, for real! I had actually found something that not only cleared my skin, but kept it that way. This was the beginning of a decades-long love of skincare and a journey of becoming an esthetician myself so I could help others in the same way my esthetician helped me. I am going on 8 years in the treatment room, and there’s nothing that I’m more passionate about to this day.
Maybe you’ve never heard of a facial, or maybe you’ve been intrigued to try one but never booked your appointment. Let’s discuss what an initial facial appointment at Spavalon Massage & Aesthetics looks like with me. The first step before you ever step through our door is actually just booking the appointment. I always encourage all clients to utilize our online booking software through our website www.spavalon.com. This is the easiest and most convenient way for you to get on my schedule. Secondly, you may call or text our business line at 715-869-3596, and I can help get you set up with an appointment. Once your appointment is booked, my system will send you an email containing an intake and consent form. Please fill this form out prior to your appointment so that I have a chance to look it over before I see you. The next step is to show up for your appointment. You will find us at 3011 South Main Street, Suite 2 in Rice Lake, inside Krisik Chiropractic. We are just south of Lehman’s Supper Club and across the street from Dunham’s and the Rice Lake Cedar Mall. Upon arrival to your appointment, you may find that the door is locked. Don’t panic! To ensure the safety of myself and my clients, I lock the door while I’m in service when the Chiropractor is out of the office. For this reason, I prefer clients to show up no more than 5 minutes early to their appointments to ensure you aren’t waiting too long outside. Feel free to wait in your car - I will come and greet you at the door at the start of your appointment time. Once I come and get you, I will lead you back to my treatment room, where I will show you where you may set your things down. It is my ultimate goal that you feel at home while in my care. Then, we will discuss your intake form, talk about your concerns, skin goals, and expectations for the treatment. At that point, I will instruct you on how to get ready for your facial while I step out of the room to lock the door and sanitize my hands. The second you crawl between the sheets of my cozy treatment table, you will not want to get up. Adorned with fresh linens for every client, a table warmer, and zero-gravity elevation, you will truly be in heaven. Once you are ready, I will give a knock on the door, and we will begin the treatment.
The first step of any good facial is an amazing double cleanse. I will begin with a cleanser to remove any dirt, oil, makeup, or sunscreen on your skin. Then I will choose the appropriate second cleanser to use on your skin to thoroughly cleanse the skin and prep it for treatment. Next, I will cover your eyes turn on my overhead light, and perform a skin analysis. This is where I am looking for areas of concern, barrier health, skin texture, hydration levels, skin laxity, pigmentation, and acne. This is also where I will dive deeper into the initial consultation, asking questions about your skincare routine, lifestyle habits, and goals. From there, I will decide on a course of action for today’s facial, as well as a game plan for your homecare and future treatments. After skin analysis, I will turn off the light, remove the goggles, and start the exfoliation step. This may include dermaplaning, an enzyme mask, a light chemical peel, a scrub, or a combination of things. This step can feel active for some people depending on skin sensitivity and barrier health. I will check in with you to make sure everything is feeling comfortable. If at any point something doesn’t feel right to you, please let me know. Your comfort is my top priority! After exfoliation, I will do extractions (popping pimples/blackheads) if needed, and then transition to facial massage. Facial massage is wonderful for blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, but in my opinion, even more important, nervous system regulation. We are all about helping people to achieve their skin goals while having the ultimate relaxing/pampering experience. Next, I will apply a customized treatment mask or LED light therapy. We finish every treatment with toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, lip balm, and SPF. Massage is included in every step - while you mask, you are getting a neck and shoulder massage; while under LED, you are getting a hand, arm, and scalp massage. Truly, there is nothing better!
After your facial is complete, you will have a chance to get changed. Once you are ready to check out, I will discuss any product recommendations with you and discuss when I would like to see you again for your next treatment. Homecare consistency is 80% of results; professional treatments are 20% - together, they provide the best results! I encourage first-time clients to prebook their next appointment to guarantee they get a date and time that works best for us both. The holiday’s especially are very busy for service providers and prebooking ensures you aren’t waiting on an appointment for longer than ideal. At the end of your service, I will walk you out, unlock the door, and send you on your way. In the first hour or 2 after your facial, it is normal to be a little rosy. This is often due to the amount of blood flow and circulation to the area during the exfoliation and massage steps. After a bit of time, your complexion will return to normal, and you will be glowing like you can’t believe! I always instruct clients to avoid harsh products and exfoliants in the days following your facial. The next day, you may resume cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF. By day 2 or 3, you may resume exfoliation and utilize your active serums, if applicable.
Even if you have absolutely no skin concerns at all, facials make a fabulous self-care appointment filled with relaxation, yapping or a little of both. I enjoy building connections beyond just the treatment with my clients. Truthfully, life is busy, and we are more disconnected than ever. Nothing beats human touch and connection - it’s like Chicken Soup for the Soul of this generation. Life is hectic, stressful, expensive, demanding, and we are glued to our devices 24/7. Let me take a load off your back - even if it’s just an hour a month. It would be an honor to have you in my treatment room!
Until next time,
Taylor