Face First

Why you need to get a facial

A common misconception is that facials are only for people with acne prone or aging skin. Usually when asked, seven out of 10 women in St Vincent and the Grenadines admit to having no skin care routine. They wash their face with whatever soap is handy when they are in the shower. Some even admit to using our local “blue soap” to wash their face. They take no particular care of their facial skin.

So it should come as no surprise that most women and men are not aware of the benefits to be had from regular facials. Facials benefit every face and every complexion.{{more}}

Remember the world sees your face first! So despite all that we do to beautify ourselves – hair, nails, make-up, somehow our skin care regimens often take a back seat to everything else. The excuses are numerous. We don’t have the time, we feel our skin will never change so we give up, our skin looks fine as it is or we don’t have money for “indulgences”.

The bottom line is if we do not invest now in proper skin care we will pay for it down the road in sagging, scarred and lacklustre skin.

Think of your skin care as a long-term interest bearing account, invest a litle consistently and over time compound interest will work its magic and increase your wealth!

Care for your skin today and you will reap the rewards of healthy, luminous skin in the future. Think of the money you will save on plastic surgery or expensive corrective products later on!

More than just pampering …

Although pampering is part of the facial experience, the therapeutic benefits go beyond mere indulgence. Routine cleansing, exfoliation and moisturisation are key components of a facial that enable you to establish and maintain a healthy glow. No matter your complexion (fair, medium, dark) or your skin type (oily, dry or acne prone) scheduling a facial once a month, just like going to the dentist or hair stylist goes a long way in helping to keep your skin beautifully vibrant.

Just ask Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Denzel Washington, or Brad Pitt what is the key to their movie-star glow – they will reply “facials!” According to her personal website Halle Berry gets facials every two weeks to maintain that flawless complexion.

What’s in a facial?

Facials thoroughly cleanse your face and remove the top layers of dead skin so that the new skin can shine through. It usually involves a cleansing procedure, a steam, extraction of black and white heads, the application of a face mask and an entire face, neck, shoulder and head massage.

The Benefits

In addition to thorough cleansing and rejuvenation of the skin’s surface or epidermis, an important part of the facial is the massage which helps blood circulation, which in turn aids lymphatic drainage (the removal of toxins and waste from the body).

A massage also relaxes the facial muscle and is very important to delay the onset of wrinkles.

The face is steamed during a facial for two main reasons. First, it helps to open the pores and soften whiteheads and blackheads so that they can be easily removed with a facial extractor which will not leave scarring.

Second, it helps the skin to absorb the nutrients in the facial creams mask better. Steams also help persons who suffer from sinus congestion to clear their nasal passages.

The application of the face mask for your particular skin type at the end helps to tone and clarify the skin. Masks also help to treat specific problems in the skin such as dryness, acne or wrinkle reduction.

• And don’t forget to drink your water …

Contributed by Oasis Spa & Wellness Centre (a division of the Beauty Bar) Mind ~ Body ~ Release ~ Peace

456-2555/493-0793

Mon – Fri 9:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Cut out this coupon and you’ll get $10.00 off your next facial at OASIS SPA. Offer expires December 3.