What Happens During Your First Facial?
Thinking about booking your first facial but not sure what to expect? Whether you're completely new to professional skincare or simply trying a new esthetician, it's normal to have questions about what happens during a facial.
A professional facial should be more than just a relaxing experience. It is an opportunity to slow down, understand your skin, address your current concerns, and create a treatment that is appropriate for what your skin needs that day.
At Holistic Facials by Kristina, although every facial has its appropraite sequence of steps to follow, I still customized each facial based on your skin, your goals, your lifestyle, and your overall health. Here's what you can expect during your first facial appointment.
First Things First: How Long Should You Book Your Facial?
Before we even get to the treatment room, you'll need to decide how much time you'd like to spend on your facial.
I currently offer:
60-minute facials
90-minute facials
2-hour facials
3-hour facial
Rather than thinking of these as completely different facials, think of them as different amounts of time we have to work with your skin.
Why I Recommend 90 Minutes for Your First Facial
If it's your first time seeing me, 90 minutes is my ideal facial length.
Why? Because your first appointment usually involves more conversation. I want to learn about your skin, your concerns, your goals, your current skincare routine, and what you are hoping to get out of your facial.
That conversation takes time — and I don't want to rush it.
A 90-minute appointment gives us enough time to have a thorough consultation, perform a complete facial, and still allow you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the experience.
Of course, if 60 minutes is what works best for your schedule or budget, we can absolutely make that time count. If you want a longer, more luxurious treatment with additional time for massage, modalities, masks, and other techniques, we can work with a 2- or 3-hour appointment.
The goal isn't to fit your skin into a specific facial. It's to make the most of the time we have together.
What Happens Before Your Facial?
When you arrive for your first appointment, you'll complete a one-page intake form.
This isn't just paperwork for the sake of paperwork. Your skin can be affected by so many things beyond the products you put on your face.
I'll ask questions about:
Your current skincare routine
The skincare products you're using
Your current skin concerns
Your skincare goals
What you are hoping to achieve from your facial
Medications you're currently taking
Medical history
Lifestyle factors
Other information that may affect your skin or the treatment
Please don't be embarrassed to share information with me. Nothing is too small or insignificant. Everything we discuss is confidential, and the more I understand about you and your skin, the better I can customize your treatment.
Why Do I Ask So Many Questions?
Because your skin doesn't exist in isolation.
Stress, sleep, hydration, nutrition, hormones, medications, lifestyle, medical history, and your daily skincare routine can all contribute to how your skin looks and feels.
Even something that may not seem related to your skin could be important when determining which products, ingredients, or facial modalities are appropriate for you.
Your Safety Comes First
While a facial can feel like a simple relaxing experience, professional facials can involve active ingredients and specialized technologies that aren't appropriate for everyone.
For example, certain modalities have specific contraindications. Microcurrent should not be performed during pregnancy or with certain heart conditions, while red light therapy may not be appropriate for clients with epilepsy. Certain medications can also make the skin more sensitive, meaning we may need to avoid or modify certain acids, enzymes, or exfoliating treatments.
This is one of the reasons your intake form and consultation are so important.
Please always tell me about medications, pregnancy, medical conditions, allergies, and anything else that may affect your treatment. If you're unsure whether something is relevant, tell me anyway. I'd rather have too much information than not enough.
What Happens During the Actual Facial?
Every facial I perform is customized, so your treatment may look different depending on your skin and the facial you've booked.
Some treatments may include modalities such as:
Microcurrent
Hydrodermabrasion
Nano infusion
LED red light therapy
Oxygen infusion
Extractions
Enzymes
Different forms of exfoliation
Lymphatic drainage
Specialized masks
When these technologies and techniques are incorporated, the pace and sequence of your facial will naturally be different.
But to give you a better idea of what a facial can look like, let's walk through a 60-minute Organic Custom Facial.
Step 1: Skin Analysis
After reviewing your intake form and talking with you about your skin, I'll take a close look at your skin to assess its current condition.
I'll consider things like:
Oiliness or dryness
Dehydration
Sensitivity
Congestion
Breakouts
Texture
Redness
Overall skin condition
Your skin can change from one day to the next, so I don't simply treat you based on what you checked on your intake form.
I look at what your skin is telling me that day.
This allows me to select the appropriate products and techniques for your treatment.
Step 2: Cleansing
Now we get into the facial.
We begin by cleansing the skin to remove dirt, oil, makeup, sunscreen, and buildup.
If you're wearing makeup or SPF, I will typically perform a double cleanse to make sure the skin is properly prepared for the rest of the treatment.
Clean skin allows the products and treatments that follow to work more effectively.
Step 3: Facial Compresses
One thing that is different about my facials: I do not use steam.
Instead, I use warm facial compresses to help soften the skin and prepare it for extractions. Towels are soaked in a pot of water that also has a special skin softening solution, it’s not simply just warm towels.
It's also a beautiful way to begin relaxing into your treatment.
Step 4: Exfoliation
Next, I'll choose an appropriate form of exfoliation based on your skin.
Exfoliation helps remove accumulated dead skin cells and can help improve the appearance of texture and dullness.
The type of exfoliation I use depends on your skin condition, sensitivity, concerns, and what we've discussed during your consultation.
Step 5: Extractions
If your skin would benefit from extractions, this is when we address congestion and impurities.
Not everyone needs extensive extractions, and extractions aren't necessarily appropriate for every skin type or every appointment.
Step 6: Facial Massage
Now comes one of my favorite parts and usually one of my clients' favorite parts, too: facial massage.
Facial massage adds a deeply relaxing element to the treatment while allowing me to work with the muscles and tissues of the face. This increased circulation brings life back into the skin! You’d be surprised how a facial massage can change how your skin feels and looks.
Depending on the facial, massage techniques may also include elements such as lymphatic drainage.
Oil Right After Extractions?
This is something clients sometimes ask me about.
After extracting impurities, we go straight into facial massage that is performed with an oil. There is a common misconception that all oils are bad for the skin or that using oil automatically causes breakouts.
That's simply not the case.
Not all oils are created equal.
The type of oil, its composition, particle size, and how it interacts with an individual's skin all matter. The right oils can be a beautiful addition to a skincare routine and can support the skin's moisture barrier and overall skin health.
The important thing is choosing the right oil for the right skin. Depending on your skin, I have multiple types of oils to choose from that enhance the facial experience but also works great skin conditions like dry, oily, congested, sensitive, barrier compromised.
Step 7: Mask
Without removing the facial oil, I'll apply a customized mask.
Like the different oils, there are many different types of masks as well. I will choose from clay based for detoxing the skin or oil/gel based for moisturizing. Maybe something with enzymes to help brighten the skin or one with extra nourishing ingredients to help calm irriated skin.
If your skin is appropriate for it — and we have enough time remaining in the appointment — I may apply a second mask.
This is often a deeply hydrating mask designed to give the skin that extra dewy, refreshed glow.
Step 8: Final Skincare
I finish the treatment with products selected specifically for your skin.
Depending on what your skin needs, this may include:
Facial mist
Gel
Serum
Moisturizer
Facial oil
Eye cream
Lip butter
SPF when appropriate
The final products help leave your skin feeling nourished, comfortable, and cared for as you leave your appointment.
Will My First Facial Hurt?
This is a very common question, especially if you're concerned about extractions or exfoliation.
The answer depends on the type of facial and what we're doing.
A relaxing custom facial should generally feel comfortable, although extractions and certain exfoliating treatments can create some temporary pressure or sensation.
If we are incorporating technologies such as nano infusion, microcurrent, hydrodermabrasion, or other modalities, you'll experience different sensations depending on the treatment.
Before using a modality or technique, I'll explain what you can expect.
What Should I Expect After My First Facial?
Many clients notice that their skin looks and feels:
Fresh
Clean
Hydrated
Smoother
Softer
More radiant
Some clients may experience temporary redness, particularly after extractions or certain exfoliating treatments. This can vary depending on your skin and the type of facial performed.
One of the most important things to remember is that your skin doesn't need to be aggressively treated to be healthy and glowing.
My approach is about understanding what your skin needs and creating a treatment that supports it.
How Often Should You Get a Facial?
I speak to this topic in detail this blog post: How Often Should You Get a Facial?
What Should You Not Do After Your Facial?
I would recommend taking it easy.
Avoid:
applying make up
working out/sweating
extensive sun exposure
chlorine/pool
heat such as saunas
touching/picking
hair removal services
do not exfoliate your skin for a minimum of 3 days post facial, including enzymes, acids, retinols, scrubs
Your First Facial Should Be an Experience, Not Just a Treatment
Getting your first facial can feel a little intimidating when you don't know what to expect. My goal is to make the experience feel comfortable, personalized, educational, and relaxing from the moment you walk in.
Your skin is unique, and what worked for your friend, your favorite influencer, or someone on social media may not necessarily be what your skin needs.
That's why I take the time to listen, analyze your skin, and customize your facial based on you.
Ready to experience your first facial?
Explore my facial treatments and find the appointment length that works best for you. If you're unsure which facial to book, you can always reach out and we can determine which treatment and timeframe may be the best fit for your skin.