Skin Care Tips, Notes & More

Facials are a luxury for some women; they can brighten dull, dingy looking skin or plump it up for that forthcoming important event. There is it seems at present somewhat of a boom in the need for facials among more mature women, perhaps because in mid-life it is more likely that a look in the mirror on a bad day means fret and worry over the lines and wrinkles that were not so obvious the same time last week.
However, time-defying salon treatments although sometimes seeming seductive need your careful consideration before you willingly throw yourself into the hands of the beauty therapist.

Firstly, remember that these once now and then treatments will not make any significant long term impact for although they can often leave your skin looking brighter and tighter, it is your own personal skin care regime that is going to make the long term difference, what you do yourself on a daily basis to your skin, cleansing, light exfoliation, moisturising and sun protection.

Having said that there is a place for facials now and then within a mature skin care regime, if you have a fairly normal skin type and you want a pampered experience why not, you are advised however to leave a period of some weeks between facials as you can have too much of a good thing. Too much intense cleansing and vigorous massaging can take its toll and can cause skin irritations. If you have skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema it is best to avoid facials altogether.

Women with sensitive skin should be cautious about having facials, ask the salon to provide you with a skin patch test so as to ensure that the products they use will not have any adverse reaction. Some facials involve the use of chemical exfoliants as an alternative to the fine oats and grain mixtures and these should be avoided if you have sensitive skin.

Exfoliation is good for most skin types; it not only removes dead layers of skin resulting in softer skin with fewer lines and wrinkles but also can be of benefit for those who suffer with
dark circles under the eyes and puffy eyes. However, exfoliation should be avoided by any one with broken capillaries, rosacea, acne or eczema and if you are already using a Retin –A product tell the therapist as your skin will have already been thinned.

Although tougher Mediterranean type skins can tolerate a steaming process many other mature skin types cannot, it may therefore be prudent to tell the therapist that you would prefer to avoid this if a steaming procedure is involved. It can lead to broken capillaries and can be particularly uncomfortable too for women who experience hot flushes.

More mature skins will more often than not benefit from a hydrating face mask unless your skin type is oily, if the mask sets on the face it will probably be too drying and will remove some of the vital natural oils. Check with the therapist and ask for a mask that will remain moist throughout. If there is no hydrating alternative, a way around the problem of over-dehydration is to get the beautician to apply the mask over a thin layer of aromatherapy oil.

Always remember that you are paying for the service and so you have every right to demand what you feel is best for you. If during any part of the treatment you do not feel comfortable with what is being done to you, say so, for instance if you feel claustrophobic then communicate that fact and ask for the process to be stopped for a while before you move on to the next step. You have the right; remember more often than not the beautician will probably be young enough to be your daughter anyway.

Anyhow the object of the exercise is that you should emerge from the treatment room with more youthful looking skin and looking glowing and beautiful rather than like you are in the middle of a hot flush.

In mid-life we are supposed to have more time on our hands and a little more spare money in the bank so go on…..indulge yourself!