If you’re looking for ideas for 2022 resolutions, we’ve got one: protecting your skin from exhaustion and environmental factors. 

The face is one area of our bodies that’s often the most exposed to environmental stressors such as heat, humidity, dust, dirt, dryness and the cold (if you’re planning a winter getaway). These days, the constant need for mask-wearing also increases potential for skin irritation, especially in humid Singapore! 

As such, we’d say it’s a good idea to schedule regular facials every so often to pamper your skin, and mentally provide that me-time moment to unwind and relax from your daily hustle too. 

What goes on in a facial?

Depending on the type of facial you choose, the process might differ from option to option. Typically, a basic facial treatment starts off with the beautician removing your makeup and doing a deep cleanse on your skin to remove oil and dirt. 

Following that, products will be used for steaming and/or exfoliation, preparing and softening the skin for the next stage, which consists of extraction to clear clogged pores. At this stage, the trained skin expert will remove the gunk from your skin using a combination of tools and gloved, sanitised fingers.

After this ‘detoxifying’ stage, expect a facial massage to relax and stimulate your face muscles, followed by a face mask to calm and hydrate the skin. 

If you’re not a fan of extractions because of the pain or the redness that might come up for a few hours after the facial, there’s a no-extraction option out there: facial scrubbing. We’ve written about the differences between extraction and facial scrubbing here, and why it might be a good idea to choose scrubbing over extraction. 

This process typically takes anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half, depending on facial type. And voila! Enjoy that dewy, post-facial glow, and healthy, hydrated skin that emboldens you to ditch the foundation. 

Have you ever wondered how often you should get a facial?

Some of us might think facials are a luxury to get once every few months, while some of us out there might be wishing to get it every other week if time permits, just to keep our skin looking eternally flawless. However, the general rule of thumb is that the best frequency for regular facials is once a month, because that’s the general length of our skin cell regeneration rate. 

Setting up a regular schedule as opposed to keeping things ad-hoc also help to establish your wellness ritual and gets you into the habit of sticking to a consistent routine to take care of yourself.

If the long journeys to facial spas put you off from taking care of your skin in between your hectic schedules and events, you might want to consider trying at-home facial spa treatments - with all the perks of a facial salon but none of the commuting hassle. 

P.S. At The First Refresh, choose from three facial options, with the shortest Reset facial starting off at 60 minutes - perfect for a lunch break TLC session :)