Did you know your skin accounts for almost 16 percent of your overall body mass? It’s the largest organ in your body. It’s waterproof and soft enough to allow movement but tough enough to resist tearing, plus it keeps out bacteria. It’s also a good indicator of your overall health. Now that you know all of the amazing things your skin does for you, how do you take care of it? Especially the skin on your face.
Even if we don’t have blemishes or hyperpigmentation, monthly facials are a good way to reduce stress, improve your overall well-being and create younger-looking skin.
One of my earliest memories is of my mother, standing in front of the big picture window in our living room with a partially dried, blue mud mask on her face. I remember this because one of the neighborhood boys, who was riding by on his bicycle, started beating his chest and screaming when he saw her. I thought it was hilarious.
In my 20’s, I started giving myself facials at home, and in my mid-40s, I started seeing a professional esthetician on a regular basis. During Covid, I let my practice lapse, but at the beginning of this year, I began going to Adrianna Rodriguez at Beauty Lab in San Antonio, and my skin has never looked better! Ever!
Many women think facials are just a frivolous way to pamper themselves, but they are much more than that.
A professional facial:
- Activates your sympathetic nervous system
- Reduces anxiety levels and uplifts your mood
- Promotes the positive function of your other organs
- Boosts cell regeneration
- Promotes collagen development
- Promotes better blood circulation
- De-puffs the eyes
- Rejuvenates, detoxifies and tightens the skin which gives us younger-looking skin
- Helps manage blemishes and hyperpigmentation
- Allows our own personal skincare products to do their job
Monthly facials should be part of the regular maintenance we do on our skin. “The older we get, the slower the cell turnover on our skin,” Iliana Velasco said, owner of the Beauty Lab. “We can spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on skincare products, but if you’re not getting regular professional facials (deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, massage, masque, serums, and moisturizers), you’re applying your products over dead skin cells so you’re not getting the full results.
It’s not that your skincare products are bad. They aren’t able to penetrate the dead skin.
“Once you start getting professional facials, you’ll start seeing 100 percent of the results from your at home skincare. They go hand in hand.”
In addition to my monthly facials—which include a red LED light therapy to boost collagen and infuse product penetration… that’s me under the red light in the photo—Adrianna has me using Retinol, and at night, I’m double cleansing my skin with two different cleansers, which is a better way to take off my makeup than with just a single cleansing.
FYI, I have not been compensated in any way by Adrianna, Beauty Lab, or owner, Iliana Velasco, for this post. Because I’ve seen such a positive difference in my skin, I wanted to share the 10 benefits of regular facials for women over 50.
40 Comments
Yes! My monthly facials have brought all these benefits. When I decided to let my hair go naturally silver, I put that money saved on hair dying toward facials and skin care. So glad I did. The glow and boost to self esteem is worth it.
I did the same and regret that I didn’t do it years ago – a much better use of time and money … and I certainly don’t miss all those smelly, and probably harmful, chemicals being dumped on my head!!
Susan, You and Irene are so smart to use that money to care for your skin. I’m delighted to hear you’re having good results. Brenda
That’s a great idea, Irene! Really brilliant and I’m happy you’re seeing results. xoxox, Brenda
Oh what a fabulous luxury. Hats off to those who can do this. Wish I had the extra $$ so I could. I do my best at home with a few products. I agree our skin is important. Thank you.
Hi Cindy, I know professional facials can be expensive but at home, make sure you’re using a microdermabrasion scrub twice a week to help get rid of dead skin cells. DermaE sells a gentle but very good one. It comes in a blue jar. They’re my favorite skincare brand. xoxox, Brenda
Cindy, It’s not a blue jar but one that has a raspberry colored label. xoxox, B
Thank you so much for this. I so appreciate your reaching out. On a trip to Vegas several years ago my husband purchased a spa package at the Belagio. The facial was exhausting the person was so chatty…. I walked away disliking it and the feeling of being ripped off. I tried a couple of times after but the chatty women turned me off. Services like these are hard to sit thru if I can’t respond … feels like the person performing it might think me stuck up. So several reasons I guess I don’t go.
I get that, Cindy. I’m that way about massages. I know of a wonderful masseuse but she talks nonstop, even though I go into the massage telling her I don’t want us to talk. I just want to enjoy in silence. Since she doesn’t seem to hear me, I’ve stopped calling her. Very frustrating!!
Your skin care products can’t penetrate dead skin cells! Woah! That got my attention! And to think most of the creams I use aren’t doing their job because of this. Great info Brenda. You’ve changed my mind about “frivolous facials.” Xo, Barb
I know, Barb! When Iliana Velasco made that statement, it was a game changer for me, and knew it would be for all of you. Facials aren’t things we do to pamper ourselves. They’re an important part of taking care of ourselves. xoxox, Brenda
Well that makes sense! My dermatologist’s office offers facials but I (like Barb) thought it was frivolous! When he suggested a facial I thought he was selling services. Oops!
Hi Beckye, Many dermatologists try and sell us on the skincare products they’re using or things like facials. But understanding how important facials are in helping the products work is something I didn’t know until now. I thought facials were only good at cleaning whiteheads and blackheads. xoxox, Brenda
It is an expensive, time-consuming process to find a competent skincare professional who doesn’t spend a lot of time stepping out of the room so you can “rest” and doesn’t use the rest of the limited time to push products continuously. Therapists obviously get a cut of the money you spend on products, so of course it is in their interest to sell you as much as possible, whether it is right product for you or not.
Another concern is the therapist is right there, breathing in your face, and the faces of many people each day, and the chance of spreading illness is high. That said, if there were a list of truly competent, honest skincare people in the Scottsdale area, I would chance it again!
I totally agree, Lyn. It took me a while to find Beauty Lab. Just for your consideration: Sometimes when the professional steps out of the room, it’s because whatever they’ve applied to your face needs time to dry or work before they do the next step. But I hear you about trying to sell you products. Beauty Lab, where I go, doesn’t try to sell you on anything, and I love that about them. I’d been going for almost six months before I asked what Adrianna was using on my skin because I liked the results. Then she gave me a sample to take home and I loved using it, so I bought some the next time I was there for my appointment. I googled facials and Scottsdale and clicked on Yelp’s 10 Best. FYI, you don’t need micro needling. Just a strait forward facial and perhaps a laser light treatment. And… I wouldn’t go to a “spa.” They’re more likely to try and sell you EVERYTHING! You might look for an esthetician with a small practice although they may try and sell you things as well. Good luck! Brenda
I get one every month. I agree with you Brenda – it’s so good for you on so many levels. I have been going to my esthetician for 1o years. We have become friends and I trust her completely.
I get a massage, derma planing, micro-current, and more. I now have a red light panel at home. I have Rx tretinoin from my dermatologist.
I cut down on my gluten intake and my dermatitis disappeared.
Your point about products not penetrating dead skin is so important to understand.
Great piece.
Hi Gray, Glad you found this post helpful. I’ll pass on derma planing and I haven’t done enough research to know whether I want a red light panel at home. I understand they’re not as effective as the one I get at Beauty Lab unless you use it over the long pull. You make a great point about what we eat and drink shows up on our skin. xoxox, Brenda
Great info, anyone have a good recommendation on a great esthetician in Houston?
What’s a good recommendation for a red light source to use @ home?
How about a facial product(s) recommendation? I Do like Eminence.
Thanks for the informative post Brenda.
Hi Jeanne, I’ll give you the same suggestions I gave Lyn in Scottsdale. Google facials and Houston, TX and perhaps review the Top 10 facials on Yelp. Also, you don’t need derma planing and micro needling or red light masks to use at home. They’re very low wattage so they don’t do as good a job as what you get from a professional facial. My favorite skincare brand is DermaE. Review their website and order a few products and see what you think. Here’s a link to a blog I did about this brand. They are tops!! https://1010parkplace.com/my-eight-favorite-skincare-products/ xoxox, Brenda
Like Beckye and Barb my takeaway is the sentence about our skin creams can’t penetrate through the layers of dead skin cells. I’m looking at facials in a new way. Thanks so much Brenda! Always such good things you share with us.
I know, Paula! That’s a “stop dead in your tracks” bit of information! Thanks for reading and leaving me comments. I appreciate you!! xoxox, Brenda
Been going for over 30 years once a month for a facial!Until this year!I hope to get back on SCHEDULE‼️
The DOUBLE CLEANSE IS A MUST!
Most people don’t do that!!
It’s like The Big Secret!
Xoxo
Elizabeth, Until a few months ago, I’d never heard of “double cleanse,” and even when Adrianna said she’d like me to do this to remove my makeup, I let it go in one ear and out the other. It was a couple of months before I asked her to clarify it with me and I took action. xoxox, Brenda
What cleansers should I use for a double cleanse? This is the first I’ve heard of this.
WHAT EVERY YOU LIKE CAN BE THE SAME…….JUST WASH AND CLEANSE TWICE AM and PM!
Mary, The first cleanser needs to be able to cut into the face creams and makeup on top. The second one should be milder and more hydrating. The first one I use is LHA Cleansing Gel from SkinCeuticals. It’s good for aging skin and gently refines the appearance of pores and blemishes without drying the skin. The second one I use is from DermaE. Firming DMA Cleanser followed by DermaE’s alcohol free Radiance Toner. xoxox, Brenda
Mito makes a great red light panel. I’ve been using the Pro series panel for a year now . I have lived 63 years and my skin looks pretty darn good. There are other health benefits to red light therapy too. Currently, I don’t get facials; however, I do exfoliate with the Ordinary’s AHA 30% once a week to remove dead skin cells. It’s fantastic and very affordable like all of their products. Double cleansing is something I wish I had known about sooner. Cerave makes a good product for removing makeup called Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. I recently switched to this after using Clinique’s product for a few years. I remove my makeup with the balm and a makeup removing wash cloth and then cleanse with a gentle cleanser. This was a great article and now I am motivated to find an esthetician in the community I just moved to. Thank you Brenda!
Happy you found this post helpful, Dolly. I used a makeup removing wash cloth for a while, but then realized they’re hard to get really clean before you use them again on your skin. Then when I switched to SkinCeuticals cleansing gel, followed by Derma E’s cleanser, I didn’t need a washcloth. I just use my hands to apply and rinse with water. I do use paper towels to gently pat my skin dry and then put on serums and moisturizers on damp skin so it’s better able to be absorbed. Thanks, Brenda
Who knew? So many great things in this blog Brenda that I never heard about. Thanks so much.
Wonderful, Alice! That makes me happy that you learned something useful. Brenda
Brenda, thanks for writing about this. I know I should be getting facial and I love them but I’m overwhelmed by the number of facial choices … hydra facials, etc. like skincare products there are so many and so many different approaches I get confused and then do nothing. Not a good solution. Anyway, I’m going to get back in the wagon and get this thing figured out. xo
Juliet, LOL! You sound like me and air purifiers! There are so many to choose from that I wind up not buying any of them. Perhaps the takeaway for both of us is that often the one with the least amount of bells and whistles is the best choice until we see how it works for us. As far as facials, I don’t think we need to be micro needling our skin and unless you have a very skilled person do your derma planing… Yikes! Just a good old fashioned facial, some light therapy and good skincare products once a month and then at home, use a microdermabrasion scrub once a week, and you’re good to go! xoxox, Brenda
This is so helpful Brenda. Could you please share the brands of Retinol and the two cleansers you use? Thank you’
Hi Rita, The first one I use is LHA Cleansing Gel from SkinCeuticals. It’s good for aging skin and gently refines the appearance of pores and blemishes without drying the skin. The second one I use is from DermaE. Firming DMA Cleanser followed by DermaE’s alcohol free Radiance Toner. The Retinol I use is also from SkinCeuticals and the strength is 0.3. Begin using it once every three days. If your skin doesn’t get red or flaky, try every other day. If that’s too much then go back to every three days. Retinol is something you have to begin gently. Brenda
Gee, I was just thinking about that. That’s an interesting supposition. I’m going to look into having facials. Thanks.
You’re welcome, Sandy! Love seeing you here sweet lady! xoxox, Brenda
When I read your facial information (especially about the dead skin cells) I immediately made my first appointment with Adrianna at Beauty Lab! What a find!
Thank you. She’s wonderful and kind and knowledgeable! She believes in consistency which is a great weakness of mine. But I’m on to a new regime. Sometimes one just needs a little push in the right direction.
Hi Connie, That’s terrific! I’m glad you like her. Last night I watched a YouTube video with Dr. Amir Karam where he stressed consistency as well. He said every time you try a new skin program, you lose the traction you’ve gained with the program you just abandoned. He suggests finding one and staying with it. Every day. xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, thank you so much for writing this wonderful article that encouraged me to book an appointment with Adrianna! She is as wonderful as you said! And bonus! I got to meet and visit with you after your appointment today too!
Hi Julie, Maybe we can grab a coffee one of these times! You might check with Adrianna. Tell her I told you to see when I’m booked next. Then let me know. Brenda