Taking care of your skin is more than just about cleansing your face twice a day or using high-quality skincare products.
Rather, the right skincare routine needs a holistic approach. Think about your overall health, what you eat, and how you manage stress.
You may think these don’t matter in skincare, but in fact, they can affect your skin’s general health.
As you set out to build and follow a holistic skincare routine, why not try professionally administered facial treatments?
In this article, we’ll explore why holistic skincare matters and how facials can be integrated into your routine.
Holistic Skincare: What Is It?
Simply put, holistic skincare means looking after your skin both inside and out.
It’s an approach that goes beyond just treating the skin’s surface. It recognizes that your skin reflects your overall well-being.
Moreover, factors like your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, hormones, and even emotional health all play a significant role in the skin’s condition.
Holistic skincare entails:
- Treating the root cause of skin concerns: Instead of simply addressing symptoms like acne or dryness, holistic skincare aims to tackle the underlying causes of skin issues. This might involve looking at your gut health, hormonal balance, or stress levels.
- Using high-quality skincare products: Holistic skincare considers both internal and external factors that affect your skin. This means using high-quality skincare products while also focusing on nutrition, hydration, and lifestyle choices.
- Balancing mind and body: Stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep can all manifest in skin problems, so holistic skincare often incorporates stress management techniques like meditation or yoga.
- Applying a personalized approach: Every skin and body is unique. Holistic skincare recognizes that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution and emphasizes how personalized treatments and skincare routines can solve one’s concerns.
Why Facials Should Be Part of Holistic Skincare
While holistic skincare emphasizes internal health and lifestyle, facial treatments administered by dermatologists or qualified aestheticians can complement your routine.
Here are the benefits of facial treatments.
1. Deep cleansing and exfoliation
Daily facial cleansing often can’t remove impurities from your skin. Dirt, dead skin cells, makeup, and sebum can build up.
A professional facial can go deeper to clear pores better than a regular cleanser. Exfoliation techniques like microdermabrasion also promote cell turnover for a brighter complexion.
This means fewer breakouts and a smoother look.
2. Better blood circulation
A facial treatment usually includes a gentle massage done by an aesthetician. This massage helps boost blood flow to your skin.
As blood delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells, it helps the skin repair itself.
Further, better blood circulation leads to increased product absorption. This allows serums, moisturizers, and other skincare products to penetrate deeper and work more effectively.
3. Lymphatic drainage
Your lymphatic system acts as the body’s internal cleaning crew. It comprises a network of vessels and nodes that remove toxins and excess fluids from the body to boost one’s immunity.
Trained aestheticians incorporate lymphatic drainage — like gentle massage techniques — in a facial treatment to target specific areas in the face and neck.
This encourages the flow of lymph fluid to reduce puffiness, dullness, and even breakouts. It’s like giving your skin a full detox.
4. Enhancing relaxation and mind-body connection
Facial treatments do more than boost your skin — they offer a soothing escape from daily stress. The calming atmosphere and gentle massage help melt away tension, leaving you refreshed and at ease.
When you’re relaxed, your body can better manage stress and balance hormones, which in turn enhances your skin’s health and glow.
Different Types of Professional Facials
There are various types of facials you can get. Some of them are as follows:
- Regular facials for cleansing and exfoliation
- LED light therapy facial that targets different skin problems
- Microdermabrasion facial to exfoliate the skin and improve texture
- Hydradermabrasion facial to cleanse, exfoliate, and hydrate the skin
- Oxygen facial that delivers hydrogen, vitamins, and antioxidants to the skin
This is not an exhaustive list. There are other facials administered by trained dermatologists, so it’s best to consult one to receive personalized advice.
Reputable medical aesthetic clinics like SKN Beauty Centre — located in Toronto and Vaughan, Canada — can help you determine the best facial treatments for your unique skin needs.
They can also guide you on how to properly incorporate facial treatments with a holistic skincare routine.
Tips to Integrate Facials with a Holistic Skincare Routine
Remember that facials are just one piece of the puzzle. A truly holistic approach involves taking care of your overall well-being, including your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Tip #1: Listen to your skin
Pay attention to your skin’s needs. If you’re experiencing a flare-up of skin concerns or you’re feeling more stressed than usual, a facial can help rebalance your skin. However, it’s important not to overdo it and give your skin some time to rest between treatments.
Tip #2: Hydrate from within
Hydration is key for a natural, healthy glow and works hand-in-hand with topical treatments like facials.
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day keeps your skin hydrated and helps flush out toxins.
Tip #3: Maintain a healthy diet
What you eat shows up on your skin. A balanced diet nourishes your skin from the inside out, providing the vitamins and antioxidants necessary for repair and protection. Load up on fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins A, C, and E. These nutrients help fight free radicals and keep your skin radiant.
Tip #4: Take care of your mental health
Your mental and emotional well-being is just as important as your physical health when it comes to your skin. Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, which might cause breakouts or dullness.
Consider stress-reducing practices like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. These activities can calm your mind, reduce stress, and, in turn, benefit your skin.
Start Your Journey Toward Holistic Skincare
A balanced lifestyle, good skincare habits, and regular facials can make your skin look and feel amazing. So go ahead — embrace holistic skincare and enjoy the journey to healthier, happier skin!