Three reasons why a facial should be on your must-do list

It’s been over a month since I had the facial I’m posting about today. Why wait, you ask?

Well, there was this little thing called Christmas and an attempt to have a part-time break but that wasn’t all. With this facial, I wanted to test its long-term benefits.

I wanted to see if it would do more than just relax me, plump up my skin and make be feel generally pretty good about this mid-40s face.

So I waited and I watched.

I used the take-home products that I often don’t give a second thought to when floating out of the salon, post-facial.

And low and behold, my skin was very, very happy.

Here’s a sneak at what I looked like during said facial. Hannibal Lector, anyone?

But let’s backtrack a little, if you’re ok with that? Let’s go back to the said facial and why you should think about facials being a part of your skincare routine.

1. Your face – and the person attached to it – needs a little down time. And I mean down, down, down, baby. Having been super stressed over the last couple of days, I can say, I’ve seen all of that stress sitting there. On. My. Face. And I don’t like it one bit.  A good skin therapist knows how to work that balance between treating your skin and treating the stuff that’s getting under your skin.

2. Sometimes straight skincare is not enough.  I’ve always looked after my skin but I can tell you things still change dramatically after you hit the big 4-0. I’m ok if you’re ok with that. I just (like in my 20s and 30s) want to keep on top of what mother nature has in store of me. Gravity be damned, I demand glowing skin. Yes, I do.

3. I really don’t put myself first often enough. Do you?  A facial brings with it compulsory “me” time. I refuse to feel guilty for indulging and you shouldn’t too.

But back to my Hannibal Lector impression …

I’d been invited to experience the new Thalgo anti-ageing facial at Suite Three Beauty (on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast where I live). Ros at Suite Three is my regular nails’ go-to-girl. She’s the bomb in that department.

She’s also the bomb when it come to things skincare and massage.

You know how some people just have magic fingers when it comes to these sort of things? Well, Ros has those.

She was a bit excited about this new firming, lifting and hydrating facial and she didn’t have to ask me twice if I wanted to give it a whirl. (By give it a whirl, I mean lie there, fall asleep and drool while she worked her magic.)

There are three steps that make this facial a stand-out.

There is a 10-minute exfoliating massage that mimics dermabrasion. The product used contains a product which is said to be one-step down from diamonds in its hardness. Don’t worry though, the big BUT here is that there is no sandpaper effect. Yes, it’s doing its job but this exoliator and the technique does not feel like its stripping your skin.

My favourite part of any facial is the massage bit. I want that pampering and I never want it to stop.  The special technique used in this particular facial is all about improving circulation and blood flow to your face.

This is then topped by a double mask, starting with a collagen mask (blue latex) followed by a thermal mask which is a little bit like this one. The gauze goes down first then the mask paste is applied. As this “sets”, it heats up and activates the products underneath.

It doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all. This, of course, could be due to the fact that I am practically unconscious. By this stage doing the little jolts back to reality and frightening myself, let alone the lovely Ros.

I know it’s all over, red rover, when the masks are removed and the final serum and moisturiser is applied.

It’s these two final products I’ve been using at night for the last month.

And I can report that sometimes it really is worth walking away with the take-home products.  Yes, there were immediate benefits from the facial (and especially about four days to a week later) but there was also this ongoing lifty, plumpy feeling that I’m putting down to the cream and concentrate.

I do love a serum and this one is designed to use a month at a time, repeated a few times a year.

Thalgo’s Collagen Concentrate contains marine native collagen and vegetal collagen, as well as palmaria palmate extract including vitamins A, B, C and E. The serum is highly concentrated in marine collagen and instantly smoothes emerging wrinkles. Its second skin texture leaves a unique matte and velvety finish.  

I did find that it did do as it purported to. Not only would my skin’s texture feel great before going to bed, I’d wake up with it still looking that way.

I didn’t wake up looking 20 but that’s ok. Forty-something’s fine with me.

How’s your skin looking? Have you given it – and yourself – a treat lately? If you want to find a Thalgo salon near you, phone 02 9477 6900 or visit www.thalgo.com.au

* I was a guest of Suite Three Beauty and the above products were gifted to me in accordance with my disclosure policy.