Pre-wedding facials

One of the most common compliments a bride hears is how her much her skin is glowing on her wedding day.  This is partially due to the inner happiness the bride is feeling but also due to the numerous skin treatments she may have undergone prior to her special day. Selecting a facial best suited for your skin type can be tricky with all of the new products on the market. From the scientific (sound and light wave treatments) to the bizarre (“You’re going to rub fish eggs on my face?”), Bibi has listed a simple guide that will help you select the perfect facial for your skin. Whether you are getting married or just want to look your best, facials are an important part of healthy glowing skin. Caviar Facials      One of the most intriguing facials, also very high end, is the caviar facial. Experts rave about the amazing benefits of this facial on all skin types. Hong Nguyen, a certified medical aesthetician with Genesis Day Spa in Houston, has been working in skincare for over 10 years. She describes the caviar facial as “more outstanding than any other regular treatment.”  She explains, “That’s why it’s more expensive. Caviar gets the skin to produce more collagen elasticin. This makes skin look firmer and smoothes out wrinkles.”      Collagen elasticin is a rubbery protein that women’s bodies begin to lose around age 30. This causes eyelids to droop and necks to sag, which leads to premature aging. Nguyen says the anti-aging caviar facial is applied as a masque and smoothed onto the face by hand. The mask is left on for a length of time and then cleaned off. For best results the caviar facial can be combined with a DermaSound treatment.

DermaSound Technology       Upgrading a standard facial with DermaSound technology is worth it, says Nguyen, because the benefits of the facial will be last longer. But what is DermaSound? “Derma Sound is a machine that uses sound waves to massage the facial into the skin,” Nguyen says. “With the hands, the epidermis doesn’t absorb the facial 100 percent.” Electrons in the skin respond better with DermaSound vibrations, which allows the skin to absorb more electrolytes, something the body needs to maintain optimum moisture levels resulting in younger, hydrated skin.      But don’t expect to find these machines everywhere. Each machine costs a salon upwards of $5,000, so the treatment is fairly exclusive. Other facials can be combined with DermaSound to produce benefits like softer, smoother skin, fewer wrinkles and a more even complexion. Best of all, Nguyen says that the DermaSound procedure is a gentle treatment that can be done the same day as the wedding.      “It is a very relaxed facial,” she says. “The procedure takes about an hour and 30 minutes.”  Different from chemical peels that can leave skin red and irritated and take days to heal, the caviar facial combined with DermaSound allow clients to leave the same day with beautiful, healthier skin similar to the results of a peel. Also, unlike a chemical peel, which requires the skin to be classified for the proper level of treatment to be applied, it’s good for all skin types, she adds. Photo Facial      Another new innovation in the maintenance of younger-looking, smoother, more even skin is the photo facial, also called Photofacials or IPLs (Intense Pulsed Light). Photo facials are used to treat skin with spots from sun, aging, some scars, eczema or Rosacea. It also helps clear up areas of brown spots or redness and can be used on the neck, hands and chest. Aestheticians direct a spectrum of light, which reaches deep down within the skin specifically on places where the pigment has been damaged. This treatment uses focused colors of light to treat specific complexion problems and helps achieve a more even skin color and texture.      However, even though this treatment is highly effective, isn’t a one-shot deal. For maximum benefits, women have to return up to five times for treatment and the face won’t always be ready for makeup directly after a session. Nguyen explains that light waves work on skin because they are anti-free radical and antioxidant in nature, which means they fight the daily toxins that skin absorbs from sun, pollutants and alcohol. Nguyen says yellow helps tissue repair, red helps rejuvenate and blue is used for acne treatment. “The light is put on for 60 seconds per area and takes about 24 minutes for the entire face. Clients begin to see results after 3 treatments.”      For the best results, the treatment should be repeated every 10 to 14 days with up to five visits for best results. This means brides should plan to start IPL treatments seven weeks to two and a half months before the wedding.

Other Specialized Facials  For brides who want to be pampered before wedding pictures, but don’t have the Hollywood-style budget for higher-end facials, Nguyen suggests High Performance Facials which use a specially designed “lift-off” mask infused with minerals, vitamins and other essential ingredients. These facials take a little more than an hour and the results are immediately visible. Such masks are calming and tighten the skin.      Before undergoing any treatment, schedule a consultation with an aesthetician to see which treatments you will need and how long individual facial treatments will take. Ask about your specific skin tone and type and the results you wish to achieve. Be sure to also discuss at home follow up care so that you can extend the results of your facial treatments. With the right regiment and treatment, you can have glowing skin just in time for your special day!