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Afacial is a family of skincare treatments for theface, including steam,exfoliation (physical and chemical),extraction, creams, lotions,facial masks,peels, andmassage. They are normally performed inbeauty salons but are also a commonspa treatment. They are used for general skin health as well as for specific skin conditions. Types of facials include European facials,[1] LEDlight therapy facials, hydrafacials, and mini-facials.
There are different kinds of masks (e.g., clay,cactus,cucumber) for different purposes: deep-cleansing, by penetrating thepores; healingacne scars or hyper-pigmentation; brightening, for a gradual illumination of the skin tone. Facial masks also help with anti-aging, acne,crows feet, undereye bags, sagging lids, dark circles, puffiness,[2] and more. Some masks are designed to dry or solidify on the face, almost likeplaster; others just remain wet.
Masks are removed by either rinsing the face with water, wiping off with a damp cloth, or peeling off of the face. The duration for wearing a mask varies with the type of mask and the manufacturer's usage instructions. The time can range from a few minutes to overnight. Those withsensitive skin are advised to first test out the mask on a small portion of the skin, in order to check for any irritations. Some facial masks are not suited to frequent use. Aglycolic mask should not be used more frequently than once a month to avoid the risk of burning the skin.
Masks can be found anywhere fromdrugstores to department stores and can vary in consistency and form. Setting masks include:clay, which is a thicker consistency, and will draw out impurities (and sometimes, natural oils, too) from thepores; a cream, which stays damp to hydrate the skin; sheet-style, in which a paper mask is dampened with liquid to tone and moisturize the skin; and lastly, a hybrid/clay and cream form that includes small beads for removing dead surface skin cells. Non-setting facial masks include warm oil andparaffin wax masks. These different forms are made to suit different skin types (e.g., oily or dry), and different skincare goals or needs (e.g., moisturizing, cleansing, or exfoliating).Clay and mud masks suit oily and some "combination" skin types,[3] while cream-based masks tend to suit dry and sensitive skin types. There are also peel-off masks, which are used to remove thin layers of dead skin cells and dirt.[4]
