What to Expect From a Skin Service and How to Keep The Benefits Going
Whether skin treatments have been in your rotation for years or you’re just becoming curious, it’s important to know what they aim to accomplish and how to keep the benefits going.
What do skin treatments as a whole do?
Our skin is the only organ that exists both internally and externally, adapting in response to signals from both sides. Given its unique relationship with the outside world, we can use topical means such as skincare products and facial treatments to influence it; ensuring it receives a calculated dose of support, protection, and healing.
Something I often remind my clients of when mulling over their skin health is “the skin knows how to be skin”. Meaning, just like every other organ in the body, it is hardwired to use specific nutrients and signals to function; we just have to make sure those maintain steady in supply. Think of it like utilizing internal supplementation, covering nutrient bases in order to elicit the optimal response from your body. Engaging with the right skincare products and services do exactly that, but on a topical level.
Our skin contains base functionalities such as creating collagen, producing new cells, maintaining proper detox and defense, as well as forming a barrier to the outside world. Although there is a broad spectrum of approach methods on how to go about it, skin treatments as a whole aim to:
Deliver essential nutrients to the skin
Stimulate tissue and cell regeneration
Promote oxygenation and flow
Correct imbalance and inflammation
Engaging in regular skin treatments can be an important health integration for anyone who wants to boost their skin’s baseline functions, correct imbalances, restore impaired signaling and damage, or relieve tension from repetitive emoting.
What to expect from a TRS facial—
When coming to me for Skin Service, we will be addressing these skin health pillars in an individualized way, meeting your skin exactly where it’s at in the moment. Depending on your skin’s condition, the treatment might be focused on gentle restoration techniques or aim to rile a deeper, more corrective response. No matter the different needs your skin might have from treatment to treatment, there are three things you can always expect to receive from a TRS facial:
A long facial massage focused on breaking up stagnation, releasing tension, and toning muscles
Rehydration of the deep dermal layers (think expanding a dry sponge with water)
A hefty dose of anti-inflammatory, activating, and rejuvenating micronutrients
Unlike some deeper, more cosmetic-style skin treatments (no shade, there’s a time and place for those too), my clients always leave looking calm, hydrated, even-toned, and lifted. You could roll right back into your day without the feeling need to cover up. Although there are instant benefits from the stimulated flow, muscle tone, hydration, and relaxation, the skin takes these signals and runs with it— boosting cell renewal, supporting collagen formation, and mitigating damage over the course of next 4-6 weeks. Think of skin treatments like a catalyst for repair and renewal. The progression usually follows a pattern that looks something like:
Day 1— Glowing
Day 2-4— Possible tightness or signs of healing
Day 5-7— Visible signs of regeneration start to appear
Day 7-14— Boosted vibrance and clarity
Day 14-28— Better overall tone and texture
Rinse and repeat baby!
How you can optimize results and keep the benefits going—
In order to sustain the momentum, here are three tips and tricks to incorporate post-service:
Stay adequately hydrated. You’ve undoubtedly heard this one before, but that’s because it really does unlock a whole new level of functionality for your body. It’s giving choose your fighter energy and your fighter is plump, snatched, and properly detoxifying. Staying hydrated will keep your proverbial “sponge” full and your lymph fluid in motion. Flowing is glowing.
Return to using any skincare actives roughly two days post-service. Actives (like retinol, AHAs, and BHAs) act as stimulants, and although I rarely use very intense chemical peels, each service includes its own form of cell turnover stimulation, so no need to push it. Use the couple days that follow as “rest days” just like you would with exercise or strength training.
Use at-home massage techniques and/or facial modalities. Keeping the blood and lymph flowing, tension released, and the muscles toned all comes down to regularly engaging with self-massage. I like to use my nightly oil cleanse or bath as the time to do this, but you can fit it in where you get it in. The added bonus would be utilizing tools such as a Gua Sha stone, hand-held microcurrent device, at-home LED light therapy, cryotherapy globes, or any device you can find yourself getting into the habit of using on the reg.
Skin services are a powerful reset and realignment for your skin health and stress levels, providing clarity and guidance to your at-home routine, revitalization to your skin’s core functions, and a space to find stillness, go inwards, and ultimately, zone the f*ck out.