This week we learned about a lot of really cool technology that you can incorporate into a facial or treatment. I really had no idea there were different types of machines that you could use to give someone a “machine facial,” or to just help with certain areas of the treatment.
High level on what they do (many details are left out):
The Galvanic machine is amazing. It can send either a negative current into your body to help soften blackheads so they’re easier to extract, or it can send a positive current into your body to help penetrate product (serums) into the deeper layers of your skin.
A high frequency machine (which I now have) has healing and drying properties. It can be used during or at the end of a facial, or it can also be used after waxing to help heal the skin that may be irritated (not the only uses but the main ones we talked about in class). This can also be used on zits and acne to help heal them and dry them out. I can’t wait to use this today on my hormonal breakout on my chin. People who have dry skin (like me) shouldn’t use this all over the face, it will just dry them out more.
There’s obviously many more machines, but those two are the ones that stuck out the most to me.
On Wednesday, we looked at all these machines and even looked into a box called a Skin Scope. It’s a box with a curtain that you go under and it has black lights in it. There’s an eye hole on the other side for the esthetician to look at your skin. Inside this box is a mirror so you can see into the deep layers of your skin. It’s actually quite horrifying to see the damage that’s hiding under there waiting to come out years later. When I looked at myself, I had so many freckles and my nose was one huge freckle. Seeing this reminds me how important it is to wear sunscreen every single day. This damage can happen just from walking to the mailbox to get mail. The sun is very powerful and it’s so important to stay protected. Just because you don’t see the damage everyday, doesn’t mean it’s not there. You’re going to have quite a scare later in life when all those spots surface if you don’t take action to prevent it from surfacing. If you’re ever looking to go get a treatment, I highly recommend seeing if you’re able to utilize this machine. It’s so important to know what’s lying underneath so you can take care of your skin accordingly.
I feel like my blog is turning into a plea for everyone to wear sunscreen … But, that’s how important it is, so I’m sure it will just keep coming up.
So far since the beginning of school, we have used a very natural line of skincare called Hylunia. I have loved this product so far – I have really seen a different in my skin. I also got my mom on some of their products and she has been seeing a difference also! Next week, we get another product line called Rhonda Allison. This line is stronger and more corrective. I’m really excited to start using these products also.
Product knowledge is so important because each one has a different purpose and it’s use could be for only a specific type of skin. Everyone’s skin is different in many different aspects, and an esthetician can help you pick the products that will be the best for your specific skin type.
If you have non-severe skin concerns (on your face), I would also recommend seeing an esthetician before a dermatologist. Estheticians deal with this all day, while dermatologists deal with cancer and other severe skin issues, so they may not have the time to really look at and evaluate your skin as an esthetician would. You may get more attention and it will probably cost you less. If your esthetician sees something that needs to be checked out by a dermatologist, they will recommend that you go get checked out by a doctor.