This blog post is part of a series in partnership with Elamar Skin Science. All services and products were complimentary but all opinions and experiences are my own.
I have struggled with acne for the past several years. (Apparently, it is not just something you have to deal with during those hormonal teen years. <-insert eye roll here!) I have some cystic acne, but mostly it’s lots of whiteheads just under the skin. When the sweet ladies at Elamar Skin Science recommended an acne facial, I jumped at the offer!
During an acne facial, the esthetician focuses on deep-pore and deep-tissue cleansing methods to rid the skin of dirt. Acne facials also help stimulate circulation, which improves the overall appearance of the skin.
An acne facial is nothing like the relaxing facials I’ve had in the past. (It was the opposite of the hot rock massage from a few weeks ago!) The first thing my esthetician did was cleanse my face and apply a 10% salicylic acid solution. Honest talk: The salicylic acid burned like fire for about 15 seconds, but then it gradually went away. Salicylic acid is used to break up acne but it is also an amazing exfoliator.
The esthetician then steamed my skin for a solid 10 minutes. This helped open up the rest of my pores for the extractions. During the extractions, the esthetician used a combination of gloved fingers and a medical needle to remove the debris from my pores. I could feel the gunk popping out of the pores and every now and then, she would stop and show me what had been removed. It was completely gross, but I was weirdly intrigued. I loved knowing that my pores were clean!
As soon as all the extractions were completed, the esthetician placed a sulfur mask on my face to further cleanse and open up the pores. She then applied a calming lotion to help reduce redness (and there was a lot of redness!)
After the facial, my face felt really tight and squeaky-clean. Over the next few days, my skin peeled slightly, but remained blemish free. It has now been a full week and my skin looks so much better. The dead skin peeled off, leaving my skin fresh and smooth, and all those tiny bumps under the skin are completely gone!
I am now a huge fan of the acne facial. I plan to go back as often as is necessary to keep my face looking clear like this. (They recommend you go back for an acne facial once per month until your acne is completely under control.) If you are someone like me who struggles with acne, I thoroughly recommend an acne facial. And even more, I recommend the sweet ladies at Elamar Skin Science of Decatur. =)
