Facial

by Maria Del Russo

The benefits of regular facials are widespread, but if this is your first rodeo, then you may have a couple of burning questions. "There are certain things to expect and certain things to not expect from your first facial," celebrity facialist Mila Moursi, who is the woman behind the glowing skin of stars like Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, says. And sometimes, serene music and cucumber slices on your eyes aren't in the cards. Learn what to expect when you keep reading.

by Jaime Richards

Going to the dermatologist's office can be quite intimate, but so can a trip to the esthetician, as well. While a doctor's office is more stark and sterile by design, a spa room is dark and soothing, making for an entirely different experience. So whether you're apprehensive about getting a facial or you're just looking for tips to get in the facial mindset, just keep reading to see how you can better prepare.

by Miriam Lacey

The trick to any successful long-term skin care regimen is making it feel like a treat instead of an ordeal. You may not have an esthetician on hand to make washing your face feel fancy, but there are plenty of ways you can make the experience feel more luxurious — and more effective, too. Check out our favorite routine-improving tricks below.

by OnSugar Blog

Check out this simple, smart, and seasonally appropriate cranberry facial recipe from OnSugar blog Beautiful Basics:

Cranberries are not only healthy, tasty, and a Thanksgiving staple, they are also full of skin-beneficial ingredients. If you want a really great (and easy to make) skin treatment, just follow these super simple instructions.

What you need:

• Half a cup of fresh cranberries
• Half a cup of warm water

Puree the cranberries in a blender and strain. You need the liquid from the berries, not the chunks of fruit. Combine the water and cranberry juice and soak a washcloth or some cotton pads in the mixture. Apply the saturated cloth or cotton to your face (avoiding the delicate eye area). Sit back and relax for about 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. This will make your skin a little brighter and smoother, plus it’s an excuse to lay back and do nothing for a small chunk of time. Enjoy!

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by POPSUGAR Beauty

Hyperpigmentation is a significant issue for most people as they age, but when it comes to preventing or minimizing it, wearing sunblock when you're out on the beach isn't a cure-all. In fact, according to Belle Visage's Tina Keshishian, a celebrity facialist who works with Kirsten Dunst, many people are consistently exposing themselves to damaging rays without even realizing it. Tina says that the person most likely to get hyperpigmentation is typically someone who is driving in a car without sunblock. "Sun worshipers today wear sunblock; it's the ones who think they're not getting sun that get discolored." To find out how to prevent and treat this type of damage, keep reading.

by Jaime Richards

After recently experiencing a Marie Veronique Organics facial at the Spa Solage in Calistoga, CA, I became an oil-on-the-face convert. Even though various oils were massaged over my face and body throughout the 50-minute long service, I left with soft, grease- and pimple-free skin.

While slathering a fatty, viscous substance on the face might seem counterintuitive, it can actually be rather beneficial. "The reason is, the top layer of our skin, our stratum corneum, is our environmental protection barrier. That is made up of lipids — that is oils," says Marie Veronique Nadeau, creator of her namesake line. "It's kind of like the roof on a building. And if lipids are depleted by sun exposure, by wind, by climate, or age, they need replenishment," she adds.

To get your oil on, Marie has several oil blends ($70 to $80) available, but if you're looking to save a few bucks, keep it simple by using a coconut oil. Customize it by adding good-for-you ingredients like vitamins E and A and omega-3s like flax seed oil.