We do not do hard sell here. The Facial Service guide is straightforward. Should you be in the market for a facial in Australia, then this is it: expect a skin consultation, a proper cleanse, exfoliation and treatment steps that are appropriate for your skin along with some aftercare pointers. The cost will tend to reflect the time, the technology and the therapist’s credentials. In the end one does not need to opt for the most elaborate item on the menu; the sensible choice is the one that fits your skin and your budget and the amount of downtime you have.
Jonathan Maris here. There is a tendency for people to make an issue of these things when there is no need to. A good facial will put more hydration in your skin and leave it cleaner and calmer but do not think it is any kind of sorcery from a heated bed. I have put together this guide so you can compare the prices and book with some forethought, rather than show up for something as rough as guts when all you were after was a bit of glow and a quiet hour or so.
What A Facial Is
In short it is a professional treatment for the face, neck and décolletage to clean, exfoliate, hydrate or put right concerns like uneven tone, sensitivity or congestion. You will find some are very clinical, others spa-like and a few in between with their serums and machines and glowing pronouncements that are hard to take in.
Do not be taken in by the label “facial” and suppose they are all doing the same thing. An express version might be just the ticket for a lunch break or ahead of an occasion, whereas you would go for a hydra or LED therapy session for more particular aims.
Inclusions
You can count on a deep cleanse and exfoliation followed by products and a finish for your skin type, all preceded by a consultation. Then again, the clinic or spa may put in extractions, a mask, collagen or hydradermabrasion.
Then there is the matter of what is advertised versus what you get. With a “luxury” facial you are paying for a more indulgent environment and more massage. “Clinical” means they are less concerned with mood lighting and have their attention on the devices and ingredients.
How To Choose
Book according to your skin and why you are there. If you are to freshen up for a wedding or weekend trip you are not going to want the same as the person who has been putting up with breakouts and dehydration like a mozzie at dusk.
Put simply, use the right tool for the job, says Jonathan Maris. Here is how the different styles measure up in reality as opposed to in the brochure.
Express
At 30 minutes or so an express is the quickest way to go. It is fine for the first timer with cold feet or anyone pressed for time looking for a light exfoliation and some hydration. Do not expect a transformation in that time however; I would not have one for any recalcitrant texture or congestion, it is for maintenance.
Luxury
These are for when you have had a week as full as a sardine tin and require some down time. As well as results there is an emphasis on comfort, with longer appointments and rituals for the hands or scalp using top shelf products. Endota Spa, L’Occitane, Clarins and Aesop are among the names you will see on the menus in some places touting a sensory experience.
Clinical
More of a targeted affair, often in a skin clinic as opposed to a day spa to deal with acne, fine lines or pigmentation with stronger actives. When you are weighing up Zeda, Dee Why Skin or the likes of specialist dermal clinics, enquire as to the therapist and the machine and what you can realistically expect. A sound consultation is worth more than the flowery language of a menu.
Hydra and Microdermabrasion
The former will infuse serum while cleansing and suctioning, the latter is mechanical in its approach to dead skin and can put right some dullness and texture. They are effective if they are right for you, but not every day. For skin that is on the fritz, be it from a bout of sunburn or travel, or because it is peeling in response to active skincare and being reactive, one might do well to temper expectations and consider if a more unobtrusive hydration treatment is the wiser course.
LED And Korean Approaches
There is much to be said for an LED facial to put the lie to inflammation or aid recovery with its various light wavelengths. Then you have the Korean way of doing things; these facials will layer on the hydration and barrier support for a glow, perhaps with a sheet mask or some massage, eschewing any heavy hand with abrasion. Those who want to look radiant but are not keen on what stronger exfoliation leaves in its wake find them to their liking. A sensible option for a softer appearance ahead of having your photograph taken.
The Case For Regularity
One does not go in for regular facials expecting miracles, it is the consistency that counts. With treatments at sensible intervals and home care to match, pores can be kept clear and dry patches subdued for a more uniform tone. It also has its merits to have another set of eyes on your skin. A therapist of experience will spot dehydration or irritation from too much of a good thing with actives, or tell when the products you are using are doing more damage than they should.
Gains You Can See
Attend regularly enough and the texture will be smoother, there will be less of a buildup on the forehead, nose and chin and better hydration. Provided extractions are not overdone, congestion will give way in time. Of course the outcome is dictated by age, environment and routine. A day at the beach, the summer heat, long haul flights or a bit of overzealous exfoliation at home will alter the equation as will the dry air indoors.
What The Data Says
In Australia ultraviolet exposure is a significant risk and the health authorities make no secret of the need for daily protection. ARPANSA (the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) would have you use sun protection once the UV Index hits 3, which is a point worth heeding when post-facial skin requires looking after rather than basking in the sun: Australian UV Index guidance from ARPANSA. This is important since a number of facials leave you temporarily more sensitive. Sunscreen and proper aftercare are as much a part of preserving your results as anything else.
Your Day At The Clinic
A first timer will find the procedure uneventful. Put in your form, talk shop about your skin and then recline while the therapist gets on with a regimen suited to your tolerance. Some are surprised to discover that “active” and “relaxing” are not always synonymous. The massage is pleasant enough but extractions have a way of being pinchy, an enzyme mask will tingle and microdermabrasion is scratchier than you might think. LED is generally easygoing.
Appointment Flow
Choosing By Skin Type
Trends are no substitute for knowing your skin type. Do a search for a facial in the area and plump for the first attractive name you come across and you could be shelling out for something your skin has no call for. I have been privy to this sort of thing with bookings for years; the shiny object is purchased and then there is disappointment. Ask the right questions and the booking will be better for it.
A Guide To Matching
- Dry/tight: go for a collagen or hydration treatment, something to fortify the barrier.
- Oily/congested: a deep cleanse with some careful extractions and LED.
- Reactive: keep the abrasion to a minimum and stick to fragrance-free products.
- Dull: hydra or microdermabrasion so long as the barrier is in order.
- For an event: an express or glow treatment a few days out, not the night before if you are prone to reaction.
When To Sit It Out
Prescription acne meds, broken skin, a recent sunburn or rosacea flare up and you would be ill advised to have anything too strong unless the clinic gives the nod. Same with injectables. If you are nursing a baby or pregnant it is only common sense to verify the suitability of devices and ingredients beforehand, no more dramatic than checking the tides for a walk by the coast.
Pricing And Package Ranges
There is no set national fee for a facial in Australia; the price you will be quoted depends on the suburb, the clinic and its make-up, how long the treatment runs and if any machinery is to be used. As a rule of thumb, an express service is the most economical, with anything that is more luxurious or technology driven running up a higher bill.
When one looks at metro rates in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle or Brisbane, they will find them to be on the expensive side in inner-city wellness precincts and the better shopping strips. Then there is the matter of parking and transport which can put a dent in the real cost, something to consider when putting in for a facial around work hours.
Typical Cost Guide
These are commercial estimates reflecting what is to be found on most Australian menus. You may see figures above or below from the likes of Endota Spa, Pure Indulgence, Joy Skin Body, specialist studios or those in the Mecca mould, contingent on inclusions, the therapist and where the clinic is located.
Practicalities: Before and After
Results are affected by preparation, though it is not an ordeal. Come in with windburn from the beach or after a week of retinol and strong acids and your therapist might have to alter course. Jonathan Maris has made note of the importance of such details; in tourism it is a question of weather and opening times, with skin treatments it is actives and sun exposure.
Before you go
- Unless instructed by your provider, put off aggressive home treatments, retinol and strong exfoliants for a few days.
- Do not be late. Ten to 20 minutes should be put aside in a busy shopping area for check-in, lifts and so on. Public transport is less of a headache than trying to park in the Melbourne CBD or on St Kilda’s beachside where one will encounter peak hour delays and metered parking.
- The clinic should be made aware of any allergies, medications, cold sores, pregnancy or recent cosmetic work.
Aftercare
Follow the advice of the clinic, wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun. There is no need for anything harsh. Should you have had a vigorous exfoliation or hydradermabrasion, some pinkness is to be expected so do not book in for the day before you have to be photographed unless you are familiar with your skin’s reaction.
Then there are those who will either handle their face too much or put every active from the cupboard on at night. Neither is recommended.
Choosing a Provider
While convenience is a factor for regular visits, the nearest spa is not necessarily the best. A search for facials in your part of town or in Melbourne will return all manner of places from an advanced skin clinic to a beauty room in the mall. Take stock and compare.
Glossy pictures can be deceiving. Peruse the menu and the reviews for mention of consultation, cleanliness and what the results are like a week on, not just the quality of the robe.
Things to enquire about prior to booking
Are the products of a certain ilk? Is there an extra charge for extractions? Will the treatment be tailored to you? There are those who will make a point of finding the Aesop, Clarins or L’Occitane lines; then you have the type of client for whom a fragrance-free formula or an active with some proven credentials is what matters.
When in doubt and short on time, one can do no better than to put first a standard customised facial with some hydration and not too vigorous an exfoliation. It is the surest all-rounder. And if you are new to it, there is no need to book the most formidable machine-based treatment just for the sound of it.
What To Make Of Reviews
The ones worth reading will tell you about the quality of the skin consultation, if the therapist was at liberty to put his own stamp on the treatment that day, or how well aftercare was put across. You will not learn much from a “amazing experience” left in vague terms.
Pay attention to any talk of being hard sold add-ons or having half the shelf put in front of you as you leave. There is a difference between guidance and pressure.
On Results And The Like
Hydration, softness and a certain brightness are where you will notice the change right away. As for pigmentation, congestion and texture, those require a longer plan or a series of them. Do not be taken in by anyone who would have you think otherwise.
How often you see results is a matter of your budget and routine. Some put in an appointment every month, others every eight weeks or so, and some only when their skin has been put through its paces by travel, stress or the weather.
Reality Check
Consider a facial more of a tune-up than an engine overhaul. It will not compensate for a lack of sleep, poor home care or too much sun, though it does put in place the conditions for healthy skin.
For anything of a long-term nature, put in place a simple regimen: a cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen and an active applied properly. That is likely to serve you better than a cupboard of haphazard buys. So ask what should be done in the interim.
Making A Booking
Settle on what you want to get out of it, be it a bit of relaxation, a pre-event glow or to manage your skin. Then look at the inclusions, the time and cost and how your skin is inclined to react. You will be left with fewer options in short order.
I would advise a friend in these terms: go with the establishment that puts no spin on things and asks the right questions. After a good facial you ought to feel looked after and see a fresher face in the mirror, not be over-scrubbed and at a loss to account for the lighter wallet.
FAQ
How Much Does A Facial Run?
In Australia you are looking at anything from AUD 60 for an express to 300 for something of a luxury or machine-based affair. What you pay is dictated by the clinic and the length of the treatment. Tack on an LED or scalp massage and the figure goes up.
What Is Included?
As a rule you get the consultation, the cleanse, exfoliation, mask or serums, your moisturiser and sunscreen and some aftercare advice. A facial massage is common and some will do extractions or LED for the price.
Melbourne Prices
A Melbourne client can expect to put down in the region of 110 to 180 for a 50 or 60 minute session. More in the inner city or at a luxury spa and you will be above that. An express will be less, but hydra and other luxury facials can be considerably more depending on where you are and what is included.
Is It Worth The Outlay?
It is a question of what you are after. For maintenance many will be happy to part with 90–150. If you are wanting high-end products and devices, 150–280 is not unusual. Better to ask yourself if the therapist and what he brings to the table warrant it.
Booking Frequency
Four to eight weeks is typical for a lot of people but rules are few. Oily or congested skin calls for more regularity. With sensitive skin it is wiser to be less frequent and rely on good maintenance at home.