It happens almost every time we get a facial: We walk out with glowy skin only to discover a breakout party on our face later in the day. Don't we spend decent amounts of money and time to prevent this exact thing from happening?
In this week's installment of Beauty Myths, we're taking a closer look at whether breaking out after a facial is normal. While it seems like a bad sign, some would argue that it proves the facial was effective. So which is it? LA's most sought-after aesthetician Kate Somerville (Jessica Alba and Lauren Conrad make regular visits) is on hand to clear a few things up.
"Facials are an external way to detoxify," points out Somerville. "When you detoxify, your body rids itself of toxins and impurities, oftentimes through the skin. Getting rid of this junk can give you more energy than you’ve ever had before and it can leave your skin looking luminous. But before you get to that luminous point, you may first break out in pimples or rashes as toxins release through the skin."
So while skin should look "brighter, clearer, healthier and balanced," as Somerville notes, are breakouts perhaps the sign of a bad facial? No, she confirms. "It is normal to get some mild redness immediately after treatment," she says, "but it often fades within hours. Most facials do not need any downtime."
Somerville advises patients to be aware of their skin types and to avoid anything too aggressive or any facial treatment that could irritate your skin. "Make sure you tell your facialist about ingredients and techniques that don’t work for you, and a facial massage [for all skin types] is not recommended," she adds.
Conclusion: True. It is indeed okay to break out after facial. "It simply means toxins are being released through your skin," says Somerville.
In Beauty Myths, we've enlisted the help of pros to help debunk and demystify some of the most popular advice out there. Do you have a myth you'd like us to investigate? Let us know in the comments below.