Skin Treatments to Ask Your Esthetician For

Do you ever wonder about the facets of skincare, like knowing your skin type? For instance, what does it mean when, on one hand, your skin seems dry, but it can accumulate an oily sheen during the day? What skin treatments are going to be the best for your skin?

Before you book an esthetician appointment, it’s a good idea to know about your skin type, and the treatments you’re thinking about trying. That way, the esthetician will be able to discern what type of treatment you’re best suited for. But if you have no idea, don’t worry. In this post, we’re here to break down skin types and what treatments will work for them. Before we get started, though, it’s important to stress that the treatments we recommend should be done only by a professional, to protect your skin.

Other than that, get out your phone and open up the Booksy app—you’re going to need it when you’re done reading and ready to book.

Sensitive skin

Like other skin types, sensitive skin requires close monitoring and meticulous care. With sensitive skin, it’s extremely necessary to pay attention to the ingredients of the products you’re using. Because this skin type is aptly named, it’s safe to assume you can’t put just anything on your skin.

Ultimately, the condition of the skin will depend on many factors including diet, weather, and genetics. However, the basis of good skin in every situation is proper care.

You might have sensitive skin if you experience tightness or burning of the skin (especially when washing it), as well as redness. Additionally, if it reacts easily to temperature, like getting extremely dry and irritated, it’s likely you have this skin type.

As for sensitive skin treatments, anything hydrating and moisturizing facial treatments are key. An oxygen facial is a good option. Especially if you want a deep cleanse; it doesn’t have the abrasive qualities of other exfoliating treatments. Generally, facials that include water-based ingredients are beneficial to relieving redness.

Dry skin

Dry skin often manifests in the form of rough and taut skin. In most cases, dry skin is a genetic issue, but poor care can also contribute heavily. Dry skin is prone to outside factors that irritate it, causing the outer layer of skin to peel or flake away.

If your skin experiences tightness, being rough to the touch, itchiness and flakiness, as well as gets irritated quickly, your skin type is dry. This means your skin hates harsh ingredients, like alcohol, dry climates, and fake tanning. 

Now let’s talk about dry skin treatments. If there’s anything dry skin needs, it’s serious rehydration. Because of this, you’ll want to shoot for treatments that include hydrating steps. They’ll likely include the use of hyaluronic acid, which helps moisturize the skin. For exfoliating flaky skin, microdermabrasion is also a solid choice.

Oily skin

One of the telltale signs of an oily skin type is having shiny or greasy-looking skin—especially if it’s prone to breakouts. Oily skin is the result of when your skin, essentially produces an excessive amount of oil. This can be due to a multitude of factors, like hormones, genetics, diet, humidity, and stress.

Here’s how to tell if you have oily skin. If your pores are large, your skin looks shiny, but your complexion looks dull. Additionally, if you have blackheads all the time. Finally, if you find that you produce the most oil around your T-zone, (forehead, nose, chin), it’s likely this is your skin type.

Let’s talk about what to avoid when it comes to an oily skin treatment. Over-washing, over-exfoliation, and excessive touching. That’s right—with most skin types, the best thing you can do is keep your hands off of it, but especially for oily skin! Your fingers hold a lot of oil and bacteria, no matter how clean you are.

Because oily skin tends to cause clogged pores, exfoliating treatments that open the pores are a great choice. For some other options, deep cleansing facials and chemical peels will eliminate dirt and debris. Plus, you can go a step further and book a treatment that includes manual blackhead extraction.

To properly care for oily skin at home, wash your face regularly, but avoid over-cleansing. If you wash 1-2 times a day for no longer than 45 seconds, you’ll be golden. Shop for products that contain ingredients such as niacinamide, salicylic acid, retinol, and hyaluronic acid. These are formulated to control oil production.

Combination skin

Most of the skin types we’ve gone over are named very well. That trend doesn’t stop when is comes to this skin type. Combination skin is a mix of oily and dry skin, which is why it can be difficult to take care of. The T zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin, is more likely to be oily, whereas the rest of the face may need more hydration.

How do you know if you have combination skin? Well, if you produce excess oil, especially around those key areas. If you’ve also noticed large pores, blackheads, and dry patches among other areas of your face, this is your skin type.

Because combination skin often shows a mixture of symptoms, an esthetician will be able to help you choose the right treatment type for you. They will tailor it to each part of your face. Some favorite treatments for people with combination skin include diamond microdermabrasion, masks, and chemical peels.

Combination skin needs the right balance of cosmetic products that aren’t too heavy. A light cream with hyaluronic acid can effectively moisturize the skin without clogging the pores.

Now, when you head to book your esthetician appointment, you know what to ask for and determine your skin type. Before you go in, make sure you take note of skin-related concerns you have. Bring all the questions you have—you’ll be in talented hands.