What is an express facial vs regular facials? In this blog I’ll quickly answer a common question you might have if you’re keen to get a facial.
Long story short, an express facial is one one of the most common facial services available. It’s designed to be done in a short amount of time, in case that’s all you have!
It’s also helpful if you have a smaller budget, or want to get a few quick treatments done over your lunch break.
Now that that’s clear, I’ll get into the details for what you might expect with an express facial treatment.
What happens during an express facial?
Not every facial is the the same at every spa.
An express facial really just means a quick facial! It’s up to the individual spa or skincare professional to decide what’s in their express facial.
Express facials are usually anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. They often cover the basics for healthy skin, but do not include any in-depth treatments tailored to the individual skin concerns.
What’s included
Usually the following are included:
- A speedy skin analysis
- A thorough cleanse to remove makeup, sunscreen and any residue
- A light exfoliation to slough away any dead skin cells
- A quick face massage
- A final step to lock in hydration and moisture
What’s not included
There are lots of skilled estheticians that do their own express facial, so they get to decide what’s in them.
Sometimes their facials will include a choice of mini treatments, such as a deep cleanse or deep cleansing treatment, or perhaps a facial mask.
What’s usually not included in an express facial:
- Décolleté massage or massage of the hands and arms
- Chemical peel
- Lengthy and detailed skin consultation
- Full extraction process for removing clogged pores
- Multiple face masks, as with traditional facials
- Facial steaming
Essentially if you’re looking for a very luxurious, long and relaxing facial, an express facial may not be for you.
Which skin type suits an express treatment?
There is no single skin type that benefits more from an express treatment. Whether you have oily, dry or combination skin, a quick facial massage can give you a nice radiant glow.
An express facial is a convenient option anyone with a hectic schedule, who just wants a quick pick me up.
However, if you’re looking to treat specific skin concerns you might want to book a regular length facial. For example, if you have acne I personally don’t think an express facial is an effective way to keep it under control.
I wrote a whole blog post about whether a professional facial will help with acne breakouts, so I recommend reading that if acne is a skin concern of yours.
Is an express facial enough time for noticeable improvements?
The bottom line is that realistically an express facial is probably only going to give you a quick glow.
Unless you keep having regular facials, the healthy glow and maximum benefits will be temporary and limited.
An express facial is ideal for those with busy schedules who are looking for a quicker service. I wouldn’t recommend an express facial for someone looking for a very tailored facial for your individual needs.
Typically someone who might get an express facial will already have healthy skin that’s fairly unproblematic.
There are different facials available for those who are looking for a noticeable change in skin texture or acne reduction.
However, as I mentioned in my previous post about getting facials for acne, I don’t believe they’re the best first-choice for reducing acne long term.
