6 Facials That Will Make Your Skin Look Ahhhmazing For Summer
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Summa-Summatime is approaching swiftly and with extra doses of vitamin D, longer days, and much-needed OOO vacays, comes the journey to prepare for the seasonal shift ahead. If you’re focused on your fitness game and kicking your spray tans into high gear (hey, if you can’t tone it, tan it), props to you, but we’re here to remind you to pay attention to your face. A glow meter only goes so high from bronzer and highlighter alone, so what really counts is your skincare prep leading up to June 21st (the 1st day of summer). From exfoliating and antioxidant-charged facials to laser, cryo, and Nano Needling treatments, here are seven ways to ensure your skin looks flawless AF.
1. The Nano Needling Facial
At this point, you’ve probably heard of – or tried – Microneedling (unless you’ve been living under a rock), but the latest and greatest in life-changing skin treatments is Nano Needling, $750, and it’s here to give you a pillow-soft visage. The facial, which is available at world-renowned plastic surgeon and skincare authority Dr. Gerald Imber’s Youth Corridor Clinic in Manhattan, New York, is essentially a less-invasive alternative to Microneedling.
160 Nano Needles create tiny puncture wounds in the skin, allowing products to absorb faster and more effectively. Since the measurement nano is technically smaller than micro (you’re welcome in case you slept through that part in mathematics 101), this treatment makes smaller cuts in the epidermis and won’t leave you as red or irritated as Microneedling can. Nano Needling has zero downtime, so you can go about your day in under an hour after a healthy layer of Hyaluronic Acid is applied and fully penetrates, leaving you with #glassskingoals.
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2. The Oxygen, Microcurrent, LED Facial
Los Angeles celebrity facialist Shani Darden knows good skin and custom tailors each of her Signature Facials, $400 (and up), to her clients’ needs and skin types. Included in the transformative experience: a light chemical or enzyme peel to exfoliate and lift away dead skin cells, followed by oxygen and LED light therapy. “I have an oxygen dome that you can lay under with a mask on and the oxygen will smooth and plump the skin with nutrients, allowing the hydrating ingredients of the mask to seep into skin’s most heard-to-reach layers,” she explains.
After being hit with the proper dosage of O2, Darden also likes to apply microcurrent to tone, tighten, and stimulate the facial muscles underneath the skin, improving the facial contour and reducing wrinkles. The last step is LED light therapy to enhance collagen production, minimize fine lines, and boost circulation to make your skin beautiful and glowing. “I also have a full LightStim LED Bed, which has all of the above benefits and it helps your immune system, so you’re looking and feeling amazing,” she adds.
3. The DIY Facial
While Darden’s star clients (we see you, Emily Ratajkowski, Shay Mitchell, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Jessica Alba, and Chrissy Teigen) feel right at home in her Beverly Hills office, Darden is a big fan of an at-home facial anyone can do without trekking to the 90210 zip code. Here’s her foolproof 5-step facial formula:
- A great way to perk up dull skin is to start off by cleansing with Daily Cleansing Serum, $38. It’s a gentle gel cleanser that’s potent, but will not strip the skin.
- The next step is to exfoliate – I love a chemical exfoliant like Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads, $88, because they’re less harsh than some scrubs can be, but still get the job done. They also remove the top layer of dead cells to allows products (e.g. retinol) to go deeper.
- Then, apply a mask for your skin type.
- If you’re in need of extra hydration, you can use a hyaluronic acid serum afterward like Nigma’s No1 Serum, $205, which is full of peptides and plant stem cells to intensely hydrate and plump up the skin. Or, even better (and cheaper) The Inkey List’s Polyglutamic Acid, $15, which is four times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid.
- Finish with a great moisturizer for your skin type and you’re good to go!
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4. The Laser-Cryo Combo
NYC-based celebrity cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank keeps A-listers glowing 24/7 and his latest brainchild, the PFRANKMD Signature Paparazzi Facial, $750, combines three treatments in one, with no downtime and long-term skin rejuvenation results (check it out here). First up, the “Clear & Bright Complexion” laser to reduce redness, flushing, inflammation, and shrink your pores to invisible status. After you’re lasered and already on your way to living your best life, comes the signature Cryo Facial, which contracts muscle fibers to shut down pores even further. FYI If you’ve experienced three minutes of torture in a Cyro tank to boost endorphins and burn cals at a rapid pace, the cryo facial is a walk in the park. Plus, it decreases and heals puffiness, acne, and redness. Lastly is the MDNA Skin Facial that you can only receive at his Upper East Side med spa. Using MDNA Skin products he developed with the ageless Madonna, you’ll be pampered even further with The Eye Mask, The Beauty Roller, The Finishing Cream, and The Rose Mist. The entire process only takes 20 minutes and you’ll leave fresh-faced, dewy, and ready to own any room you saunter into.
5. The Mega C Radiance Facial
Arguably the most powerful one-two punch to get skin in shape for summer would be a good ol’ de-sloughing of dry winter skin before a healthy heaping of glow-inducing, free-radical-fighting antioxidants like vitamin C. Celebrity esthetician Kate Somerville is sought-after by the likes of Meghan Markle, Lucy Hale, and Drew Barrymore, so if anyone knows how to prep skin for the season ahead, it’s her. Somerville’s Mega C Radiance Facial, $285, was created to even out tone, improve elasticity, and renew luminosity and boy do you notice a difference post-service.
First, an enzymatic exfoliant coaxes out skin’s natural radiance before a series of (careful) extractions, and an ultra-moisturizing vitamin C-infused oxygen treatment. A 3D Crystal Fiber Mask is added to give your skin a buoyant, “I just woke up like this” appearance, and finally a stress-relieving neck and shoulder massage, customized moisturizer, and SPF application concludes the 60-minute experience. Pro tip: If you can’t make it to Cali to try this first-hand, swipe an exfoliating enzyme pad over your mug, then massage in vitamin C serum with a gemstone roller for a similar at-home facial.
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6. The Fire & Ice Facial
One might think you would have to travel to Winterfell for this Game of Thrones-inspired treatment, but on the contrary, you can find it in the heart of NYC’s Soho district at Haven Spa. Their Fire and Ice Facial, $210, goes through the typical facial motions (cleanse, exfoliate, steam, extract), but then comes the important part. A warm and tingly medical-grade therapeutic masque is brushed on, covered with gauze, and just as it starts to heat up, you’ll feel the sensation of cooling beauty globes being rolled all over, which is pretty much the best feeling ever. Anti-inflammatory botanicals are also applied to help clear skin, smooth, and soften and the 60-minute treatment completely resurfaces your face while addressing dehydration and hyperpigmentation at the same time. PS: While it’s good for most skin types – especially acne and aging skin – it’s not ideal for thin, fragile, or rosacea-prone skin.
If your skin is in need of a facial but you’re on a budget, check out our fave drugstore facemasks here.
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