If you notice this at your next facial, run for the hills

Because facials are such a significant investment, it can be easy to assume you can leave your aesthetician to work their magic and simply nod off during the treatment. The problem with this thinking however, is that although a treatment may come with a hefty price tag, it doesn’t mean its effectiveness or safety is guaranteed. Unfortunately not all salons and therapists are equal. To ensure your next facial experience doesn’t leave you with irritated, angry and damaged skin, or worse, we spoke to Managing Director of Richmond Skin and Laser Clinic, Karen Austin for her expert advice. Here, she shares the different ways facial treatments can go wrong, the top warning signs to look out for and the questions you should ask before every appointment.   

What can go wrong?

Austin explains that facial treatments can go wrong in many ways, from dissatisfaction with the outcomes to injury or even contracting a communicable disease. Yikes! While reactions such as redness and sensitivity are normal after certain treatments – especially when a laser has been used or extractions have been performed –your facialist should flag all potential side effects before your treatment. Whether its unexpected breakouts or irritation, any kind of reaction should be reported to the salon immediately. Austin adds, “if you’re not satisfied with the outcome, find another reputable establishment and seek their guidance”.

The top warning signs of a bad facial

When establishing whether your salon of choice is up to scratch, Austin says these two things need to be considered: the quality of the salon itself and the technique used by the facialist. When picking a salon, Austin advises against establishments where “old or out of date equipment is stocked, there are instructions or labels on the equipment in a foreign language (this is typically a sign of cheap imported technology), there’s a limited range of equipment (i.e. the salon uses one treatment for every client), there’s no evidence of before and after photos, the staff look unclean or dilapidated in appearance or there are bad or a lack of reviews on Google or social media”. 

According to Austin, the top warning signs that your facialist has poor technique include whether “you experience a reaction that was not discussed during the initial consultation, the facialist appears uninterested, they talk over or avoid answering question, they push products and services prior to seeking out what the client wants and they promise the ‘foundation of youth’ – if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” Austin explains.

The questions to ask before a facial treatment

Before any treatment, Austin recommends determining the following:
- The qualifications the skin therapist has in relation to the treatment being applied
- How much experience the therapist has in delivering the facial treatment
- What technology is going to be used. Check to make sure the equipment is from a reputable manufacturer like Cynosure, is approved by the TGA or FDA, and is services regularly
- The possible side effects
- How much downtime is expected
- The outcome you can expect and whether you'll achieve the results you expect

Now that you’re prepared for your next facial treatment, check out six high-tech ways to get better skin, fast. 

Do you love investing in regular facials? Let us know how you like to pamper yourself in the comments below.

Main image credit: Getty