Did you know that, on average, American women spend $3,756 on beauty products and services annually? While it’s lower for men, they still shell out a considerable $2,928 on such categories.
Face treatments, in particular, are some of the beauty industry’s best-sellers. After all, the face is the first thing one can see when looking in a mirror. And for many folks, facial appearance plays an integral part in self-esteem.
So if you have yet to try a facial treatment, consider booking one on your next day off. You may not even have to wait for the weekend; some treatments take so little time you can get them on your lunch break!
The guide below will take you through the best facial treatments to try this 2023, so read on.
1. Injectables
Injectables are minimally invasive treatments that help minimize facial signs of aging. They help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, frown lines, and skin folds. Some can even improve the face’s and lips’ structure, framework, and volume.
There are three primary types of facial injectables: BoNT, dermal fillers, and PRP.
Botulinum Toxin (BoNT) Injections
BoNT injections use purified botulinum toxin, a protein derived from a bacterium. Botox is the most popular brand, but you have other options, such as Xeomin, Dysport, and Botulax.
In cosmetics, the primary use of BoNT is to smooth out dynamic facial lines temporarily.
Dynamic facial lines include crow’s feet and the 11 lines. Facial movements, such as furrowing your brow, smiling, or squinting, form these wrinkles.
BoNT injections work by blocking nerve signals from reaching the target muscle. This prevents the injected tissues from contracting. Since the muscles can’t move, they can’t crease and form wrinkles.
Cosmetic BoNT injections for the face usually take 15 minutes or less. That makes them an ideal lunchtime face treatment. However, avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after your session.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectable formulations containing minerals and compounds like hyaluronic acid (HA).
HA is a thick substance naturally produced by the body. About half of the body’s HA supply is in the skin. Its roles include hydrating and making the skin plumper.
The problem is that the body’s HA production diminishes with age. Ultraviolet (UV) exposure, pollution, and tobacco smoke also cause a dip in its supplies. The longer this goes on, the more wrinkles and dehydrated your skin can get.
Dermal fillers that contain HA can therefore help restore your face’s plumpness. In doing so, they can help minimize wrinkles and facial lines. Plus, they can give a gaunt face more volume.
Other fillers contain calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA). These consist of substances found in your bones. Practitioners use these injectables for deeper wrinkles.
Like BoNT injections, you can get dermal fillers as lunchtime treatments.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
PRP is another minimally invasive procedure that uses your blood.
First, a practitioner draws and places some of your blood in a centrifuge. A PRP centrifuge is a technology used to separate blood cells from platelets and serum.
Your platelets and serum then get enriched with extra platelets and growth factors. Finally, the practitioner injects this solution into your face’s target areas.
Researchers found PRP injections to be effective in improving common facial concerns. For example, they say these injectables can improve dark circles under the eyes. They also report these treatments can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and folds.
One PRP session can take about half an hour. So, you can also book one during your lunch break.
2. Light-Based Treatments
If you’re part of the 25% of U.S. adults with an intense fear of needles, injectables may not be for you. You can instead go for light-based facial treatments.
Light-based treatments are non-invasive cosmetic procedures that use light. They don’t require injections, much less surgical incisions.
LED Light Therapy
This skin treatment uses LED (light-emitting diode) to promote better skin health. Its history traces back to the 1990s. Back then, NASA started studying LED light’s effects on wound healing in astronauts.
Today, practitioners use LED light therapy to treat skin conditions. These include facial woes, such as acne, rosacea, sun damage, wrinkles, and wounds.
You can also buy at-home LED light therapy devices. Examples include the Cleopatra LED Light Mask, TheraFace Pro, and Solawave wand.
Laser Light Therapy
Laser light therapy involves applying a low-level laser to the treatment area. This light transmits photons, light particles containing energy, to the skin.
From there, the mitochondria found in the skin membranes absorb the photons. This promotes an increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels.
ATP, in turn, is responsible for stimulating collagen and promoting tissue repair. It also helps improve the skin’s firmness and elasticity.
All that makes laser light therapy ideal for sagging skin and stubborn scars. It’s also a non-invasive option for minimizing the appearance of facial lines.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing also uses laser beams to improve the skin’s looks and health. However, it differs from laser light therapy in that it uses a combination of heat and light.
In laser skin resurfacing, a practitioner focuses the laser on the target area. It’s a concentrated, pulsating beam of light.
The light removes the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. At the same time, it heats the dermis, the layer of skin under the epidermis. As a result, these processes promote the growth of new collagen.
Once the treated area heals, the new skin that “surfaces” is firmer and smoother. It’s also less wrinkly, more supple, and has lighter scarring.
3. Hydrating Face Treatments
The skin on your face is thinner than the skin covering the rest of your body. As a result, it’s more prone to dehydration. Dehydrated skin, in turn, can become scaly, itchy, flaky, or rough.
Dry skin can also raise your risk of developing acne, which already affects 50 million folks in the U.S. yearly. It can do so by triggering the skin to produce more sebum (oil).
If you have or are prone to dry skin, consider the following hydrating treatments.
Hydrating Facials
A hydrating facial is a treatment that uses hydrating masks and humectant-rich products. Humectants are substances that lock in moisture to prevent water loss. So applying these to your face helps replenish its skin’s moisture levels.
Another benefit of a hydrating facial is that it involves cleansing and exfoliation. These are the first steps performed during such facial treatments.
Cleansing the facial skin removes surface impurities and pollutants. By contrast, exfoliation helps eliminate dead skin cells. Together, they help reveal fresh skin cells that hydrating products can penetrate better.
HydraFacial
A HydraFacial is a hydrating facial treatment using a specific device. This device exfoliates, cleanses, extracts, and hydrates. This unique technology performs these tasks using a water vortex swirling action.
A HydraFacial can help shrink pores, smoothen wrinkles, and keep breakouts at bay. Its hydrating effects can also help make thinning skin more supple and plump.
You can get a HydraFacial treatment alone, but you can also combine it with LED light therapy.
4. Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is a skin resurfacing procedure that uses a topical solution. A practitioner applies the chemical on the surface of your skin. This causes the top layers to break down and shed.
The skin that grows back is smoother, more supple, and even-colored.
Chemical peels can help treat facial skin discoloration, scars, and wrinkles. You can also combine them with other facial treatments.
Depending on your skin condition, you can opt for light, medium, or deep chemical peels.
Light Chemical Peels
Light chemical peels work on the skin’s superficial (epidermis) layer. It can help with acne, dryness, uneven skin tone, and fine wrinkles.
Because light chemical peels only remove the epidermis, you can get them once every two to five weeks.
Medium Chemical Peels
A medium chemical peel removes the epidermis and portions of the dermis. So, it can help treat deeper wrinkles, more stubborn acne scars, and skin discoloration.
Depending on the extent of your skin woes, you may have to repeat the procedure once every few months.
Deep Chemical Peels
A deep chemical peel removes more skin cells from the epidermis and dermis. However, this is usually reserved for deep wrinkles and scars that medium peels can’t fix. Your doctor may also recommend this if you have precancerous growth.
Because of its potency, a single deep chemical peel is often enough. However, it also exposes you to more risks, including inflammation, redness, and scabbing.
5. Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is another skin resurfacing procedure that uses a specialized tool. It utilizes a rapidly rotating device to remove the skin’s outer layer. As a result, the skin that resurfaces is smoother and fresher, making you look younger.
Dermabrasion can help minimize the appearance of fine facial lines. It can also lighten scars caused by acne and surgery. Even the appearance of age spots and wrinkles can improve through this procedure.
During a dermabrasion session, the practitioner first numbs your skin with anesthetics. However, you can also ask for a sedative or general anesthesia if you have a low pain tolerance.
The practitioner then moves a small motorized device across your face. The device’s abrasive wheel or brush removes your skin’s outer layers. During this step, you may feel gentle but constant pressure.
Depending on the extent of the treatment, it may take 30 minutes to over an hour. You may also need multiple sessions if you have deep scarring.
After the session, the practitioner will cover your skin with a moist dressing. You’ll also get at-home self-care instructions on how to change it. You may also receive a prescription for pain medications.
You can expect your dermabrasion-treated skin to be sensitive for several weeks. It may also develop blotchiness, crustiness, flakiness, or red patches.
Those symptoms should improve within a few weeks. Your skin tone should also return to normal in three months or less.
6. Microdermabrasion
As effective as dermabrasion is, it’s still an aggressive treatment. Fortunately, it has a less intense version called microdermabrasion.
Also known as a power peel, microdermabrasion uses an abrasive agent. One method uses a specialized applicator with an abrasive tip. Another involves using a device to spray fine sand onto the treatment area.
Both methods effectively yet gently remove the skin’s outer layer to rejuvenate it.
Microdermabrasion can help with fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and brown spots. You can also use it to address acne (and its scars), stretch marks, blackheads, and enlarged pores. It may even help correct sun-damaged skin.
Since microdermabrasion is less aggressive than dermabrasion, you may not need anesthesia. Even numbing agents are often not necessary.
During your microdermabrasion session, you’ll sit in a reclining chair. The practitioner will then use the device to sand away or spray your face with the abrasive agent. After this, they will apply a moisturizer and sunscreen on your skin.
You don’t have to worry about lengthy downtimes after your microdermabrasion session. Unless the practitioner tells you otherwise, you can resume your daily activities immediately.
To top it off, microdermabrasion often comes with immediate, noticeable results. However, you may still need multiple sessions if you have severe skin conditions.
Also, make sure to keep your skin hydrated using gentle moisturizers. If you use topical acne medications, skip them for one to two days after a session. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.
Try These Face Treatments Today
From injectables to light therapies and peels, these are all the top face treatments to try this 2023. With so many options, you’re sure to find one that best suits your skin type and needs. However, if you’re still unsure which one to choose, your best bet is to seek a dermatologist’s advice.
With your skin doctor’s help, you can rejuvenate your facial skin for a younger-looking you.
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