6 Types Of Facials & Their Benefits (Plus How To Choose The Best Treatment)

Welcome to our ultimate facial field guide: If you've ever felt overwhelmed and/or confused by the sheer number of skin treatments (been there), allow us to help you wade the waters. See, facials are an investment—of both time and money. So before booking just any treatment, it's important to know which option is best for your skin type and concern. Granted, there are a ton of spa services out there, but this guide will help you navigate any menu. 

All facials will follow a similar form—steam, exfoliate, extract, massage, hydrate, etc.—with some added treatments or tools thrown in, depending on your skin's individual needs. For example, an esthetician performing an acne facial might spend more time on extractions, whereas a lymphatic facial would involve more massage work. See below for each of the highlights: 

Here, we have your standard facial. Every esthetician has their own unique order and products, but here's the gist: 

Hydrafacials are noninvasive, and they're gentle enough for most sensitive and acne-prone skin types to handle. Although, "it's best not to use on any active, open acne," says board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of SKINFIVE. "This is often best for a patient with very dehydrated, dull, flaking, or otherwise tired, sallow skin that needs a deeper clean and overall replenishing refresh," she adds. 

Typically, LED technology is used in combination with other treatments or added to classic options: "All of my facials end with 20 minutes under a professional LightStim LED face panel," says Darden. 

For example, this type of facial might involve a microcurrent device or vibration therapy tool (like Darden's famous sculpting wand). "I have microcurrent gloves that I'm obsessed with and use in all of my facials," Darden adds. "They allow for a more evenly dispersed, deeper treatment. You can literally scoop up the cheek muscles for more lifted and sculpted cheekbones!"

"Unlike the circulatory system, your lymphatic system doesn't have its own pump. That's where lymphatic massage comes in," adds Rouleau. "For the skin, conditions like puffiness, acne, dryness, dullness, and even skin sensitivity can be improved and even resolved by simple lymphatic stimulation, because it helps the body do what it's meant to do: heal." 

Of course, treating acne takes balance—you don't want to simply overwhelm the skin with peels and extractions. "The goal is to remove the excess surface sebum, dead skin cells, and buildup in pores while eliminating bacteria without inducing a sebum response," says Shamban. So the esthetician might throw some hydration into the mix, like a cooling mask to soothe inflammation. 

Of course, like nutrition and fitness, it's also up to you to put in the work. After all, you can't completely ignore your diet and workout regimen at home and expect any miraculous changes from your dietitian or trainer. Same with skin care: "If you're not using the right products for your skin consistently, the results of a facial won't last as long," says Darden. 

If that time frame doesn't seem realistic for your budget or schedule, experts recommend getting a facial whenever the seasons change—so two to four times a year. And at the end of the day, the right esthetician for you will work with you on an individual schedule and honor any constraints you may have: "A good esthetician should be able to curate your home care routine around how often you can or want to come in for a facial and still help you achieve your skin care goals," says Rouleau. 

Before booking a facial, it's important to understand what you want to get out of the treatment (is it lift? Hydration? A deep clean?). Again, your esthetician will be able to tweak the best facial for your skin's needs, but here's what they'll generally recommend for each concern: 

If skin aging is your main concern, you'll want to seek rejuvenating facials that promote collagen production and increase cell turnover. Think firming or microcurrent facials to lift and tone, LED treatments (especially red LED light) to support elasticity, and lymphatic facials to improve circulation. 

"For drier skin types, it's best to do treatments, like hydrafacials, that focus on a deep clean and hydrating the skin at the same time," says Carla. "This treatment infuses a lot of calming ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, that help calm, soothe, hydrate, and plump the skin." 

If you do have active breakouts, your esthetician might also go light on the massage work or skip it entirely: "This step might be omitted for those who are dealing with severe breakouts, since it may be too much stimulation (skipping this would also allow the esthetician to spend more time on extractions)," notes Rouleau. 

That said, lymphatic facials (which encourage flow) are especially helpful, as are firming facials that help stimulate the muscles with sculpting tools. "The vibrations also boost circulation to increase the skin's oxygen uptake, resulting in more glowing, youthful skin," notes Darden. Additionally, hydrafacials can also work here since you're infusing the pores with antioxidant-rich serums—plus, hydrated skin appears much brighter. 

Skin treatments run the gamut—before booking any ol' facial, it's important to know what you're getting into. Whenever you're ready to invest in a professional deep clean, feel free to reference this guide for a refresher.