Facial Springfield MO Archives | Precision Wellness

What are the Long-Term Benefits of a Regular Facial?

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Most of us consider a day at the spa a luxury. At the end of the day, you probably look forward to being pampered and prettied up in a relaxing environment. One particular indulgence that does more than just spoil you, is a facial.

Staggering amounts of pollution, dirt, grime and dead skin accumulate on our faces. This build up is unavoidable. We can do the best we can to keep the skin clean, but it is not always enough. Many advocates compare getting a facial to going to the dentist. We brush our teeth, floss (when we remember) and still acknowledge the importance of going to the dentist for a regular deep clean. Keeping on a regular dental schedule saves us a lot of money down the road. Like our teeth, the skin needs to be evaluated and cleansed by a trained professional every so often to maintain a healthy complexion. Getting facials on a regular basis, even once every few months or year, will save you from needless spending in the future.

What are some of the benefits of a routine facial you ask? Let’s dive in:

Regular facials provide noticeable improvements to your skin tone, texture, and appearance.
Regular facials lead to less pronounced wrinkles and keeping your skin hydrated.
Your existing creams and moisturizers will be more effective.
Healthy skin is our body’s first line of defense against illness, bacteria, and disease (it is extremely important to take care of it!).
Professional facials help increase circulation in your skin by promoting new skin cell growth which leads to healthier and younger looking skin!
General recommendation is a facial every three to four weeks (or once a month). The life cycle of skin cell development and exfoliation.
Facials help this process and assure your skin always glows!
Removing blackheads and exfoliating dry, flaky skin, facials help fade dark spots from long-term damage and bad habits.

Are you wondering the disadvantage of regular facials? The most common side effects after a facial are redness and blotchy skin due to the pressure of exfoliation and extraction. You should avoid wearing makeup or using any of the products on your skin during the day or two that follow your facial to give your skin time to heal. That’s it… that is the only disadvantage! (now that is a side effect I’m ok with!)

One important note to remember is that a single facial will not improve the quality and healthy of your skin in the long-term. Much like going to the gym, improving the health of your skin is a continual process, requiring commitment and dedication.

At Precision Wellness, we offer a wide variety of facial services customized to fit the needs of your skin type and goals for your skin you’d like to achieve.

How To Build Healthy Self-Care Habits That Stick

Lightbox with motivation words for self care, positive thinking, mental health, emotional wellness

Self-care is all about the everyday habits that help you take care of and nurture your health and well-being. It means listening to your body, intentionally tuning in to the thoughts going on in your mind, and challenging your behaviors.

You may love the idea of self-care, and you may be on board with the benefits, but have you recognized the need for self-care? Actually adopting a self-care practice that can improve your life in more ways than you think.

Understand what self-care is and what is not

“The way I define self-care is the intentional, proactive pursuit of integrated wellness that balances mind, body, and spirit personally and professionally,” says Paula Gill Lopez, Ph.D., an associate professor and the chair of the department of psychological and educational consultation at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Self-care is about more than taking care of your physical health. Things are moving so fast around us that we need space to self-care and slow down to rest from all the busyness in our lives.

Ultimately, your self-care routine should make you a better version of yourself. You should get some enjoyment out of the activity. Rule of thumb, if the activities that you choose are adding to your well-being and are not detrimental to the other areas of your life, then there is a benefit. You are better suited to take care of others, foster strong relationships, be resilient, and balance personal and professional responsibilities.

To help you get some direction, I have rounded up some powerful, important tips on self-care. Please take these tips as guideposts rather than commands. Find a way to make them fit that feels comfortable.

Do not do things you hate: This seems obvious but sometimes it is not. When exercising you need to do an activity that you enjoy or it is not self-care. Each self-care habit you engage in must be customized especially for you, and the first step is to stop routines and actives that make you feel like you’re dying inside.
Find out what you love: This also seems obvious, however, when you are not doing what you love, you lose determination. When you lose determination, you are back to square one. Don’t settle for anything less than raw, pulsating passion.
Recover from “expert addiction”: There is a curious and toxic trend in our society to trust outside sources of advice and approval more than we trust our own selves. If you want to build lifetime habits, the ONLY approval you need is your own. Do not allow your path to be dictated by others. Find your own way. You are your own expert.
Develop a daily self-care routine: Speak kindly to yourself EVERY DAY! Move your body, connect with your spirit, eat mindfully. It is much easier to do something EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. When you do something every single day, you develop a habit more easily.
Play with your routine: Commit to structure of the routine while allowing yourself to play within it. Impose a rigid structure with rigid activities, soon you will feel suffocated. To feel free as well as fulfilled, you must allow for structure as well as play in your habits. Allow for your routine to have a basic structure and allow yourself to play with the activities within that structure.
Relax: Remember the feeling of peace. The purpose of caring for yourself is to do it in a way that is graceful, flowing, and kind to yourself. If you begin to get stressed, find a way to relax. A massage or facial can do wonders 😉
Know your worth: Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings and boosts your confidence and self-esteem.
A healthy work-life balance: Contrary to common belief, workaholism is not a virtue. Being overworked with excessive stress and exhaustion can make you less productive, disorganized, and emotionally depleted. I can also lead to all sorts of healthy problems. Professional self-care habits are just as important and personal self-care habits. Setting professional boundaries, avoiding overextending, etc. ensures that you stay sharp, motivated and healthy.
Stress Management: A little does of stress is a healthy way to give us a nudge on deadlines or to finish overdue tasks, constant stress and anxiety can have an adverse effect on your mental and physical health. Eating healthy, connecting with a loved one or practicing meditation cuts down the toxic effects of stress by improving your mood and boosting your energy and confidence levels.

Now, after we’ve decided on new self-care habits, how do we get them to stick?

Start small – if you’re increasing water intake, start by one extra glass. It’s baby steps that will lead to big accomplishments.
Know your excuses – What gets in the way of this habit? Is it because you’re tired? Or you run out of time? Whatever habit you’re failing to form, consider what is preventing your success. Once you nail down your usual excuses, you can address them!
Set yourself up for success – It’s time to nip the excuses in the bud and get to work. If you forget your gym clothes, have an extra pair in your car. If you have a tendency to forget appointments for yourself, schedule them and don’t back out!
You will fail, but try again – Whether you cheat on a diet, skip a work out, or forgot to journal this morning – it’s ok! Just try again tomorrow.
Keep track – What gets measured gets managed. Plus it’s a great way to set goals, smash those goals, and celebrate your successes!

Precision Wellness is here for you, no matter what part we take in your self-care journey. Remember, you’ve got this!

Benefits of Aromatherapy During Your Massage and Facial

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Before we can discuss the benefits of aromatherapy, you may be wondering “what is aromatherapy?”. Aromatherapy incorporates the use of scented essential oils.

The essential oils are 100% natural, highly concentrated plant essence, they will be diluted before use and are applied along with lotion during the massage or facial. The massage involves alternating between gentle and harder pressure while using essential oils.

Not only is your body benefiting from the direct contact with the essential oils, but the oils are alleged to have specific healing properties upon inhaling after exposure.

Aromatherapy can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, increase calmness and relaxation, increase contentment, decrease muscle tension, provide pain relief, and reduce the symptoms of depression.

Benefits of adding aromatherapy to your massage and facial

Essential Oils are Harmless

Your therapist will evaluate your skin type and discuss any issues you have or what you need to work on and use a selection of oils that will benefit your skin. If you do not have any healing requests such as nerves, muscles, or joints, you can ask for a more general essential oil such as energizing, uplifting, relaxing, or decongesting.

Stress-Relief

Receiving a massage or facial is a way to relax and ease your emotions, by adding essential oils to your massage or facial your experience and results will be enhanced because these oils have stress-relieving properties.

Detoxes Your Skin

Essential oils get down deep into your pores and work on the inner layers. Aromatherapy facial and massage literally purifies the skin from within and not just externally. This washes away all the impurities and hence, skin is detoxed.

Relieves Dryness

There is no better solution if you are suffering from dry skin, especially in the winter, when skin becomes extra dry, essential oils can be used as exfoliators in the form of a scrub or peel. You will soon feel your skin texture turn smooth.

Treats Poor Skin Conditions

Are you looking for that magic skin treatment to deal with blemishes, acne, dark spots, and similar problem? Aromatherapy helps to improve the texture of the skin as it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Removing dirt and all other impurities from the skin.

Improves Blood Circulation

A natural and healthy glow is what we all want to see in our skin, right? This is mostly triggered by the betterment of blood flow to the skin cells. The movement of blood to the skin gives it a healthy glow and releases skin cells with necessary nutrients and water, which reduces the presence of wrinkled dry skin.

Want to add aromatherapy to your massage or facial? Book online or call Precision Wellness today!

Herbal Oil Facial Benefits

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Everyone needs a facial occasionally! Whether that be to reduce stress, cleanse your skin, prevent aging, promote blood circulation, rejuvenate and detoxify your skin, or treat acne. What most people are missing though, is individualized skincare! What if you could find a facial that was infused with a blend of all custom aromatherapy, herbal oil, mask, and fruit enzymes?! Well, stop searching, because Precision Wellness has exactly that!

Let’s begin by discussing what Herbal Oil is and how it can be beneficial to you! Cannabidiol (aka Herbal Oil) is naturally occurring and is found in the cannabis Sativa hemp plant. Herbal oils made from hemp contain non-psychoactive cannabidiol. Non-psychoactive means that it does not produce a euphoric or psychotropic effect when used. Hemp products like herbal oil are completely legal and available across the United States!

Herbal oil has been found to be a more natural alternative to prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs for things like stiffness, chronic pain, epilepsy, fighting cancer, acne, and Alzheimer’s Disease! Herbal oil has slowly been breaking into the health and beauty industries. With that being said, herbal oil is not a cure-all potion – but it can leave a therapeutic, relaxing effect on people and truly impact your body in a positive way!

The benefits of herbal oil might surprise you!

If you are suffering from injury, overworked muscles, or chronic pain herbal oil-infused facials may provide pain relief!
The addition of herbal oil has been shown to reduce inflammation of the muscles and joints by recruiting more immune cells to the area and telling the overactive immune cells to stop overworking.
Herbal oil can decrease muscle spasms and help muscles relax!
Herbal oil also promotes a sense of calmness and relaxation!
Herbal oil oil also has antioxidant properties! What does this mean? It works against aging skin, such as wrinkles and dullness!

So, now you know the benefits of herbal oil. How would you like to book an individualized facial, tailored exactly to your skin type? That’s right, Individualized! Our facials are designed for your exact complexion; customized from start to finish. We create an aromatherapy blend that is perfect for your skin. Beginning with a thorough cleansing and skin analysis, which is followed by extraction of blackheads or whiteheads if required. Then, a custom mask and gentle fruit enzyme peel are applied to remove any dead skin and reveal the bright new skin underneath! Our CBD Oil Infused Facials also include a relaxing scalp, face, neck, and shoulder massage.

Talk with Precision Wellness today about your customized Herbal Oil-Infused Facial!

Dermaplaning vs. Full Face Waxing and Shaving

woman in robe with towel on head touching her face and smiling

Everyone likes having smooth skin, and for many people, their faces are no exception. To get rid of the peach fuzz (also called Vellus hair) on your face, there are some options.

Dermaplaning is a treatment that should only be provided by a licensed professional. During this process, the skin is pulled taut on the face while a surgical blade is used to closely cut the fine hair and dead skin. Unlike other methods, using this treatment allows the hair to grow back softer and is a better exfoliant. Learn more about dermaplaning.

While waxing is a common option people utilize, there are a few things to keep in mind. We always recommend using a test spot before waxing the entire face to ensure your skin isn’t sensitive to the wax being used. Once again, you should use a professional for waxing to ensure the process is done smoothly and doesn’t leave behind scarring.

Another option is to shave the hair off of your face. People typically do this at home and must do this method more often as the hair tends to grow back quicker than the other options. Shaving tends to blunt the hair so that it doesn’t act as well as an exfoliant and could potentially lead to ingrown hairs or razor burn. This option does not offer the same exfoliation as the other two methods.

Everyone’s skin is different, and we encourage you to find the method that works with your routine the best. If you have low pain tolerance, you should look into dermaplaning or shaving options, as waxing can be painful.

If you’re not sure where to start with getting rid of the hair on your face, we’d love to talk to you! Our licensed estheticians can help guide you through the process of dermaplaning and waxing, and explain the best option for your hair and skin.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning has become an increasingly popular exfoliation treatment as people branch out with their beauty regimes. This method uses a scalpel to gently scrape the dead skin of the top layer of skin to expose a brighter, softer complexion. It requires an experienced hand, which is why we only recommend getting this procedure done by a trained esthetician.

Benefits

Along with getting rid of that unwanted peach fuzz (that makes your makeup look all funky), dermaplaning also allows skincare products to easily penetrate and have a greater effect. Because this method has no harsh chemicals with it, it is a perfect treatment for pregnant or nursing women. Most treatments are quick (usually less than 30 minutes) and can be repeated every month. There aren’t any side effects, and clients experience radiant skin as soon as they’re done!

The Old Wives Tale

Some clients are nervous to start dermaplaning because they believe that shaving the peach fuzz on their face will make it grow back thicker and darker. But that’s not true! The superfine hair on your face grows back the same as it was before the procedure, and just like waxing it may get thinner with time!

Dermaplaning is effective on all skin types besides very oily or active acne. It’s also great for mature skin, as it can get rid of the buildup of skin cells that happen with age.

The Long Term Benefits of Regular Facials

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A lot of people spend a fair amount of money on expensive facial creams and moisturizers to tighten their skin, reduce wrinkles and age spots and maintain a youthful appearance. While some of these products work better than others, it’s mostly a short-term benefit. To get real and lasting long-term changes to your skin, you need to invest in regular facials.

Here are some of the top long-term benefits of getting facials on a consistent basis:

Regular Facials Lead To A More Even Skin Tone

The tiny crystals used in our microdermabrasion facials strategically remove cells from the outer layer of your skin. The function of this outer layer is to provide a barrier between the deeper layers of your skin and the outside world. As such most sun damage, hyperpigmentation and blemishes lie within that protective outer layer. Your body interprets the microdermabrasion’s removal of the outer layer as if you have a wound, and so it rushes to replace it with new and healthy cells, which leads to an evener skin tone.

Regular Facials Lead To Less Pronounced Wrinkles

Microdermabrasion benefits the aging skin as well. Due to new and healthy cells replacing old ones, skin texture is refined and fine lines and wrinkles become less pronounced. And while our facials only touch the outer layer of your skin, it puts the inner layers to work, leading to a stimulation of collagen-producing cells. The result is a smoother, younger skin surface.

Regular Facials Work For All Skintypes and Skintones

Other facial treatments like chemical peels and dermabrasion (an aggressive treatment that’s only performed in hospitals) can lead to discoloration and are therefore not suited for darker skin tones. Microdermabrasion facials are much more gentle though, and perfectly suitable for every skin type and every skin tone. On top of that, our Precision Wellness estheticians will adjust the intensity of your treatment to your individual skin characteristics and needs.

Your Existing Creams & Moisturizers Will Be More Effective

Because the outer layer of your skin is gone, moisturizers and creams penetrate the skin better and thus are far more effective than usual. On top of that Precision Wellness only uses carefully selected products from gentle, high-end brands, so you get the best results.

Regular Facials Can Lead To Long-Term Skin Improvements

If you get facials at regular intervals, you will start to see some amazing long-term benefits. Recent research has shown that repeated facials may influence the way the deeper layers of your skin grow, removing deeper skin problems over time.

Visit Precision Wellness today and get started on a regular facial schedule that will not allow you to pamper yourself and feel great, but your skin will reap long-term benefits.

Relaxing From Back-to-School Stress

The back-to-school season can be a stressful time for parents with crazy carpooling schedules, school supply lists, and PTA meetings. However, as the kids get settled in, parents should find time to wind down and treat themselves to a relaxing facial. At Precision Wellness, we offer a variety of individualized facials to help you relax and rejuvenate stressed skin.

Custom Facials

These facials begin with a thorough cleansing and skin analysis and also include the extraction of blackheads. A mask and customs serum blend is also applied according to your skin needs. Finally, a relaxing scalp, face, neck, and shoulder massage is given. These facials are customized from start to finish according to your exact complexion.

Skin Script Rx

This customized facial includes professional products with natural fruit enzymes, glycolics, retinols, salicylics, masks, and chemical peels. These products can be adjusted to be gentle or aggressive as needed. Skin Script products are aimed towards giving you beautiful, healthy, and youthful-looking skin.

Microdermabrasion

Contrary to popular beliefs, microdermabrasion is not a chemical peel, a laser treatment, or a surgical procedure. Microdermabrasion gently buffs the surface of the skin with a diamond tip wand to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This treatment helps to repair facial skin and is a safe and effective alternative to chemical and laser peels.

Facialderm

A Facialderm is a combination of both custom facials and microdermabrasion. The Microderm buffs away surface skin which reduces the appearance of fine lines, age spots, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and pore size.

Mini Facial

For parents who are on the go, a personalized thirty-minute facial is a great booster. The mini facial includes cleansing, toning, gentle exfoliation, and a custom moisturizer.

Although back-to-school can be a stressful time, parents should not have to suffer the effects on their skin. Facials could be a rewarding and relaxing treat for parents. At Precision Wellness, all of our facials begin with a skin analysis and personal consultation. Our experienced estheticians are experts in treating aging, acne, rosacea, oily, dry, or sensitive skin. Schedule an appointment with us to begin rejuvenating your skin.

The Science Behind Microdermabrasion

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The Basics

Microdermabrasion is a general term for the application of tiny rough grains to buff away the surface layer of skin. Many different products and treatments use this method, including medical procedures, salon treatments, and creams and scrubs that you apply yourself at home. It’s usually done to the face, chest, neck, arms, or hands. Before we can understand how microdermabrasion does what it does, it’s important to understand how the skin works.

Your skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis, and the dermis. The epidermis is the layer closest to the outside world. It’s a set of dead skin cells on top of another layer of cells that are in the process of maturing. The topmost layer is called the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum mostly acts as a barrier between the outside world and the lower skin layers. It keeps all but the smallest molecules from getting through.

When you put lotions or creams on your skin, some of the moisture passes through the stratum corneum, but not all of it. This layer is home to many minor skin imperfections like fine wrinkle lines and blemishes.

All of the action in microdermabrasion takes place at the level of the stratum corneum. Since it only really targets the epidermis (and not the dermis), it is more accurate to call it micro-epi-dermabrasion. Affecting deeper layers of skin would be painful and harmful, and it would risk permanently embedding the tiny grains into the skin.

Microdermabrasion Effects

Whether done with a product at home or in a professional setting with a specialized tool, the principle of microdermabrasion is the same. The idea is that if you remove or break up the stratum corneum, the body interprets that as a mild injury and rushes to replace the lost skin cells with new and healthy ones. In the first hour after treatment, this causes mild edema (swelling) and erythema (redness). Depending on the individual, these side effects can last anywhere from an hour to two days.

This process has a few beneficial effects. With the stratum corneum gone, the skin’s surface is improved. The healing process brings with it newer skin cells that look and feel smoother. Some of the skin’s visible imperfections, like sun damage, blemishes, and fine lines, are removed. Also, without the stratum corneum acting as a barrier, medicinal creams and lotions are more effective because more of their active ingredients and moisture can find their way down to the lower layers of skin. As microdermabrasion temporarily removes some moisture from the skin, it is always followed by the application of moisturizing creams.

Early studies suggest that repeated microdermabrasion treatment at regular intervals may influence the way the lower layers of skin grow, as well, removing deeper blemishes over time. Some evidence seems to indicate that the rapid loss of skin moisture may be what triggers the lower skin layers to work overtime in speeding healthy cells up to the surface.

Enlarged Pores Arent Potholes – Quit Trying to Fill Them!

Move over BB cream – there’s a new fad sweeping countertops, and it’s here to clog your pores! More women are adding “pore fillers” to their daily skincare agenda, hoping to blur or erase pores from their complexion completely. However, much like BB creams, you can file these under “unnecessary skincare”.

While you might envision pores as tiny potholes that a small “fill” can fix, you’ll only be creating a bigger problem – a bigger pore! Here’s why: Your pores are responsible for oil production – they help produce the protective hydrolipidic barrier your skin needs to stay healthy and balanced.

Some people owe their large pores to genetics – they inherited an oily skin type, so they have larger pores to accommodate more oil production. Others acquired larger pores as a result of prolonged congestion. Once a buildup of dirt, oil, and dead skin has stretched a pore, there’s no way to shrink it back to its original size.

While the reason behind having larger pores can vary from person to person, it’s physiologically impossible to close your pores – there aren’t muscles to make them expand or contract. All you can do is minimize their appearance, and filling pores with a product that promises to blur, erase, or make them disappear altogether is the exact opposite of what should be done to help make them look smaller! “Fillers” only add more dirt, debris, and oil to your skin, making your pore problem worse.

The best way to minimize pore appearance is to ensure they are clear of product and dirt. Here’s your 4-step at-home agenda for tiny-looking pores:

Cleanse – Give pores a deep clean with a cleanser that’s appropriate for your skin type. Doing so will ensure your skin is clear of any debris that can clog pores, and emphasize their appearance.
Exfoliate – Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells, completely regenerating once every 30 days. As you age, this process slows, and can lead to clogged pores – an issue that will not only make pores appear larger, but also stretch them so they actually are larger! Rev up your skin’s natural exfoliation process and uncover a more radiant complexion with a leave-on exfoliator like Quick Refiner or manual microdermabrasion like Pumice Peel. Both will keep pores clear.
Treat – For stubborn pores, don’t rely on skin-damaging pore strips to remove impurities. Instead, reach for a clay-based facial mask with balancing plant extracts that acts as a vacuum to draw out pore-clogging debris and replenish hydration. For a deep pore purge, apply a stimulating, exfoliating mask 7 days in a row to eliminate impurities.
Control – Keep pores clear throughout the day by balancing oil production at the source and absorbing excess oil at your skin’s surface with an oil control mattifier.

Stop treating your pores like potholes, filling them with products that claim to make them vanish – it’s impossible! Remember: if a miracle product that promises vanishing pores sounds too good to be true, it probably is.