I got my first ever facial treatment. Here's what happened

Self-care can mean different things to people—for others it's reading your favorite book, getting your favorite ice cream, or getting your much-deserved facial treatment.

I've never experienced getting the latter—ever. Not only that I find it expensive, but I also didn’t realize how important it is; I just assumed that my simple skincare regimen (cleanser, toner, and moisturizer) would suffice and do its magic in taking care of my acne-prone skin.

I was given an opportunity to try it. Call me OA, but I was nervous before the session since I’m not really sure what to expect. 

I went to Flawless Clinic in SM Mall of Asia and did a quick consultation with the dermatologist before starting with the treatment.

The first treatment was the Clarifying Advanced Facial—a great choice for those with oily skin like me and if you want to reduce inflammation and unclog pores.

It began with a gentle wash to remove dirt that I got from my commute. Next, the aesthetician steamed my face for 10 minutes to help open my pores for the next step—prickling and extraction of my pimples and blackheads.

Although the process made it seem like I had the longest five minutes of my life, it was kind of satisfying to finally get rid of all the impurities that had been sitting on my face. Fortunately, the aesthetician helped me in easing the pain by distracting me with her chikas.  

After the hellish step, I was treated with a cooling oxygenating mask for 30 minutes. This helped in unclogging pores and controlling oil production, not to mention that it also targets acne-causing bacteria. It was so soothing that the soreness from all the prickling went away.  

Since I have deep acne scars, the dermatologist advised me to also get Fraxelite—a treatment that uses carbon laser to diminish skin imperfections like warts, acne, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, syringoma, and facial scars. This is also used if you want to reduce your wrinkles or fine lines. 

The aesthetician first put an anesthesia cream on my face which kind of helped in reducing the pricking sensation during the session. But not gonna lie, it was still uncomfortable with all the tingling and itching sensation, especially on my forehead and nose area. It was tolerable at most, except for my urge to itch or press my face after an hour of treatment. 

Unlike the facial, this laser treatment has downtime. My face was red after and I had a slight inflammation. It also left tiny dots that slightly resemble the sandpaper texture that stayed on for five days.

So, was it all worth it? 

For a first-timer who doesn’t care much about skincare, it is definitely worth it. The whole process was not just a learning experience on understanding my skin, but it was indeed one of the best ways to de-stress.  

From the moment I lay down, I was treated with calming nature sounds. The aestheticians will also make you feel at ease because they also explain the treatment—what is it and why I need it.

Downtime aside, I think one of the best treatments to avail yourself of is the Fraxelite, especially if you’re conscious about your wrinkles and dark spots. Clients of all ages can rejuvenate their skin in almost painless and non-invasive kinds of treatment. What’s best is that it can only be done once a month, depending on the doctor’s assessment. 

In my case, though it may not be very visible, I saw improvement in my acne scars, especially on my right cheek. I initially thought that it was impossible to get rid of it especially since I was told it was kind of deep. I guess you can say that a derm visit will be now part of my budget, especially since I want to achieve and keep the youthful glow.

If you want to try it for yourself, Flawless is having a sale this December to celebrate its 22nd anniversary with deals such as 3+1 or 4+1 Medical and Non-medical Services, Shareable Beauty Squad Packages for P25K or P50K, and more.