Happy International Women's Day! As it's IWD I have decided to create a Giveaway for Mother's Day, my way of celebrating all the great women out there.

On offer is a luxurious one hour Holistic Facial, using organic products made by the local Shoreham based aromatherapist, Sophie Joseph. The treatment includes a shoulder, neck and head massage too!

With that in mind I thought I should share on here what makes a facial so great. If you're already converted and don't need any more convincing, enter this competition by checking out my Facebook page @holisticBN5.  

Skin is our largest organ. It serves as a protective barrier between the wider world and us. It takes a lot of stress through exposure to sun, harsh weather, and chemicals in our everyday environments. With all the burden our skin takes, a regular facial should be an essential to everyone’s skin care regime.

What is a Facial?

Skin is our largest organ. It serves as a protective barrier between the wider world and us. It takes a lot of stress through exposure to sun, harsh weather, and chemicals in our everyday environments. With all the burden our skin takes, a regular facial should be an essential to everyone’s skin care regime.

A facial is a treatment designed to improve the appearance and condition of our skin and provide overall relaxation. There are several phases of a facial, which typically include:

1. Consultation: covering current home skin-care routine and areas of concern.

2. Double cleanse: complete removal of make-up, dirt and toxins from the skins surface to ensure the skin is absolutely prepared for further stages of the facial.

3. Tone: ensures all residual traces of grease and cleanser are removed from the skins surface.

4. Skin diagnosis: precise analyse of the skin to correctly determine skin type, any conditions present and appropriate products for further stages of the facial and home skin-care routine.

5. Exfoliation: decongests the skin by loosening and removing cellular debris to boost cellular regeneration.

6. Steam/skin warming: opens the pores and stimulates the circulation to nourish the skin and excrete cellular toxins in preparation for the next phase of the facial.

7. Massage:  massage techniques and acupressure movements to improve the condition of skin and muscles in the upper body, allowing them to function optimally.

8. Mask: intensive treatment to achieve specific results e.g. clay masks to draw out cellular toxins or peel-off masks for anti-ageing.

9. Moisturise: provides an occlusive barrier to the skin which supports its natural moisture mechanism and protects from environmental stress such as pollution and UV rays thus delaying the ageing process and formation of fine lines.

Benefits of a facial

A facial can:
– Even skin tone
– Improve the appearance and texture of skin
– Stimulate the flow of blood and oxygen in the upper body and face to nourish cells
– Stimulate lymphatic drainage in the upper body and face to remove cellular toxins
– Release muscular tension in face (especially the jaw and neck) scalp and upper body
– Identify individual skin types and correct products for home skin-care routine
– Give a feeling of improved wellbeing and self confidence

Why we all need a regular facial

Although we see instant benefits from a single facial such as healthier, more balanced skin, like most things, such as practicing yoga, the benefits of committing to a regular facial for our skin health are cumulative.

Our skin turns over new cells on average every 28 days pushing the dead skin cells to the surface. A monthly facial will improve cellular health at every level resulting in healthier cells being replicated. As we age, the cell turnover rate slows down so receiving a monthly facial incorporating specific bioactive and cosmeceutical products will stimulate cellular regeneration and renewal to increase cellular resistance, which prevents ageing whilst visibly toning the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

So, if you want to maintain long lasting and healthy skin why not come for a facial?