4 Qualities To Look For in a Facialist

The weather is finally warming up (YAY!), and that means it's time to schedule an appointment with my facialist to say "Au revior" to all that griminess that made itself quite at home on my skin over the winter. Lucky for me, my skin issues are minimal at best -- I'm just baby sensitive -- which makes me pretty comfortable with most facialists I've seen. However, I'm fiercely loyal to the pros at Blue Mercury.)

That said, not all facials are created equal. So, I've pulled together four things you need to look for in a facialist before you let her (or him!) start diving into your blackheads.

Your friend recommends her: Like all things beauty, I'm a big believer in word of mouth. But with facialists, you have to be careful. If your friend is acne-prone and your skin is on the drier side, that particular facial may wreck your skin. Before you make an appointment, call the spa she goes to and see if there's someone who specializes in your skin type, and make sure to carefully research their options -- a "White Raspberry" facial may sound lovely, but who knows exactly what kind of skin that's necessarily made for. Or, even better: Look for someone with similar skin, and ask them if they get facials and who they see. She speaks your language: Not like "Does my facialist speak English?", but more along the lines of if you tell her you get "weird, cloggy things" on your chin, will she know what you're talking about? Best way to find out: pop by the spa and talk to her for five minutes about your skin. If your personalities vibe, book it! If not, keep looking. It's important to trust the person who's basically picking at your face, for lack of a filter.
The salon looks clean: While you're at the spa chatting up the facialist, take a look around. Does it look dingy? Or is it squeaky clean? You want to make sure the place is super spotless, since you can get an infection if the technician uses dirty tools. See if they have sterilization tools, or again, always ask -- you can never have too many questions when it comes to your skin.
You dig the products: You have preferences on what products you use at home (at least we certainly do), so why wouldn't you have one at the spa? See if the products the spa uses are up to your standards. If you dig organics, do the salon you're visiting use earth-friendly products? If you're a derm-brand connoisseur, are the products actually backed by derms? You may feel picky asking, but it's totally worth it. #Trust.

How do you find a new facialist? Tweet us @AESam and @SELFMagazine!

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Image Credit: WWD

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