At Ray Cochrane, we have been training beauty professionals since 1954. In our extensive experience, facials are the most powerful foundational treatment for healthy, hydrated, and glowy skin! This is why, regardless of their desired field of expertise, all beauty and aesthetic professionals must complete the Level 2 Facial and Skincare course.
Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast embarking on a personal skincare journey or aspiring to be a beauty and aesthetic professional, learning the importance of facial treatments can be a game-changer for your or your client’s skincare routine.
In this blog, we’ll explore the essentials of facial treatments, how they rejuvenate your skin and boost your overall well-being, what a professional facial treatment should include, and the benefits of each step. We will share professional knowledge, tips, and tricks, so read on to learn more about professional facial treatments!
Why facials are more than just a luxury treatment?
Facials are essential in maintaining the skin’s health and overall wellness. The saying ‘look good, feel good’ couldn’t be more accurate as it’s proven that when we feel good, our self-esteem increases. Self-esteem impacts not only our mental well-being but also our relationships with others and our decision-making skills!
Aside from the confidence healthy and glowing skin provides, facials provide excellent benefits such as deep cleansing, increased circulation, and advanced hydration. These treatments help to remove impurities, promote new cell growth, and give your skin a fresh, vibrant glow.
Finally, we should always appreciate the stress relief a good facial provides. Professional facials offer clients an hour of relaxation. A facial treatment’s soothing environment and gentle touch can significantly reduce stress, preventing stress-induced inflammation and breakouts. This makes facials an essential tool not just for skin health but also for maintaining mental balance.
What are the different types of facials?
There are many facials available out there that address various skin concerns. Below, we will list some of the most popular facials we cover in our facial course.
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Basic facial—
As the name suggests, this facial consists of the basics of facial maintenance, including facial cleanses, extraction, exfoliation, and a mask to nourish the skin, leaving it refreshed and radiant. This facial can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour.
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Express facial—
This facial is perfect for those who still want to look after their skin but have a busy schedule! The treatment addresses immediate skin concerns, quickly reviving your complexion. Express facial treatments can last up to 30 minutes, making them a popular lunchtime excursion.
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Anti-Aging Facial—
Aimed at mature skin, the treatment will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, enhancing skin firmness. Aside from facial cleansing, extraction and exfoliation, a microcurrent device may be used to lift the skin.
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Hydrating Facial—
This intensely moisturising facial is the go-to for those with dry or dehydrated skin. It focuses on replenishing hydration after cleansing to restore suppleness and smoothness to the skin.
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Brightening Facial—
This facial is best for tackling dullness and pigmentation issues. It aims to even out skin tone and bring back a luminous complexion.
All facials will include cleansing, toning, extraction/exfoliation (unless the skin is inflamed), and a facial massage.
Our Facial courses teach students how to complete a skin analysis and client consultation. These are vital to choosing the right facial to effectively address their specific needs, a crucial skill for aspiring beauty professionals.
Professional facials techniques and tools
A professional facial is about the proper technique and tools the therapist uses, which can’t be easily replicated at home. Here are a few essential techniques that make or break a professional facial.
Steaming—It is easy to wash the face and apply a facial mask directly to the skin when doing a home facial. However, a professional facial steams the face to open up pores and loosen buildup, making it easier to complete a deep clean.
Exfoliation—Exfoliations are great for removing dead skin cells and encouraging cell regeneration. Professional facials use mechanical or chemical exfoliation, and their expertise ensures that the skin does not become irritated or torn.
Facial Massages— When your therapist does this during a facial treatment, it’s not just for relaxation purposes but to increase blood flow and reduce toxins and puffiness. Therapists who deliver professional facials will have mastered lymphatic drainage massages. A lymphatic drainage massage drains your lymph nodes, providing an instantly slimmer and more defined face.
Masks— A professional face mask will be customised for your skin’s needs and can hydrate, firm, or clarify.
Professional tools—There are just too many to list, but some examples are brush machines for exfoliation and LED lights for treating acne or signs of ageing. These professional tools are designed to enhance both the effectiveness of the facial and the client’s experience.
How to customise facials for various skin concerns?
As we mentioned before, when getting a professional facial treatment, the client will get a skin analysis and client consultation where the therapist will understand their skin and their desired results better. Depending on the client’s skin type, the following adaptions should be made to their facial treatment:
Oily Skin— More often than not, oily skin products can increase oil production because they strip the skin too much, so the skin produces more oil to compensate. A professional therapist will understand this and focus on balancing oil production and administering thorough cleansing techniques to curb the occurrence of acne.
Dry Skin—To treat dry skin, the therapist should focus on reintroducing moisture and hydration whilst gently exfoliating to nourish and refine the skin.
Sensitive Skin—Sensitive skin can be tricky to treat, as you don’t want to aggravate it. By utilising hypoallergenic products and soothing techniques, we proactively avoid any potential irritation.
Combination Skin—Combination skin usually consists of an oily T-zone and a dry permitre. This type of skin necessitates a well-balanced approach, often requiring different treatments for different facial areas to address both dry and oily patches effectively.
Ageing Skin— Anti-aging facials should emphasise hydration and firming treatments that promote elasticity, effectively diminishing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.
Hyperpigmentation— Hyperpigmentation occurs when there is an overproduction of melanin in certain areas of the face, which leads to uneven skin tone. Facials incorporating brightening ingredients and vitamin C prove particularly beneficial to address skin exhibiting dark spots.
Our facial training courses teach the knowledge and skills required to customise facials based on such needs. We empower our students with the skills to deliver targeted and effective treatments to their future clientele.
What are the benefits of regular facial treatments?
1. Diverse Treatments:
Facials are diverse treatments that effectively address an extensive range of skin concerns.
Tailored to any skin concern at any stage, which means that no matter what your skin is going through, at its best or worst, a facial can only help.
2. Improved Skin Texture and Tone:
Regular facials can help improve the overall texture and tone of the skin by eliminating dead skin cells and boosting collagen production.
3. Acne Management:
Facial benefits those struggling with acne, as a professional facial will deeply cleanse the pores and rebalance oil production, which will, over time, remove the acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
4. Long-Term Benefits:
Apart from the immediate benefits you will see from the facial, they also benefit the client in the long term. Professional exfoliation and cleansing will increase your skin’s capacity to absorb skincare products at home, maximising the efficacy of your skincare routine.
Where to learn the professional facial treatments?
Ray Cochrane Beauty and Aesthetic Academy has trained the leading beauty and aesthetic professionals since 1954. We are the leading beauty training centre in London, and because of that, students from all over the globe choose to study with us.
Our Ofqual-regulated VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Course is perfect for those who want to learn how to deliver professional facial and skincare treatments. The course provides students comprehensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills in facial treatments and skincare.
In the course, students will learn about the following modules:
- Anatomy and Physiology: Students will learn about the structure and functions of the skin, as well as the underlying muscles and bones of the face.
- Skin Analysis: Understanding how to assess different skin types and conditions and how to recommend suitable treatments based on individual skin needs.
- Facial Cleansing: Techniques for properly cleansing the face to remove impurities, makeup, and excess oil.
- Exfoliation and Extraction: Methods for exfoliating the skin to remove dead cells and performing safe extraction of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads).
- Facial Massage: Learning various massage techniques for the face and neck to improve circulation, relax muscles, and promote overall well-being.
- Facial Masks: Students understand the different masks and how to apply them for hydration, detoxification, and skin nourishment.
- Skincare Products: Understanding different skincare products, their ingredients, and how to select and recommend products tailored to specific skin types and concerns.
- Hygiene and Safety: Maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring safe practices during facial treatments are essential.
- Client Consultation and Communication: This module is designed to equip you with the skills for conducting thorough consultations with clients. Understanding their skincare needs and preferences is critical to providing effective treatments. We emphasise the importance of effective communication throughout the treatment process, as it plays a significant role in meeting client needs and ensuring their satisfaction.
- Professionalism and Business Skills: This module provides comprehensive guidance on building a successful career in the beauty industry. From customer service to client retention and business management, you’ll gain the skills needed to thrive in this competitive field. This course is not just about learning. It’s about opening doors to exciting career opportunities in the beauty industry.
Overall, this course equips students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to perform professional facial treatments and provide expert skincare advice to clients.
If you want to learn more about the course or see if it’s right for you, contact us on 0203 856 8886. Alternatively, email admission@raycochrane.co.uk with “Facial course enquiry” in the subject line, and our course consultants will gladly assist you!
