Facials used to be a relaxing session with an exfoliating scrub and a deep cleansing routine to remove all the blemishes followed by a hydrating pack and a massage to restore vitality and moisture to the skin. Cut to the present, where facials are now more than just an indulgence. “These days, there are several varieties of facials and each of them are targeted at specific ailments. For example, there is an insta-lift facial which removes the effects of ageing in a matter of 90-minutes. There is also the Buccal technique which is a very intense form of facial that is done from inside the mouth and helps to activate and tone facial muscles from within. In fact, this is so popular that celebs like Angelina Jolie, Sienna Miller and Kate Winslet swear by this,” explains Dr Anjali Kamath, a cosmetologist and aesthetic consultant.
Skin specialists believe that facials have taken on a more therapeutic avatar nowadays. “It is not just about cleansing your skin or for relaxation; facials can have multiple benefits like restoring the glow, treatment of various kinds of allergies and other ailments too,” says Dr Nipurna Shah, plastic surgeon and medical consultant.
Facials like photo facials that involves using light to treat marks on the skin, oxy-restore facials which restore oxygen to the skin cells or even those that use precious elements like powdered gemstones or metals like gold are becoming popular.
“These facials are yet to make inroads in India, but are very popular abroad and many Indian women too are known to have complete faith in them and also try them when they are abroad. What is becoming very popular in the country now are facials that make use of very exotic ingredients like caviar, truffles, red wine, etc. Indians often tend to have more faith in treatments with a higher concentration of natural ingredients,” she adds. Actresses like Malaika Arora Khan and Shilpa Shetty are known to check themselves into spas abroad to pamper themselves with these facials.
Another treatment that still continues to be popular with good-looking women around the world is micro-dermabrasion. “The latest version of this treatment comes with powdered gemstones like sapphire or even garnet, and these are known to have positive benefits on the skin as they not only help to remove dead skin cells but they also lend a sheen to the skin,” shares Maya Dubey-Shah, a chief aesthetician who specialises in these treatments. “However, while the list of choices can be mind-boggling, the decision must always be taken in consultation with an expert who can tell you exactly what will and won’t work for your skin because using the wrong treatment can have serious downsides,” she cautions.