When it comes to our faces, we don’t rely on just anyone to tell us what our skin needs to get that ever-elusive glow. Instead, we turn to skin care veteran (and celebrity fave!) Renée Rouleau, who knows it takes more than the right products to get radiant.

For many, getting a facial is a calming indulgence akin to a massage or a pedicure — though, maybe not as frequent. But, getting routine facials from a trained, professional skin therapist offers so much more than just a relaxing experience — most importantly, keeping skin healthy, clear, and glowing.

Even if your at-home regimen is working just fine, visiting a skin therapist could completely change the way you view your complexion, no matter your age or skin care woes. Below, I've detailed 10 reasons why you should see a professional.

Expert Skin Analysis
Wherever you go to buy your skin care products — department stores, pharmacies, chances are, the consultant sees your face with makeup on. The benefit of getting your skin analysed   through professional facials is that the therapist sees your skin without makeup. This allows the therapist to cater to your skin’s unique needs, whether you struggle with enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation, or dehydration, it is through advanced treatments they can suggest the best products for your home care routine. In addition to his or her ability to identify and treat skin, your therapist works with your skin for an hour so they can achieve a real understanding of your true skin type. This is something that a consultant or department store salesperson is usually not trained for.

Professional Advice
An hour of one-on-one time creates an opportunity for the therapist to provide professional advice, skin tips and tricks. And, during the consultation, you have a chance to ask any questions you may have. Part of getting a facial is learning how to care for your skin properly. Most importantly, this “lesson” will include which products or ingredients work best for your skin type and how to care for your skin at home so you can maintain the results of your facial.

Most facials include a professional form of exfoliation using ultrasound, microdermabrasion crystals, enzymes or acids. Some of the exfoliating ingredients mentioned can be spotted in ordinary skin care products but during a facial you will experience the treatment at a professional strength. The exfoliation is specifically catered toward your skin type so that it will smooth the skin, increase cellular turnover, soften lines, and break up skin discoloration to promote more even-toned skin.

Clean Out Blackheads And Clogged Pores
With proper preparation and skin softening techniques, your therapist will use a skilled method to gently extract clogged pores, blackheads, and impurities without causing harm to your skin. People usually have a difficult time eliminating blackheads at home because home care products can only help to reduce the surface oil in clogged pores. It takes a professional therapist to properly prepare and soften the skin before manual extractions can take place in a safe and effective way. Though you may experience some redness after a professional extraction, this should not leave any marks on the skin.

A Scope For Skin Cancer 
Skin cancer is on the rise, so it's increasingly important to regularly check your skin for changes to moles and to look out for abnormal skin growths. Usually, these changes are so subtle and develop at a slow pace so over time you may not notice them. A benefit of having a professional skin therapist work with your skin is that he or she will analyse your skin and bring to your attention any potential abnormalities that they feel you should check out with a medical doctor. An skin therapist is also a new set of eyes that may notice skin imperfections that you have been blinded to over time.

Problem Solve
Whether it’s dry skin, brown spots, redness, irritation, or inflamed acne, a good facial is always customised to focus on what your skin needs to help solve your skin problems. If your skin is prone to brown spots and discoloration, your therapist will use skin brightening or lightening treatments. If your skin is dry, then they'll use lipid-increasing ingredients to repair your skin’s protective barrier to reduce dryness. Facials are always geared to problem solve, and the level of your facial’s intensity is contingent on the severity of your skin’s problem. By using the right combination of ingredients and high-tech tools, an therapist can really create lasting change in the skin over time to improve its appearance to achieve your greatest complexion.

How to use a facial scrub 

Intensive Hydration
Every skin type needs hydration. It doesn’t matter if you have oily, acne-prone skin, or dry, flakey skin. Your skin cells are like fish and need water to survive. In order to maintain healthy skin, it is imperative to keep it hydrated. With oilier skin types, the face tends to produce more oil when moisture is lacking, the opposite of what you'd guess. Oily skin needs moisture, but keep in mind that the moisture it’s seeking is water, not oil. Hydrated skin is healthy skin and a facial will help regulate the proper moisture level your skin requires.

Increase Circulation To Encourage A Glow
There is no doubt that when blood circulation slows, the skin’s health is impaired. Aging leads to slowed circulation, which inevitably results in dull, tired looking skin. Facial massages help to increase blood flow and circulation to bring oxygen and new nutrients to the skin. This will encourage a youthful radiance.

Stress Release
Aside from the various skin benefits facials can offer, they are extremely relaxing and immediately de-stress you physically and psychologically. Studies show that stress can lead to unhealthy skin, so what’s a better way to eliminate stress and promote healthy skin than a face and neck massage complete with soothing music and ambient lighting? And, if you think the $100+ price tag of a facial will just stress you out even more, go for an express facial, and get your therapist to advise you on the right products and purchase them one by one till you’ve built up your own facial kit. 

Because You Deserve It!
Women tend to spend an exceptional amount of time caring for the people in their lives. Caring for the people you love is rewarding, but, at times, it can be mentally exhausting. Take just a couple of hours to yourself to do something that you won’t be required to share with anyone else. A facial is just for you and will give you time to re-energise and clear your mind. Nourish your soul and pamper your skin in just a few blissful hours at the spa.

Now, what are you waiting for? You’ll be glad you did.