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Though facials are commonly thought of as a form of pampering, the skin treatment is not simply a frivolous luxury. The many benefits that facials have on your skin make it a treatment worth investing in, whether you have your treatment done at a spa or do it yourself at home. A facial involves several steps that will improve the overall look and feel of your complexion.

Choosing the type of facial you want depends on what you're looking for and what you can afford. Some facial treatments are designed to deep-clean the skin, while others offer moisturizing benefits, and still others help to relieve stress, which often causes acne.

Cleansing

Facials, face packs, aromatherapy facials and massage with facial creams and other remedies help deep cleanse the skin, removing toxins caused by pollution, grease and dirt found in your everyday environment.

Such facials help to reduce an overabundance of sebum, which is a natural substance moisturizes and lubricates the skin. Overproduction of sebum can cause skin problems, including blackheads and acne.

Cleansing facials open the pores of the skin, remove dead skin and toxins from the face, and clean the surface of the skin through exfoliation that tightens and firms the skin.

Increased Circulation

Facial treatments help to improve and restore circulation to facial skin layers, increasing the flow of oxygen-enriched blood to skin cells.

This rush of blood to the skin gives your skin a healthy glow and plumps skin cells with vital nutrients and water, which reduce the appearance of wrinkled and dry skin.

Nutrients like blood, vitamins and minerals found in the blood, along with adequate hydration, help develop and maintain new skin cells, essential for a youthful, healthy appearance.

Emotional Benefits

Facial treatments feel good and offering soothing relaxation. Facial massage treatments increase circulation and the flow of blood, and they include a variety of creams, aromatherapy and oils that moisturize the skin, smell good, and relieve stress as well as encourage peace of mind and contentment.

Anti-Aging

While there is no way to stop the aging process, a variety of facial treatments and technologies may help slow the skin-aging process and offer you more youthful, supple skin.

Intense pulsed light, or IPL, laser treatments help to remove dead skin and increase collagen and cell growth and development.

Examples of common skin laser treatments include DermaWand, OxyLight and Baby Quasar. Each can be used to remove dead and damaged skin and increase production of collagen, which is essential for plump and healthy skin cells.