Do facials really work for your skin?

theres hundreds of things people think are healthy for them , when really, its not.

The theory behind is that contracting and relaxing the facial muscles will improve muscle tone and thus the face will be more defined and relaxed. It makes sense to think that if we exercise the muscles in our bodies to tone them up, the same will happen for the muscles in our face.

I have a best friend who's 54. She spent loads of time outside in the sun when she was younger, and hasn't stopped (which she knows is a no-no), though she does now use a sun screen when she's outside.

Several years ago she knew her skin was probably damaged, and she started getting fairly regular facials to help offset the damage she knew she'd done in the sun. I have to say that her skin looks wonderful. It would surprise me that her facialist would do different things based on what she saw in my friend's skin -- it wasn't just always the same thing based on oily or dry skin, for instance.

I have never had a facial even though I've seen such good results in her -- maybe now's the time to start!

Here's an at-home facial routine for those of us who can't or don't care to get a professional facial right now. It uses commercial products available pretty much anywhere:

http://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/ht/basicfacial.htm

Your skin is your largest organ - living, breathing tissue. Exfoliation of dead surface cells and proper hydration help keep your skin looking fresh and radiant at any age.

I'm a believer in the occasional facial, not just for the therapeutic benefit of being pampered, but for the healthful benefit of treating your skin well. After having spent several years at a young age in the fashion industry, and then later in the cosmetics industry, I found that most of us haven't been taught well enough how to care for our own skin type and condition.

What you experience with the facials is quite normal. People often mistake the surfacing of stuff from under the surface of the skin as allergic reactions or sensitivity to the product, when the product was doing exactly what it is formulated to do. A healthy diet and proper hydration, use of non-comedogenic products and a healthy lifestyle all contribute to good skin health.

These days, good skin care should be relatively easy. What's difficult is selecting the proper products for your skin type and condition. If you don't have the luxury of going for a facial, consult a skin care specialist or your dermatologist.

It has been a while since I've gone for a facial. You've reminded me that it would be a lovely treat - sometime soon!