3 things you should NOT expect from a good extraction facial

For many ladies in Singapore, extractions are a MUST during a facial.

Although congestion can be partly managed by the use of good skincare products and blackheads can be exfoliated to make it less visible, some dirt just fill, fester and stretch your pores to make it unbelievably big.

Extractions can help you clear your skin of blackheads and small pimples that stops you from getting that radiance and clarity that clean skin should have.

If done incorrectly, however, extractions can damage your skin irreparably, leaving behind scars and even broken blood vessels!

We spoke to Geranium Skin Boutique, an extraction facial specialist, and their customers to understand what you should expect from a good extraction facial.

1) Extractions should NOT be EXCESSIVELY painful

Don’t listen to what your facial therapist say about ‘no pain no gain’.

Pain is a warning sign that something is wrong.

Grace from Geranium Skin Boutique shares that high level of pain indicates that the skin is being damaged excessively (and needlessly).

There ARE techniques and ways to minimize the damage and therefore the pain. As long as the therapists are well trained and not pressured to complete too many facials within a short period of time, the extraction process will NOT be very painful.

Firstly, the therapists should be very careful in coaxing the comedones out by observing the direction of growth and choosing the right angle to remove the comedones.

Extraction at Geranium Skin Boutique

Machines such as microdermabrasion and enzyme peels helps to remove the top layer of dead skin, making it easier for the therapist to reach the stubborn blackheads during extraction later on.

Microdermabrasion at Geranium Skin Boutique

It’s always a good sign if you manage to fall asleep during the facial; it means that your facial therapist is really skilful at her job.

If your facial therapist is making you squirm and scream during the facial, you should definitely consider a change!

2) Extractions should NOT leave behind redness!

Redness is yet another sign that your skin has been damaged excessively.

Once again, redness relates to the skill of your facial therapist. If she coaxes the blackheads out gently, the skin will not turn very red. On the other hand, an impatient and unskilled facial therapist may forcefully remove the blackheads, causing the pores to open even wider, causing significant redness and even allergic reactions.

A skilled therapist will take additional steps to close the pores and minimize any inflammation (and redness).

Here are some of the steps that Geranium customers felt were useful:

• Jeanette Yaw: The soothing cooling lotion which they apply after helps to calm my skin.

• Justina Chow: After extraction, cotton pad soaked with toner was laid over the skin to calm the area.

• Si Hui: The in-house blend of essential oils probably had a part to play to heal and calm the skin after extraction. Any redness after the extraction usually subsides the next day.

Grace shared that the masks were also another reason why their customers experience minimal redness - it nourishes the skin, reducing redness and encourages the pores to close.

Does your facial therapist share with you what they are doing to minimize redness after the facial?

3) Extractions should NOT leave behind too many blackheads!

It may not be advisable to remove ALL the blackheads on the face, especially stubborn ones as it can damage your skin excessively. However, there usually aren’t too many of those.

A good extraction facial should be able to remove at least 80% to 90% of the blackheads on your face. If not, your facial therapist may be doing a shoddy job.

Are there other things you think an extraction should or should not do?

Share with us below!

Visit beautyundercover.sg for more beauty tips!