Skin Goal & Holistic Facials: Treatment Advice & Aftercare

Personalised Facials, Facial Massage, Gua Sha & Cupping

This advice applies to:

Skin Goal Facials: Bespoke Skin Facial • Calm & Restore • Clear & Decongest • Hydrate & Glow • Age Well & Firm

Holistic Facials: Gua Sha & Cupping Facial • Natural Facelift Massage

Our Skin Concern Facials are personalised treatments designed around your skin on the day of your appointment.

Depending on your skin and the facial selected, your treatment may include cleansing, exfoliation, massage, masks, serums and other professional skincare selected to suit your individual needs.

Your therapist will assess your skin before treatment and adapt your facial where necessary.

Before Your Facial

There is very little preparation needed before a facial, but to help us get the most from your treatment:

• Avoid using strong exfoliating products or scrubs immediately before your appointment.

• If possible, avoid retinoids and strong exfoliating acids for around 48 hours beforehand, particularly if your skin is sensitive.

• Avoid waxing the treatment area immediately before your facial.

• Let us know if you've recently had a chemical peel, microneedling, laser, injectable treatment or another advanced skin procedure.

• Tell us about any allergies or sensitivities to skincare ingredients.

• Let us know about any medication or changes to your health that may affect your skin.

• Tell your therapist if your skin has become particularly sensitive, irritated or reactive since booking.

You don't need to remove your makeup before coming to the clinic — we'll cleanse your skin as part of your treatment.

Is a Facial Suitable for Everyone?

Because our facials can be adapted, having a medical condition or sensitive skin doesn't necessarily mean you can't have a treatment.

However, please tell us before your appointment if you:

• have an active skin infection

• have an active cold sore

• have open wounds or broken skin in the treatment area

• have significant inflammation, irritation or sunburn

• are experiencing a severe eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or rosacea flare

• have known allergies or sensitivities to skincare ingredients

• have recently had surgery or another procedure in the treatment area

• have recently had injectable treatments

• are currently taking medication that significantly affects your skin

• are using prescription retinoids or have recently taken isotretinoin

• are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In many cases we can simply adapt the facial, avoid a particular ingredient or technique, or recommend a different treatment.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

You can still enjoy many of our facials during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

However, some skincare ingredients, products or additional treatment modalities may not be appropriate, so please let us know that you're pregnant or breastfeeding when booking and again at your appointment.

Your therapist can then adapt your facial accordingly.

What to Expect During Your Facial

Your therapist will assess your skin and discuss any particular concerns before beginning your treatment.

Your facial will then be personalised according to your skin's needs.

Depending on the treatment, this may include:

• cleansing

• exfoliation

• extraction where appropriate

• massage

• targeted serums

• masks

• moisturising and skin-barrier support.

Not every step is appropriate for every skin type. For example, a sensitive or rosacea-prone skin may require a much gentler approach than oily or congested skin.

What to Expect Afterwards

Most clients experience little or no downtime following one of our Skin Concern Facials.

Your skin may look:

• brighter

• more hydrated

• smoother

• temporarily pink or flushed.

If your treatment has included exfoliation or extraction, the skin may feel slightly more sensitive afterwards.

Occasionally, congested skin can experience some temporary redness around areas where extractions have been performed.

Aftercare

For the remainder of the day, treat your skin gently.

• Avoid excessive touching or rubbing.

• Don't use scrubs or aggressively exfoliate the skin.

• Avoid strong retinoids or exfoliating acids if your skin feels sensitive.

• Avoid picking any blemishes or areas that have been extracted.

• Keep your skin well moisturised.

• Use a broad-spectrum SPF during the day.

• Follow any personalised homecare advice given by your therapist.

You can usually return to your normal skincare routine once your skin feels completely comfortable.

Makeup

Makeup can generally be applied following a standard facial.

However, where possible, we recommend leaving your skin makeup-free for the remainder of the day so you can enjoy the freshly treated skin.

If your facial has involved extractions or your skin feels particularly sensitive, waiting until the following day is preferable.

Exercise, Sauna & Swimming

There is usually no need to significantly restrict your normal activities following a standard facial.

However, if your skin is particularly flushed or sensitive, avoid excessive heat, saunas, steam rooms or strenuous exercise until it has settled.

Sun Protection

Daily sun protection is an important part of maintaining healthy skin.

Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50, particularly following exfoliation and when using active skincare ingredients at home.

Facial Add-Ons

If you have added another treatment to your facial — such as dermaplaning, microdermabrasion or another advanced modality — additional aftercare may apply.

Your therapist will advise you of anything you need to do differently following your particular treatment.

Gua Sha & Cupping Facial

Our Gua Sha & Cupping Facial combines facial massage with traditional tools and techniques to create a relaxing treatment focused on facial tension, circulation and the appearance of puffiness and skin vitality.

Gua Sha uses a smooth tool that is gently moved across the skin, while facial cupping uses small cups to create controlled suction.

Before Your Treatment

Please tell your practitioner if you:

• bruise particularly easily

• take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication

• have a bleeding or clotting disorder

• have very fragile or reactive skin

• have active rosacea or significant facial redness

• have broken capillaries or prominent facial vessels

• have an active skin condition, infection, cold sore or open wound

• have recently had facial surgery

• have recently had dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, skin boosters or other injectables

• have recently had a peel, laser, microneedling, plasma or another advanced facial treatment.

The treatment can often be adapted by reducing pressure, avoiding particular areas or leaving out the cupping element.

What Does It Feel Like?

Gua Sha and facial cupping should feel comfortable and relaxing rather than painful.

You may feel:

• gentle pressure

• light suction

• warmth

• increased circulation to the skin

• a relaxing stretching or massage sensation.

Tell your practitioner if the pressure or suction feels uncomfortable.

Will Facial Cupping Leave Marks?

Facial cupping is much gentler than traditional stationary body cupping and the cups are normally kept moving across the skin.

Most clients don't develop the distinctive dark circular marks associated with body cupping.

However, temporary redness or occasional mild bruising can occur, particularly if you bruise easily or have delicate capillaries.

Your skin may also look temporarily flushed following Gua Sha.

Aftercare

Following your facial:

• keep your skincare gentle if the skin feels sensitive

• avoid aggressive exfoliation immediately afterwards

• avoid rubbing or vigorously massaging the face

• avoid excessive heat if your skin remains flushed

• keep the skin moisturised

• use your usual daily sun protection.

If you develop unexpected or significant bruising, swelling, discomfort or a skin reaction, please contact us.

Natural Facelift Massage

Our Natural Facelift Massage is a hands-on facial massage treatment using a combination of lifting, sculpting and relaxing massage techniques across the face, jawline and neck.

The treatment is designed to help release facial tension and leave the face looking refreshed, relaxed and temporarily more defined.

It doesn't replace injectable treatments or surgical lifting, and we don't describe it as permanently changing facial structure.

Before Your Treatment

Please tell your practitioner if you:

• have an active cold sore, infection or open wound

• have significant facial inflammation

• have an active eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or rosacea flare

• bruise very easily

• take medication that affects bleeding or bruising

• have recently had facial or dental surgery

• have recently had dermal fillers

• have recently had anti-wrinkle injections

• have recently had skin boosters, polynucleotides or mesotherapy

• have recently had microneedling, laser, a skin peel or plasma treatment

• have significant jaw or TMJ problems

• have an unexplained facial swelling or pain

• have another condition that may affect whether facial massage is appropriate.

Recent injectables don't necessarily mean you cannot have facial massage in the future, but they need to be appropriately spaced so that we aren't applying pressure to a freshly treated area.

What Does Natural Facelift Massage Feel Like?

The treatment incorporates different massage movements and may include:

• gentle sweeping movements

• lifting and sculpting techniques

• facial muscle massage

• pressure-point techniques

• work around the jawline and neck

• relaxing movements designed to release facial tension.

Some areas, particularly around the jaw, may feel more tender if you hold a lot of muscular tension there.

The treatment should still feel comfortable. Tell your practitioner if any movement feels painful or too intense.

What Should I Expect Afterwards?

Immediately afterwards you may notice:

• a relaxed feeling through the face and jaw

• temporary facial flushing

• skin that looks brighter

• reduced appearance of puffiness

• temporary improvement in facial definition

• mild tenderness in areas that were particularly tense.

There is usually no downtime.

You can generally return to normal skincare, makeup, exercise and everyday activities straight away unless your skin feels unusually sensitive.

A Note About Results

Natural Facelift Massage can create a noticeable temporary refreshed, lifted or sculpted appearance, particularly where facial tension or puffiness is contributing to how the face looks.

However, massage doesn't permanently tighten loose skin or reposition facial tissues.

Regular treatments may be enjoyed as part of a wider skin health and wellbeing routine.

When Should I Contact Eco Skin Clinic?

A little temporary redness or sensitivity can occur following a facial and should settle.

Please contact us if you experience:

• significant or persistent irritation

• increasing swelling

• a rash or suspected allergic reaction

• blistering

• increasing pain

• another unexpected reaction that concerns you.

Seek appropriate medical attention for severe or rapidly developing symptoms.