The Smart Facial: What Can Technology Do for Skincare? If you’ve followed Sara Elizabeth Skincare for a while, you know I’m all about tried-and-true botanical skincare products and time-tested methods. I believe in these things for a reason: ancient treatments like roller facials and gua sha facials are not just trendy, they’re also incredibly effective. I’ve been incorporating these treatments into my facial sessions since the 1990s when I worked under Ling Chan, the woman who introduced jade rollers to the United States. But what you might not know is that I also offer a range of more modern skincare technologies as part of my facial treatments. From microcurrents to radio frequency, these “smart” technologies provide a host of skincare benefits, and by combining them with natural products and more traditional treatments, I give my clients the best of both old and new!
If you’ve never tried any of these skincare technologies before, now is a perfect time! After all, your phone is smart. Your TV is smart. Why not your facials?
Here are a few of my favorite skincare technologies that I offer at the studio.
Radio Frequency Facials: From wrinkles to sagging skin, radiofrequency, or RF, facials are a fantastic non-surgical way to slow and even reverse the signs of aging. As we age, we start to lose collagen and elastin, two components that give our skin its elasticity and keep us looking young. RF facials use radio waves applied to the outer layers of the skin. These waves send heat down into the facial tissues beneath, which encourages collagen production and helps tighten the facial muscles. The result? Renewed elasticity and reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging!
Some people will notice improvements in their skin immediately after an RF facial, while others might need a few sessions to see noticeable improvements. The procedure is quick — it takes only about 30 minutes to cover an entire face — and generally painless. Some clients may experience mild discomfort during the procedure and reddening or swelling afterward, but these typically subside within 24 hours. The results, though, last for much longer. With a proper skincare routine, you can maintain the results of an RF facial for as long as two years!
Galvanic Facials: This treatment is a great option if you consistently struggle with dry or dehydrated skin. In a galvanic facial, you receive direct galvanic electric currents, which help carry water-soluble skincare products (think hydration serums) deep beneath the surface of your skin. This increases your skin’s absorption of the product, as well as its moisture retention. Galvanic facials can also help reduce acne-causing oils and clean blocked pores, making it an ideal treatment for people who are prone to blackheads and breakouts or those with oily or problem skin. The result is brighter, firmer, more hydrated skin, fewer blemishes, and that healthy glow we all love!
Galvanic facials are quick, safe, and painless, although just like with RF facials, some clients might experience mild discomfort during the procedure.
Microcurrent Facials: This skincare technology has been around since the 1980s and is often referred to as a “non-invasive facelift.” Like galvanic facials, microcurrent facials use low-level electric currents to stimulate the contraction of your facial muscles. This gives you the appearance of firmer, tighter skin and reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. Microcurrent facials also enhance lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness. And put down your contour brush: this treatment can enhance the definition of your brows and cheekbones, giving your face a more chiseled, contoured look without the help of makeup! Microcurrent facials are also safe and painless, and you’ll see immediate results.
Mesotherapy: This skincare treatment involves the introduction of vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts (think hyaluronic acid) directly into the middle layer of skin, called the mesoderm. By targeting this deeper layer, the treatment can help correct underlying problems like inflammation and poor circulation. The “cocktail” of skincare products you receive during mesotherapy is tailored specifically to your skin’s individual needs, making it one of the most personalized facial treatments you can get. Mesotherapy is great for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, tightening sagging skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production, and even reducing fat deposits.
While some mesotherapy treatments involve the use of a very fine needle to inject the solution, in my studio, I use a non-invasive alternating electric current to push your targeted anti-aging “cocktail” through the top layers of your skin to the mesoderm. This needleless mesotherapy treatment results in less pain and redness than traditional mesotherapy, with all the same anti-aging benefits.
Pressotherapy: Jade rollers, gua sha: lymphatic drainage is all the rage nowadays, and pressotherapy is no exception. This detoxifying treatment involves the gentle compression and decompression of various pressure points to increase circulation and lymphatic drainage. It can be done either through physical massage or with a vibrating pressotherapy face mask. Pressotherapy helps to reduce water retention and inflammation and increase your skin’s elasticity. The result is firmer, tighter skin, improved skin tone, less puffiness, and a more defined, contoured look. As an added benefit, the treatment will leave you feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated inside and out!
Now, are any of these skincare technologies a replacement for your skincare product line-up? Absolutely not. Your skincare routine should still include natural, botanical products and practices tailored to your specific needs, including traditional facials. However, all these technologies provide great options to add to your skincare regimen, particularly if you’re gearing up for a big event and want to look your best or if you’re struggling with consistent skin problems like breakouts or dryness.
If you’re interested in learning more about any of these skincare technologies and how they can help you improve your skin’s overall health and glow, reach out to me here at the studio for more information or to book a service!
