From a conversation with Jiman Hana, owner of J Beauty Spa ·
Why no two facials are the same
Facials are what Jiman is known for, and she builds every one around the person in her chair:
“Every single client, I treat different. I do what the skin needs. Some of them need more of a skincare, some of them need more sessions of microneedling or dermaplaning. It depends on the skin’s need.”
She wrote the same thing when she described her studio: ”I take pride in customizing every treatment to each client’s unique skin needs.” That’s why her Personalized Facial includes a skin analysis. She looks first, then decides.
What’s the best facial for dry skin?
“If someone comes in with dry skin, I would definitely go with a hydrofacial, and use hydration to bring their skin from dry to hydrated.”
A hydrofacial uses water and gentle suction to lift away dead skin while serums go on at the same time. Jiman does hers with a Luminous 7-in-1 machine, which has seven treatment options, and picks the serums for your skin. For dry skin, the point is putting moisture back, and keeping it there with the right routine at home.
Her menu has a second option that clinics often suggest for dry, dull skin: the Oxygen Facial, with a capsule chosen for your skin and worked in with oxygen. Whichever one you book, the ingredient doing most of the work for dry skin is usually hyaluronic acid, which holds water in the skin. Not sure which to book? Jiman will choose on the day.
What’s the best facial for acne-prone skin?
Acne needs a different plan, and it starts gently:
“First, I start with cleaning their skin, and use high-frequency light that kills bacteria under the skin. That helps the skin to dry first, and then I suggest the next step, what we do for the next session.”
High frequency is a glass wand that glows as it passes over the skin. Estheticians use it on breakouts. Jiman includes it in every Acne Detox Facial:
“It is used to support acne-prone skin and help improve the appearance of blemishes, provided there are no contraindications.”
A contraindication is something in your health that rules a treatment out. For high frequency that means things such as pregnancy, a pacemaker or a metal implant, so tell Jiman about your health before the facial.
Her Acne Detox Facial is the place to start. Stronger treatments wait until active breakouts have calmed: Jiman will not microneedle skin with active acne (who should not get microneedling).
Can you get a hydrofacial with acne?
Often, yes. Hydrofacials are commonly used on congested, breakout-prone skin, because they clear pores gently. Inflamed, painful breakouts are different. That’s when Jiman cleans and calms the skin first, as above, and decides whether a hydrofacial fits now or at the next visit.
Other skin, other plans
Dry and acne-prone are two of many starting points. A few others Jiman talks about:
- Uneven colour, sun damage or peach fuzz: one client’s path through a hydrofacial, dermaplaning and microdermabrasion is in Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion.
- Just back from the sun: she waits a week or two before treating tanned skin (Facial after a beach vacation).
- First fine lines, or skin that’s dry and mature: a facial first, then a routine built around retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and SPF (First fine lines in your 30s).
Never had a facial?
Start with one, even if you came in thinking about a Green Peel or microneedling. Jiman wants to analyze your skin in the first session before she suggests anything stronger, and your consultation is part of that appointment. What happens at that first visit is in Your first facial: what to expect.