A great noninvasive way to even out your complexion and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, photo facials are of two main types.
Light-emitting diode (LED)
This type of photo facial uses light to increase collagen, treat acne, and balance out your complexion. LED photo facials use different wavelengths of light to resolve specific dermatological issues. For instance, blue light therapy combats the bacteria that cause acne. Thus, it’s a very effective treatment for mild-to-moderate acne conditions. Blue light photo facials also stabilize oil glands, reduce inflammation, and purify your skin.
Green light photo facials slow down melanin production and break up excess melanin collections. They help to lighten hyperpigmentation, fade freckles and age spots, and soothe your skin.
Amber light photo facials decrease inflammation, swelling, redness, broken capillaries, and spider veins. They are also great for treating rosacea and sunburns.
Red light photo facials penetrate deeply into your skin, stimulating collagen production to rejuvenate your face and encourage cellular repair. Overall, red light photo facials reduce the appearance of scars, wrinkles, and deep lines, and they even out skin tones. Infrared light photo facials use infrared energy to replenish dermal cells, which diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Intense pulsed light (IPL)
Intense pulses of light deeply penetrate your skin to stimulate collagen production and reduce redness. This treatment involves minimal discomfort, and most clients notice improvement a few weeks after treatment.
What’s more, IPL photo facials improve skin texture, eliminate discoloration, reduce pore size, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sometimes clients also opt for a photo facial RF, which is a procedure that combines radio waves with light waves to achieve significant results.
5 DIY Photo Facial–Friendly Masks
Photo facials work to restore stressed skin. But what do you do once you’ve had one? These 5 DIY masks will help you keep your results looking great long after your last treatment session
Berry Mask
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 5 raspberries
- 5 blueberries
- 5 blackberries
Directions
Rinse berries thoroughly. Place them in a bowl. Mash berries into juice. Apply mask. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse and towel-dry
Banana Avocado Face Mask
This basic mask deeply moisturizes your skin by infusing it with healthy fats.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ripe peeled banana
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 ripe avocado
Directions
Blend together the banana and avocado. Then add some warmed olive oil until a smooth paste forms. Then massage the paste on your face and neck. Let the paste sit on your face for half an hour, and then rinse off with alternately cool and warm water. End with a splash of cold water. Then pat your skin dry and finish with your favorite moisturizer.
Cucumber and Aloe Vera Face Mask
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Aloe vera hydrates, heals, and soothes skin and cucumber contains cooling and cleansing properties. Together, they give you suppler skin.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 1/2 cucumber
Directions
Skin the cucumber and remove its seeds. Then cut it into pieces. Blend the cucumber pieces in a blender until you get a smooth paste, and transfer to a bowl and add in the aloe vera gel. Massage the paste on your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.
Shea Butter, Aloe Vera and Coconut Oil Face Mask
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
This ultra-hydrating face mask contains essential fatty acids, which help to prevent fine lines and wrinkles as it moisturizes your skin.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon shea butter
Directions
Mix the shea butter, aloe vera, and coconut oil together in a bowl until you achieve a smooth paste. Then massage on your face and neck, leaving the face mask on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with alternately cool and warm water, and then end with a splash of cold water. Apply a moisturizer to lock in the moisture.
Mango, Egg Yolk, and Butter Face Mask
This face mask works wonders on sunburned, sensitive skin, since both mango and butter are rich in vitamin A.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 ripe mango
- 1 tablespoon salt-free organic butter
- 1 egg yolk
- A few drops chamomile oil
- A few drops apricot oil
Directions
Peel the mango and cut into small pieces, and then place into a blender with the other ingredients. Blend until you achieve a fine, smooth paste. Then massage the paste on your face and neck, leaving it on for half an hour. Rinse with warm water and finish with a splash of cool water. Then dry your skin and apply your favorite moisturizer.
Race to a photo finish
Almost anyone is a candidate for LED photo facials. Depending on the type of dermatological issues you’d like treated, your medical professional will select the best wave length for you. Clients with fair, untanned skin that’s still somewhat elastic tend to be the best candidates for IPL photo facials. For more serious dermatological issues, such as deep wrinkles and severe scarring, clients should consider other treatments.
References
- “7 DIY Face Masks for Healthy, Gorgeous Spring Skin,” Inhabitat.com, February 26, 2015.
- “8 Skin-Transforming Face Masks You Can Make Out of Food,” Allure, January 3, 2017.
- “The Calming, Clearing DIY Mask That’s Pushing My Clarisonic Into Retirement,” XOVain.com, October 1, 2013
- “Which DIY Face Mask Should You Use?,” BuzzFeed, August 19, 2014.
