“How often should I have a facial?” is a question I’m frequently asked in my Marylebone clinic, and the answer is rarely the same for two people.
While you may have heard that you should book a facial once a month, the right frequency really depends on your skin, your individual concerns, the treatment being performed, and most importantly, what you are hoping to achieve.
For some clients, a facial every few weeks is the perfect way to maintain healthy, supported skin. For others, particularly when we are working on a specific concern, I may recommend an initial course of treatments at closer intervals before moving onto a maintenance programme.
This is why I always prefer to look at the bigger picture rather than recommend a set number of facials. It also highlights the importance of our initial consultation, and ongoing conversations as we work towards your desired skin goals.
Today I want to go over how often you should have a facial, and the different reasons that frequency may change.
When Will I Recommend a Course of Treatments?
There is certainly a place for the occasional facial. Perhaps your skin needs some extra attention before an event, after a holiday or simply when it is feeling a little lacklustre. For example, my Le Visage Mini is the perfect mini facial for your lunchtime break or pre-party maintenance.
However, when we are trying to make a significant difference to a particular skin concern, consistency becomes much more important.
Take my Chelseé Prescription, for example. Depending on the bespoke programme we have curated, customised to your specific concerns and needs, I may recommend a course of facial treatments as regularly as once a week. We can then gradually move into maintenance appointments, typically around every three to four weeks. Your treatment plan can evolve as your skin responds, and I can adjust the techniques and products I use along the way.
How Often Should You Have a Skin-Tightening Treatment?
Skin-tightening treatments, such as my Le Visage Exosomes or 3D-HydrO2 facial, work slightly differently and the frequency can vary considerably depending on the technology being used and the individual treatment programme.
A course can vary between treatments two or three times per week, once a week or once every two weeks. Once we have completed the initial course, maintenance treatments may then be recommended approximately every four to eight weeks.
The important point here is that more does not automatically mean better. Treatment intervals are chosen according to the technology, your skin and the response we are trying to achieve.
How Often Should You Have Microneedling?
Microneedling is another treatment where allowing the skin sufficient time between appointments is important.
For a course of microneedling, I would typically space treatments around three to six weeks apart. This gives the skin time to go through its natural repair and renewal processes before the next treatment. Once a course has been completed, maintenance may be recommended every two to three months.
Again, these timings are a guide rather than a rule. Your treatment programme should always be determined by your skin rather than a general calendar of appointments.
What About a One-Size-Fits-All Approach?
After more than 30 years of working with skin, one thing I know for certain is that no two complexions behave in exactly the same way.
Age, lifestyle, skin condition, sensitivity, previous treatments and your skin goals all influence what I recommend. Even your treatment schedule may change through the year as your skin’s needs evolve.
It is also why I will often recommend a combination of treatments rather than relying on one method alone. For example, we might use a resurfacing treatment such as my Alpha-Vital Facial to target dullness and encourage skin renewal, alongside CACI Ultra to focus on toning, lifting and firmness.
Every course I recommend is tailor-made around the individual sitting in front of me.
How Often Should You Have a Facial?
To summarise, if your goal is simply to maintain your skin, an appointment approximately every three to four weeks can be a useful starting point for many facial programmes.
If we are targeting a particular concern, however, you may benefit from a more concentrated course followed by less frequent maintenance appointments. Treatments such as microneedling and skin tightening will also have their own recommended intervals.
Rather than asking how often every should have a facial, I prefer to ask: “what does your skin need right now, and what are we hoping to achieve?”
That is where a consultation becomes so valuable. It allows me to assess your skin, understand your concerns and create a treatment programme that makes sense for you – whether that is a short course, ongoing maintenance or a carefully considered combination of treatments.
Ready to start tackling your skin concerns?Book your consultation at chelseelewis.co.uk.
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