Esthetic Treatments, Products, and Ingredients
Build the treatment in order
Standard facial sequence: cleanse, analyze, exfoliate, extract, massage, mask, moisturize, protect with SPF. Each step has a purpose - skip massage over active acne or severe couperose skin, and skip heat over rosacea.
Ingredient families
- Cleansers rely on surfactants; syndets are gentler than true soaps.
- Exfoliants: AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic) loosen corneocyte bonds and increase sun sensitivity; BHA (salicylic acid) is lipid-soluble and good for pores, but is avoided with aspirin allergy or pregnancy.
- Moisturizers combine humectants (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) that attract water, emollients (oils, esters) that soften, and occlusives (petrolatum, dimethicone) that seal.
- Actives in serums: retinol (night use, photosensitizing), vitamin C (antioxidant, degrades with light and air), niacinamide, peptides, azelaic acid.
- Sunscreen: mineral (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) versus chemical filters; broad-spectrum SPF 30+ and reapplication matter more than the label claim.
Chemical peel strength depends on acid type, concentration, pH, and free acid value - not percentage alone - plus contact time and skin prep.
Rule of thumb: lower pH and higher free acid value mean a stronger, more aggressive peel; always patch test, neutralize per manufacturer, and require daily SPF afterward.
Traps: "hypoallergenic" and "non-comedogenic" are unregulated marketing terms; AHAs and retinol demand sun protection and warning; waxing over recently used retinoids can lift skin.