The most effective facial treatments take more than skin type into account. Your skin changes with the seasons, with age, and with your lifestyle, so skincare should also change. At San Diego Aesthetics & Med Spa in La Mesa, CA, we spend more time with each patient to assess the skin and learn about each individual’s skin type and goals. From clogged pores to visible signs of aging, we offer options for a wide range of skin concerns.
What Is a Custom Facial?
A custom facial is a skin treatment designed around the condition of your skin on the day of your visit. It often includes exfoliation, hydration, extractions, and masks, but the exact steps and products vary based on your skin’s needs. Instead of using a fixed formula, we adjust the treatment using clinical-grade products that address specific concerns like dryness, oil buildup, irritation, or a dull tone.
Custom Facial vs. Regular Facial Treatments
Regular facials usually follow a standard protocol with little variation between patients. A custom facial, on the other hand, is built after assessing your skin type, current concerns, and goals for treatment. Every product and technique is chosen to work with your skin rather than applied as part of a preset routine.
What Can We Treat With Our Custom Facials?
Breakouts and Acne
If you experience frequent breakouts, clogged pores, or oily buildup, we’ll take a close look at what’s triggering the problem. Acne can be tied to surface bacteria, inflammation, excess oil production, or the wrong skincare products. We look for patterns in your skin and ask about your routine so we can better understand what’s contributing to the congestion.
Dull, Dehydrated Skin
Dryness can cause your skin to look flat and lifeless, especially when there’s a buildup of dead skin on the surface. Sometimes, a lack of moisture and a damaged barrier can both contribute. We treat patients with these symptoms using custom facials that account for both surface texture and deeper hydration concerns.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Fine lines often show up when the skin loses elasticity or becomes dehydrated. We look at where the lines are forming to determine what’s contributing to the breakdown in collagen or skin support. If early signs of aging are combined with uneven skin tone or texture, we can combine products and techniques to boost your skin’s overall health and appearance.
Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation
Uneven skin tone can develop from past breakouts, sun exposure, or hormonal shifts. If you’ve noticed brown patches or scattered dark marks that linger after a blemish fades, your skin may be producing excess melanin in certain areas. We assess whether the pigment is on the surface or sitting deeper in the skin and adjust our techniques accordingly.
Sensitivity and Redness
Skin that reacts easily to temperature changes, skincare products, or touch often has a compromised barrier. You might experience stinging, flaking, or chronic redness that doesn’t respond well to over-the-counter calming products. We take time to understand whether your skin is reactive, inflamed, or both before planning the next steps.
Sun and Environmental Damage
Over time, sun exposure can leave behind a rough texture, pigmentation, and a dull surface. Pollution and other environmental stressors can also affect how your skin heals and renews itself. We look for signs like uneven tone, enlarged pores, and slower turnover to understand how your skin has been affected by your surroundings.
The Benefits of Custom Facials
- Professional Grade Products: When we treat your skin, we apply clinical-strength products that are formulated to target specific concerns like acne, aging, or redness. One of the main benefits of custom facials is that we can match these products to your exact skin type, which gives us more flexibility and better results than generic, over-the-counter options.
- Advanced Technology: In addition to creams and serums, we often include tools that help these products penetrate deeper. These techniques can include dermaplaning before the facial to remove dead skin cells, DiamondGlow® to exfoliate and nourish the skin, and RF microneedling to create microchannels.
- Deep Cleansing and Detoxification: Throughout the day, your skin collects buildup from makeup, sunscreen, pollution, and oil. Daily skin maintenance is important, but it can’t provide the same deep cleansing and detoxification as a professional custom facial. We can clear out blockages, remove dead skin cells, and give your skin a cleaner surface so your products work more effectively between treatments.
- Preventative and Corrective Skincare: The best custom facials take the future into consideration. We focus on maintaining the health of your skin, especially when you notice early signs of aging or imbalance. At the same time, we address current concerns like uneven texture or clogged pores to help bring your skin back into balance.
- Boosted Circulation and Cell Turnover: Stimulating circulation during your facial encourages your skin to repair itself more efficiently. With improved blood flow, you get better oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin, which supports natural healing.
- Relaxation and Self-Care: Taking time out of your busy schedule to relax supports your overall well-being. Stress can have a negative effect on the appearance and resilience of your skin. We create treatments where you can reduce stress while receiving a treatment that actively improves your skin.
Our Custom Facial Options
Custom Facial for Acne
When we treat active breakouts, we focus on reducing oil buildup, clearing congestion, and calming inflammation. A custom facial for acne might include thorough extractions, anti-inflammatory masks, or light exfoliation to unclog pores without irritating the skin. We may also use ingredients like salicylic acid to balance oil production.
Custom Facial for Anti-Aging
A custom facial for anti-aging often includes exfoliation techniques like mild acids to help with cell turnover, followed by hydrating serums and firming masks. We may include a facial massage to encourage circulation and a lifted appearance. Depending on what your skin needs that day, we adjust each step to support long-term skin health and resilience.
Custom Facial for Dry Skin
To treat dryness, we work on restoring moisture and repairing the skin barrier. A custom facial for dry skin usually begins with a gentle exfoliation to remove buildup that blocks hydration. We follow that with deeply moisturizing masks and serums rich in hyaluronic acid or other hydrating ingredients. We include a protective finish to help seal in hydration so your skin stays nourished after your visit.
Custom Facial for Sensitive Skin
With some patients, we avoid harsh exfoliants or active ingredients that could trigger a reaction. A custom facial for sensitive skin uses calming ingredients like aloe, chamomile, or oat-based masks to soothe redness and support skin repair. We might skip extractions if your skin is reactive and instead focus on reducing inflammation and strengthening the moisture barrier. Every product we use is selected to keep the treatment as gentle and effective as possible.
Custom Facial for Hyperpigmentation
To address uneven pigmentation, we look for ways to brighten the skin and reduce melanin buildup without causing irritation. A custom facial for hyperpigmentation may include mild chemical exfoliants like lactic acid, brightening serums with ingredients like niacinamide or kojic acid, and antioxidant-rich masks. We can add light therapy to help support skin renewal and break down excess melanin while minimizing inflammation, which can make pigmentation worse if not treated carefully.
Other Specialized Facial Options
Hydrogel Masks
We often include a hydrogel mask when your skin needs extra soothing or hydration. These masks create a cooling layer that helps lock in moisture while delivering active ingredients like peptides or antioxidants. During a customized skincare facial, a hydrogel mask can help reduce redness, calm the skin after extractions or exfoliation, and give you a refreshed finish without any added weight or irritation.
Chemical Peels
We may use a chemical peel as part of your facial plan to target dullness, uneven tone, or rough texture. Peels use ingredients like alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to help your skin shed dead cells and increase turnover. We adjust the depth and strength of the peel based on your skin’s condition.
DiamondGlow Facials
The hydrating custom facial option we offer with DiamondGlow combines exfoliation, extraction, and serum infusion in one step. The diamond tip gently removes dead skin, while the built-in suction clears out debris from the pores. At the same time, we infuse hydrating or brightening serums directly into the skin.
Dermaplaning
With dermaplaning, we manually exfoliate the skin using a sterile, surgical-grade blade that gently scrapes away dead cells and fine hair. After this treatment, the skin is instantly smoother, helping products to absorb better and makeup to be applied more seamlessly. This technique can be combined with many facials for an ultra-smooth finish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facials
How Often Should I Get a Facial?
Most patients benefit from a facial every 4 to 6 weeks, but it depends on your skin and your goals. If we’re treating something specific like acne or hyperpigmentation, we might recommend shorter intervals at first. We’ll always guide you based on how your skin responds and adjust the timing as needed.
Can I Wear Makeup After My Facial?
If you’ve had a light treatment like a hydrating custom facial, you can wear makeup the same day, although we recommend giving your skin a few hours to breathe. For deeper treatments that include exfoliation or extractions, we suggest waiting until the next day. This helps reduce the risk of clogging freshly cleaned pores or irritating sensitive areas.
Will My Skin Be Red or Peel After a Facial?
If we’ve done deeper exfoliation or included acids, you may notice light redness or flaking. We’ll let you know what to expect before we begin and choose ingredients based on what your skin can tolerate. Our personalized facial treatment approach helps minimize any unexpected reactions since everything we do is based on your skin’s response.
Can I Combine Facials With Other Skincare Treatments?
We often combine facials with treatments like RF microneedling, laser therapy, or injectables, depending on your goals. Some treatments can be performed on the same day, while others may need to be scheduled separately. We’ll plan the timing carefully to make sure your skin has what it needs to recover between sessions.
How Do I Maintain My Results at Home?
Home care is an important part of keeping your skin healthy in between sessions. We’ll recommend products that work alongside our facials, focusing on cleansing, hydration, and targeted treatments like serums. We recommend that you keep your routine simple and use products specific to what your skin needs.
Why Choose Us for Custom Facials?
At San Diego Aesthetics & Med Spa, we make each facial as individual as the patient receiving it. We take the time to understand your skin and adjust every step based on what it needs. All of our treatments are overseen by our medical director, Dr. Scott Musicant, who is a La Mesa native with decades of medical experience. We are a small woman-owned business that always puts our patients and our community first. Since opening in 2019, we’ve built our med spa around thoughtful, patient-focused skincare. You’ll always receive a treatment that reflects both your goals and your skin’s condition.
Let’s Build a Facial in La Mesa That Works for You
Custom facials can support clearer, smoother, and more balanced skin by addressing your individual concerns during each visit. At San Diego Aesthetics & Med Spa, we work directly with you to adjust techniques and products based on what your skin needs that day. To schedule your treatment in La Mesa, CA, call (619) 303-0988 or contact us using the online form.
