I'm 25-years-old and up until two weeks ago I'd never experienced a facial. It's not that I'd never wanted one, I just didn't really feel like I had "a reason" to get a facial. I've never battled acne or severe skin problems - I'll get the occasional zit here and there but for the most part I recognize that I'm very lucky in comparison to those that fight skin issues on the daily. As I've gotten older, I'm starting to learn better ways to take care of my skin: applying sunscreen daily, moisturizing daily, taking all of my makeup off daily and sticking to weekly remedies that keep my skin looking and feeling healthy.

When Seattle-based Jill Bucy Skincare reached out to me about coming in for a European-styled facial, I was so excited! Jill Bucy Skincare is located here in Seattle and provides the only French-style facial services of its kind here! I didn't really know what to expect going into a facial so I began asking my friends and coworkers before my appointment. I'd heard a lot of negative feedback regarding facials and how they cause breakouts so I will be completely honest, I went into my appointment feeling a bit conflicted.

THE APPOINTMENT

When I arrived to my appointment I was greeted by owner Svetlana and esthetician Brynn. Both are passionate ladies in the world of skincare! I was first given a mini-tour in their space which was comfortable yet extremely stylish in appearance. One wall was covered in shelves of product ranging from Tata Harper to Biologique Recherche - which I was introduced to during my visit. I shared that this was my first facial EVER and I began describing my skincare routine, products I use daily, weekly, monthly and issues with my skin. Currently, I've been dealing with some dry spots on my face due to the extreme heat we've been getting here in Seattle! I mentioned I'd love my skin to feel hydrated after my appointment but that I was open-minded to whatever facial they recommended (after all, they are the experts!)

After we dived into my products, routine and wishes for the facial. Svetlana asked if I'd like to try out the skin test machine. The skin test machine analyzes your skin in various ways to determine what sort of facial is best for your skin type! After filling out personal info, Brynn held up what look like little microphones to different areas of my face that measured my skin's moisture, lipidic shield, elasticity, pigmentation, skin oil on my t-zone and cheeks. It was incredible that this skin test could divulge so much information about my skin type! The best part was after the test was complete, I was able to get a full print out of my results and have Svetlana and Brynn walk me through what these results "mean." They also were able to determine product recommendations for me based on my results.

MY SKIN TEST RESULTS

My skin test results showed up as slightly dehydrated - which made sense why my skin was feeling so dry lately! I was pleased that my skin's overall elasticity was high and my pigmentation was extremely low. My overall skin oil was moderate but low in areas which also confirms my skin is more dehydrated. The results also showcased that my skin is definitely more sensitive. As I've mentioned in several beauty-related blog posts, my skin is very sensitive when it comes to parabens and fragrances in products. I have to be very cautious about what sort of products I put on my skin as a result.

Because my skin is more on the sensitive side and this was my first facial, Svetlana felt I should undergo a more mild hydrating facial that would provide me with the facial experience but wouldn't upset my skin too much since this would all be so new for my skin. I was thrilled to hear she was only going to provide me a service that complimented my skin type and that she was going to walk me through the entire process!

THE FACIAL

As I mentioned, my facial was targeted around hydrating my skin especially in the targeted dry spots. Here's a breakdown of my Jill Bucy facial:

First, my facial started out with a cleanser which helped take off my makeup from the day and cleaned out my pores.
Next, came the toner (that smelled INCREDIBLE!)
After the toner came a peel - she didn't do too intense of a peel since this was my first facial and my skin is pretty sensitive! The peel didn't hurt at all and after it was removed I felt like 1-2 layers of my skin had been deep cleaned. My skin was so soft afterwards!
Next, she applied a soin lissant booster onto my skin which helps remove fine lines and wrinkles.
Afterwards, she began massaging my skin with oils that consisted of rose hips and essential oils that consisted of rose and sea buckthorn. My face smelled so fresh and amazing! Plus, one can never go wrong with rose-scented oils in my opinion.

POST-FACIAL

Right after my facial my skin felt so incredibly clean and smooth! I couldn't believe how the dry patches of skin were removed in one treatment. I also felt like I had a new 'glow' after my facial that lasted for the next 3-4 days! I even received compliments on my glow, no joke! I am also happy to report two weeks out of my facial I have had zero breakouts, dry spots and my skin still feels moisturized from my treatment. I look forward to going back for my next facial and making it part of my monthly skincare remedy.

After my appointment, I was able to take home several product samples that were suited for my skin type. I've tried a handful of the products and here's a low down on my favorites:

Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser - helps to remove makeup and is an excellent cleanser.
Biologique Recherche Masque Biosensible - a hydrating mask for those of us with sensitive skin.
Biologique Recherche Creme Masque Vernix - used to revitalize the skin. It also helps repair and protect your skin.
Biologique Recherche Emulsion Gel Biosensible - a hydrating gel that you can put on in the morning or at night (I prefer putting it on in the morning so it keeps my skin hydrated all day long)

I'd highly recommend Jill Bucy Skincare whether you're a newbie with facials or a pro! I felt like I came away from my facial more informed on products and treatments that are right for my skin as well as the results I was hoping for!

Thank you to Jill Bucy Skincare for collaborating on this blog post! All thoughts and opinions expressed on West Coast Aesthetic are my own and every collaboration is done with absolute integrity.

My first time facial with Jill Bucy Skincare

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