Are Expensive Facials Better?
Mary Sgammato relaxed in a darkened room at a Manhattan day spa, about to enjoy a luxurious facial.

Mary Sgammato relaxed in a darkened room at a Manhattan day spa, about to enjoy a luxurious facial. The aesthetician entered the room and began, but then injected a touch of the stress Sgammato had come to escape. “She noticed the fine lines on my forehead and said the oxygen facial would get rid of them,” says Sgammato, 53, an editorial manager for a professional services firm who lives in Tarrytown, N.Y. She had planned on a basic facial, which was $70 cheaper. “I had to make a quick decision, but I had no way of knowing if the oxygen facial was worth the money.”

Sound familiar? Facials are a wonderful indulgence, but day spas offer a dizzying array of techniques and exotic ingredients promising dramatic effects. How do you decipher which are good for your skin and which are a waste?

Keep in mind a few key treatments and you’ll be set, says Jessie Cheung, MD, assistant professor of dermatology and associate director of cosmetic dermatology at NYU Medical Center. For example, alpha and beta hydroxy chemical peels offer medical benefits and are among the treatments worth the cost, but each has different benefits. “A common beta hydroxy is salicylic acid, which gets into the oil glands and is very good for someone with acne-prone skin,” she says. Alpha hydroxy acids are good exfoliators and beneficial for older skin that has lost radiance.

Galvanic facials, which involve electrically stimulating the skin with a handheld device, are another good value. Electric currents enable moisturizers and serums to penetrate the skin more deeply. “Anything that helps products get into your skin will help them work better,” Cheung says. She also advises facials that include retinoic acid, which helps slough off older skin cells, build collagen, and reduce the signs of aging. But you’ll need a treatment every four to six weeks to see results.

What should you pass on? Oxygen facials, while popular with celebrities for supposedly hydrating and immediately smoothing and plumping the skin, aren’t worth the extra cash. Cheung says no clinical studies demonstrate their effectiveness. Read more

Read also: See How Your Life Affects Your Skin