What Actually Happens in a Deep Cleanse Facial

The deep cleanse is the facial people are most nervous about booking, because it is the one with extractions. Here is exactly what happens, in order, and an honest answer to whether it hurts.

Who a deep cleanse is for

This treatment is aimed at congested skin: blackheads, blocked pores, a rough or uneven texture, and the kind of breakouts that keep returning in the same places.

It is not the right treatment for dry, tight or dehydrated skin — that is a hydrating facial at R450. It is also not the right treatment if your skin is currently inflamed, actively sore or in a bad flare. Extractions on angry skin make it angrier. If that is where you are, call and describe it, and we will suggest something calmer first.

The steps, in order

Cleanse. Surface cleansing to remove make-up, sunscreen and the day. Usually twice — once to take off what is on top, once to actually clean the skin.

Analysis. A proper look at what your skin is doing, under a light. This is where the rest of the treatment gets decided, and it is why the facial you get should not be identical to the one the person before you got.

Exfoliation. Removing dead surface cells so that what follows can reach the pore rather than the debris on top of it.

Softening. Warmth and steam to soften the contents of the pores. This step is what makes extractions possible without force, and skipping it is the difference between a comfortable extraction and an unpleasant one.

Extractions. The blocked pores are cleared, with even pressure and the right tools.

Treatment. At Windrush the deep cleanse uses a combination of natural products and machinery to give the skin the boost it needs. High frequency is often used at this stage — the current has an antibacterial effect, which is exactly what freshly emptied pores want.

Mask, tone and protect. A calming mask, then moisturiser and sun protection.

Does it hurt?

Extractions are uncomfortable rather than painful, and the discomfort is brief and localised. The nose and chin are the tender spots for most people; the cheeks and forehead are usually nothing.

What makes the difference is the softening step beforehand. Properly softened, a blocked pore releases with light, even pressure. Rushed, it does not, and then the temptation is to press harder — which is where people get the horror stories, along with the bruising and broken capillaries.

So the honest answer is: it should be mildly uncomfortable for a few minutes on the nose and chin, and no more than that. If it is genuinely hurting, say so. That is information, not complaint, and a good therapist wants it.

What your skin does for the next 48 hours

Expect some redness for a few hours, particularly where extractions were done. That settles.

Some people get a few small spots in the following day or two. This is normal and it is not the facial failing — congestion that was sitting below the surface has been brought up, and it clears faster than it would have on its own.

By day three, most people see the actual result: smoother texture, clearer pores, and skin that takes make-up better. Which is why booking a deep cleanse the day before an important event is a mistake, and booking it four or five days before is a good idea.

Aftercare that matters

• Do not touch your face. Freshly cleared pores are open and your hands are not clean.
• No make-up for the rest of the day if you can manage it.
• Sunscreen the next morning, without exception. Freshly exfoliated skin burns more easily, and Johannesburg sun is unforgiving.
• Skip strong actives for two days — retinoids, acids, scrubs. Your skin has had enough.
• No gym or sauna that evening. Heat and sweat on freshly extracted skin invites exactly what you have just cleared.

How often to have one

For most congested skin, every four to six weeks while you are getting it under control, then every couple of months to maintain.

Doing it more often than that is counterproductive. Skin needs time between treatments, and over-treating congested skin is a well-worn route to making it worse. If your congestion returns within a fortnight every time, the answer is probably in your daily routine rather than in more frequent facials, and we are happy to talk that through.

What it costs, and the alternatives

• Deep cleanse — R400
• Hydrating facial — R450 — for dry and dehydrated rather than congested skin
• Hydro dermabrasion facial — R900 — deep pore cleaning plus micro-electrical therapy, ultrasonic or ice skin-repairing treatment, oxygen spray and an LED mask
• Repair treatment 1 — R850 — ten twenty-minute sessions including high frequency

If you are unsure which of these your skin needs, describe the problem rather than picking a name. Call the day spa on 072 928 2596 and we will tell you which one actually fits — or that a course would serve you better than a single appointment.

What to do before you come

Arrive with a clean face if you can, though it is not essential — cleansing is the first step anyway. More useful is what you avoid beforehand.

Stop using strong actives for two or three days before: retinoids, acids, and anything prescription for your skin. These thin the surface layer, and exfoliation on top of that is too much at once. If you are on a prescription treatment for acne, tell us before booking — some medications make extractions and exfoliation inadvisable altogether, and that is a conversation to have with your doctor.

Do not have a facial in the days immediately after significant sun exposure. Already-stressed skin does not want more.

Men, and facials

Deep cleanse facials suit men well and rather fewer book them. Shaving is a daily exfoliation of sorts, and the skin underneath is often congested along the jaw and around the nose in a way that responds quickly.

If you shave, come in un-shaved on the day or shave several hours before rather than immediately beforehand. Freshly shaved skin is more sensitive to everything that follows.

The routine matters more than the facial

An honest closing point. A facial every six weeks on top of a poor daily routine will keep you roughly where you are. A decent daily routine plus an occasional facial will actually move things.

Cleanse properly at night, use sunscreen every morning, and do not over-scrub. That is most of it. Ask your therapist during the treatment what they would change about your routine — they will have been looking at your skin closely for an hour and it is the best free advice available.