You have a special occasion to attend. Naturally, you want to flaunt your youthful and glowing skin. So between facial and bleaching, which beauty treatment do you choose to treat your skin with?
Well, bleaching can lighten up your skin and facial can make it feel rejuvenated. But before you sit back and enjoy these beauty treats, learn their differences to decide which one serves your purpose.
Let’s take a closer look at the differences and find out each of their benefits for your skin.
Highlights:
What Is Facial?
Facial is a step by step beauty treatment that involves deep cleansing of your skin. It helps you to achieve a youthful skin with better texture. The treatment aims at removing the dead skin cells, extra oil, pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Facial involves pampering and soothing your skin that ideally reduces your stress. It relaxes your face muscles and makes you feel better.
There are multiple types of facial treatment available depending on your skin type and needs. Some of these include diamond facial, acne facial, de-tan facial, collagen facial, skin-lightening facial, and gold-radiance facial. A study conducted in 2012 recommends quarterly facial to keep your skin rejuvenated. [1]
How To Do It?
1. Cleansing
The very first step in any facial treatment is cleansing of your face using a facial cleanser. Wet your face with warm/cold water and use your fingertips to apply the cleanser. Then, gently massage the cleanser in a circular motion to remove dirt, grime, and product build up from your face. Continue for a few minutes and wash your face with water and pat it dry with a soft towel.
2. Exfoliating
Exfoliation is the next step. Use a face scrub to remove the dead skin cells and excess sebum from your skin pores. It will also help to brighten your skin by exposing its healthy layers. Splash some water on your face and apply the scrub with your fingertips. While scrubbing your face, do not use too much pressure as it may damage your skin. Wash your face and pat it dry once you are done exfoliating. [2]
3. Steaming
Warm compress and steam opens up your skin pores. It helps to flush out the toxins from your skin and allows it to properly absorb the products used in the treatment. Take a bowl of hot water. Cover your head with a towel and lean forward over the bowl to take in the vapours. Continue this for a few minutes unless the water starts to cool.
4. Massaging
Using steam makes your skin even more relaxed. Hence, it is the best time to massage your face. Massaging not only gives a relaxing effect to your skin but also improves blood circulation. Take a generous amount of facial cream on your palm and apply it thoroughly on your face. Now, massage your face gently using your fingers. Make sure the cream is evenly distributed all over your face.
5. Toning
Facial toner prepares your skin for the next steps of facial. If your face still has some dirt or impurities left even after cleaning and exfoliating, toner helps to remove them.
6. Applying A Face Mask
The second last step of your facial involves applying a face mask to keep your skin hydrated and nourished. Face masks come in various forms such as clay, gel and powder, sheet etc. Choose the one that suits your skin type. Apply it on your face and allow it to soak in your skin for about 10 to 15 minutes and then wipe it away with a wet cloth.
7. Moisturizing
Now that your skin pores are unclogged and clean and the mask is wiped off, it’s time to moisturize your skin. Apply a facial moisturizing lotion or cream onto your face using circular motions. Let your skin absorb it. Remember not to use body moisturizer on your face as it is thick and tends to clog your skin pores.
What Is Bleach?
Skin bleaching treatment is used to remove dark spots, tan, pigmentation, acne spots, dark patches, blemishes etc. It aims to lighten your skin with the help of chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, hydroquinone, cysteamine, topical retinoids, botanicals, mercury etc. [3]. These ingredients influence the melanin production of your skin that is responsible for your skin tone. The more melanin your skin produces, the darker your skin tone would be.
So, when you are using bleach, it reduces your skin’s melanin production, thereby making your skin tone lighten. Bleaching also lightens the texture of your facial hair. There are other methods to bleach your skin such as using bleaching soap, bleaching pills and professional methods to lighten your skin like laser therapy. But the easiest and convenient method is using a skin bleaching cream.
How To Do It?
1. Cleansing
Cleansing is the most important part of any skin care treatment. Clean your face using a face wash or a suitable cleanser to remove unwanted dirt, grime, oil, etc.
2. Mixing The Bleach
Skin bleaching kits usually have two products inside - cream and activator powder. Take one tablespoon of cream and mix ¼ of the activator powder. Mix the combination with the given spatula.
3. Application of Bleach
Apply the cream on your face with a spatula. Make sure that you have applied the cream evenly all over your face and neck. However, make sure to avoid applying it on your eyebrows or mouth. Also, if you have any injury or cuts, do not apply bleach on that area. It is wise to do a small patch test on the back of your hand before applying it on your face.
4. Removing The Bleach
Let the bleach stay on your skin for 8 to 15 minutes. Then rinse it off using a soft wet cloth or cotton balls. Once you remove it, apply a light moisturizer.
SkinKraft Tip
If you have sensitive skin, you might experience rashes or burning sensation post your skin bleaching session. If so, use aloe vera gel or even an ice cube to soothe your skin.
What Are The Differences Between Facial & Bleach?
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Facial |
Bleach |
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Purpose
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Facial helps to remove the dead skin cells, excess sebum, and rejuvenate your skin. It is more of a skincare treatment. |
Bleaching aims to lighten your skin tone. It's more of a beautification treatment. |
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Area Of Application
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The name facial itself explains the body area it is dedicated to. A facial is a beauty treatment dedicated to cleansing your face and rejuvenating your facial skin. |
Skin bleaching can be done almost every part of the body except for intimate areas and eyes. You can apply bleach on your back, legs, arms etc. |
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Steps To Be Followed
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Facial is a step by step method. These steps include cleansing, exfoliation, steaming, massaging, toning, face pack application, and lastly moisturizing. Each of the steps is equally important. |
Bleaching has only two main steps which includes cleansing your face and applying the bleach. |
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Duration
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Since, facial regimen has multiple steps which require a minimum of 30 minutes. Depending on the nature of the facial, it may take a maximum of 2 hours. |
Bleaching is a short procedure. From mixing the application to washing it off your face, it would need a maximum of 15 minutes. |
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Side Effects
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Facial do not cause much of a problem. Not many people complain about side effects after getting a facial treatment. But a few of you may feel a little bit of irritation, depending on your skin’s sensitivity. |
FDA(Food And Drug Administration) has declared a list of bleaching products that are not considered safe.[4] Many bleaching creams contain mercury which can cause serious issues like fatigue, high blood pressure and even kidney failure. [5] |
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Importance of Massage
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Facial is considered to be a beauty therapy where your facial muscles get relaxed due to massage. |
There is no need of a massage while applying bleach. |
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Cost
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Since there are a lot of products and steps involved, a facial is usually costlier than bleach. |
Bleaching is cheap as it only requires one product. |
Facial Or Bleach - Which One You Should Go For First?
If you are planning to go for both the treatments, it is recommended to do bleaching first. Facial restricts the usage of any other product on your face for a while. Therefore, it is better to finish bleaching first and then opt for a facial. But you need to give your skin a gap of at least 30 to 40 minutes between the two procedures. It would be even better if you give a day’s gap after bleaching your face.
Facial Or Bleach - Which One Is Best For Your Skin?
Both facial and bleaching have their own benefits. However, a facial has fewer side effects as compared to bleach. If you are just worried about the health of your skin then facial is the right choice for you. But if you want to get rid of dark spots or acne marks with an immediate effect, then bleaching is your go-to solution. In case you have fast and dense hair growth on your face or if you do not want to wax and shave, bleaching can save your day. No matter what you choose for your skin, nothing is good when you do it too often. You must take 4 to 8 weeks of gap after every bleaching session. For facials, you should take at least 3 to 4 weeks of gap between each application.
Wrapping Up
Both facial and bleaching intends to make your skin look glowing and radiant. However, make sure to understand each of their purposes, benefits, and effectiveness before you determine the right one for your skin. Many of you might have extremely sensitive skin and your skin might not react well after a facial or bleaching. Make it a point to check that you are not allergic to any products used in your facial session. Also, run a patch test before 24 hours of applying any bleaching cream. Whatever skin beautification method you choose, never forget to take care of your skin. Eat healthy and follow a skin care regimen religiously.
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