What's the big deal about a facial? I used to ask this question of my facial-fanatic friends until I had one myself. I imagine that anyone who has ever gone for a professional facial would agree that they're pretty great. Other than the extractions, pretty much everything about this ultimate pampering experience is fantastic.

Some facials are definitely better than others -- one in particular that sticks out for me included lower leg and foot, full arm, shoulder, neck and head massages during the normally fairly boring bit where they leave you to relax while the face mask sets -- but extra massage or no, pretty much any facial will be a worthwhile experience.

I've always just enjoyed the fact that getting a facial is a great way to chill out and forget about anything that's stressing me out. But obviously there are other benefits. The main one is getting to walk out of the spa with glowing skin. But how exactly do all of the various steps that make up a facial actually accomplish this bright and beautiful visage? How do extractions, steam and a massage end up equaling healthy looking skin?

If you've always just taken for granted that fact that facials equal healthy skin but never really considered how they work, this article breaks down the typical facial into its various components and describes why each is good for your skin. As the article discusses, the first step in pretty much any facial is a skin analysis. Everyone has different skin and a range of factors including diet and physical environment will determine whether you've got dry or greasy, spotty or clear skin. The type of skin you have will determine what products the aesthetician uses throughout the facial.

Anyone who has had a facial will likely agree that the only nasty part of the experience is suffering through the extractions. Before I'd ever had a facial I'd heard horror stories about how painful extractions can be but, to be totally honest, while unpleasant I've never found them that unbearable. Extractions are performed to remove black heads that usually caused due to a build-up of make-up and natural oils from the skin. As the piece mentions, extractions must be done to prevent the spots from getting worse. You should never try to do them yourself though as DIY finger extractions can break the skin and end up making things worse.

The article goes on to discuss steaming the skin. I've never had a steam treatment during a facial and the jury seems to be out on whether it's even necessary. One of the experts quoted in the article claims that steam helps with cleansing (a step also accomplished with a face mask) while the other says that steam was only necessary when professional aestheticians still used their fingers to perform extractions.

Easily the best part of getting a facial is the massage. This is the part of the experience where you can truly relax and enjoy being pampered. However, that amazing, super calm feeling is just a side benefit of the face massage. Its main purpose is to increase blood circulation which, in turn, plumps the skin and helps achieve that healthy glow.

How often you indulge in a facial really depends on what you can afford. The article states that ideally an individual should get a facial once a month. While that would be lovely, it is definitely beyond most of our budgets. At the very least, the piece says that four facials a year should be a minimum amount to aim for. However, if this is still too steep, there are plenty of websites that offer suggestions on great DIY facials. This page includes instructions on a very easy facial to try that will invigorate your skin without breaking the bank.

For more information on facials, read the piece in its entirety here or take a look at the information listed on this site. And if any of you out there have a favorite DIY facial that leaves your skin looking fantastic, please share it with the rest of us.