Can you imagine a time when you felt so cared for that you left almost floating on air, where you enjoyed the gentle glow of feeling deeply nourished?
That’s how you will feel after having a facial. There is something deeply wonderful about caring for our hair, scalp, face, neck and décolletage.
I remember the first time I had a facial. I had been having issues with my skin that I had never had before and nothing I seemed to do was helping. Plus, my stress was at an all time high and the coping mechanisms I was using weren’t helping me. Overall, I was at a very low point in my life and was feeling very alone, broken and sad.
It’s hard when we are hurting to let someone come in and be close to us. They might see our ‘ugliness’ and judge us (just like we judge ourselves!). Who can we trust to show ourselves to and not be left feeling worse than before? For me, when I am in this place, it’s like walking on a tightrope without a net underneath.
Luckily, at this low point, I had met a new friend who was an esthetician. She seemed very nice and her energy gave me enough courage to share a bit of my struggle. She shared she was working at a little spa in the city where I was living and could help me have better skin. I decided to take a chance and I booked a facial with her to see if it would help.
It was the most soothing and comforting thing I had ever done for myself, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Plus, I got some wonderful new products for my skin, which took away all the discomfort and helped me get back to the skin I had once had.
At a time when I was feeling so alone and discarded, the facial gave me permission to be with myself and to be touched in a simple and meaningful way.
I learned by having a facial that it was ok to let someone see me up close. As Lisa got rid of some layers of old skin and nourished my new skin underneath, I was able to shed some ideas about not being lovable or acceptable. This made space for feeling connected to another human, and I was not alone in my shame corner anymore. It gave me a little ray of hope and encouragement.
Maybe you have felt the same way in your life- alone and hurting? Maybe you didn’t have your nourishment needs met by your primary care givers, or another person who was meant to love you and accept you? Maybe you feel crushed under the load?
I get it and I’ve got you.
We have a fundamental need to be touched in simple, non-sexual, caring ways. It makes us feel connected, accepted, loved, seen and whole. It gives us hope and encouragement. It can bring on deep relaxation- the effects of which can last for days.
I believe without touch we die both spiritually and physically. Babies who are not touched die, and I think for adults it is no different - maybe it just takes a bit longer or manifests in different ways.
A facial can be a healing experience too. When you look in the mirror and see a nourished skin, it gives you confidence and comfort. When you touch your skin and feel its softness, its a simple pleasure which nourishes the soul. In the somatic world, we call this a resourcing experience. It readies you for life and gives you courage to take the next step- whatever it might be.
After I had my facial, I felt like I could face my difficulties just a little bit easier and with a little more clarity. I felt accepted and loved. Honestly, I think the experience changed the trajectory of my life too.
It’s one of the reasons I became an esthetician in the first place - to be able to give to others the experience I had. I thought, maybe I could help someone else turn their life around and begin anew, or maybe I could help someone heal, or give them more confidence.
Over the years, I have seen the beautiful impact of my work on others. Every time someone walks through the door and gets in the esthetic bed for a treatment, I know they are taking a huge and vulnerable step to let someone see them. They have decided to let themselves be cared for, to take a load off, to make changes that will be good for them.
What an honour to do this work. Won’t you book in for a facial or other treatment today?
It’s your time to feel supported, relaxed, uplifted, and to experience all the sensory feels that we love to have and need as humans.
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