How do Jennifer Aniston, Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman keep their perfect complexions? Genetics are only part of the answer. And a cocktail of products only go so far. But the real secret to consistently clear skin comes from the deep-down clean that only regular medical facials provide. Something that looks NOTHING like the pretty picture here! Never heard of a medical facial? Most people haven’t. It’s time to ditch the idea that facials are a relaxing pastime and start embracing the astonishing, long-term benefits of this form of consistent, aesthetic attention.

A medical facial is an extra amenity served up in many medspas, plastic surgery and dermatology offices, usually by a staff aesthetician. It is the polar opposite of a spa facial because relaxing it is not. As a matter of fact, it can hurt. But never fear, it’s like your first Brazilian, pretty soon you’ll be tap-tap-tapping away on your blackberry while she does her thing.

A typical medical facial can consist of
* Microdermabrasion or chemical peel

* Steam
* Extractions

* Application of serums, peptides and/or treatment mask
* Sunscreen

Your Aesthetician microdermabrases, using crystals to exfoliate or a light chemical peel depending on your skin type. Both will remove surface dead skin.

The next step is money, kids: extraction! Your aesthetician spends the most time here, and with exfoliated skin, no clogged pore escapes her hawk eyes. She uses a teeny-tiny needle to open the pore, creating a passageway to get all the gross stuff out from even the most cystic pimple. Sounds heinous, I know, but this is where the results come from, attacking the root of the problem.

Serums, peptides or a treatment mask are meant to hydrate, feed and nourish the new skin tissue that has been brought to the surface. Next step PROTECTION –sunscreen…never leave home without it. The result: your very own celebrity skin! Besides, we can’t even begin to name the socialites and celebs waiting in the underground medspas and doctors offices of NYC and LA, and if they can do it, so should you.