Whenever I get the chance to get a facial, I’m there.
It’s more than just a time to feel relaxed, I just feel SO good knowing that I’m taking care of my skin!
Anyway, Ulta Beauty on 9th street (555 9th St to be exact) invited me to get a facial and to also check out the new space earlier this month. It’s at a very convenient location with a parking garage and has been open since November. The space looked so shiny and new and like always at Ulta Beauty, I felt like a kid in a candy store. So many swatches, so little time!
Check out the pics of the store below…
Each Ulta Beauty location will have different Beauty Services, so I suggest checking online here to see if your local Ulta Beauty does hair, facials, manicures, etc.
At the 9th Street location, these are the main services offered, including facials, which is what I got done that day.
The Treatment
I ended up getting the DermaRadiance Microdermabrasion and Dermalogica® MicroZone® Moisturezone Moisture Boost Express Skin Treatment because of my congested dry skin.
The DermaRadiance Microdermabrasion is a “60 minute gentle but effective treatment that uses pure flower grains to remove dead skin cells and stimulate cell turnover for smoother, younger-looking skin. A series of four is recommended.”
I’ve already done 2 microdermabrasion treatments previously within the past 3 months and my skin has been loving it so far, so I knew another treatment would continue the good results.
The Process
The facials itself take place in one room in the back of the store, so I suggest booking as soon as you can, just in case!
Like most day spas, I changed into a robe and Echo, my esthetician, made sure I was wrapped up in blankets since the room was a little cold.
Let me start off by saying that Echo was amazing. She’s a highly trained esthetician who also has her international esthetician license! She really took care of me and evaluated my skin, making sure I got the best treatment for my skin right now. Her voice was very soothing and her movements did not deter from the relaxing atmosphere in the room.
First, she carefully removed all my makeup and double cleansed my face to make sure all makeup was gone and then exfoliated using a gentle scrub before steaming my face to prep for extractions. I have my previous microdermabrasion treatments to thank for my reduced amount of extractions, but Echo still had a few to take care of, mainly around my nose.
The microdermabrasion was done by the DermaRadiance Plus machine that used a wand tip with diamond chips to polish the skin and remove dead skin cells. The microdermabrasion doesn’t burn or sting at all, it just feels like a fine sandpaper against your skin with a suctioning action.
After the microdermabrasion, she applied a few masks onto my face, each targeting a different area.
T-zone: Sebum clearing mask
Cheeks: Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque
Eyes & Lips: Age Smart MultiVitamin Power Firm
Neck: an oxygen mask
To seal in all the ingredients, she applied a Dermalogica Contour Masque on top, which covered my entire face, except for my nose.
The way Echo applied each treatment was done with such care and while my masks were on, she thoroughly massaged my head, arms, shoulders, and chest.
After 15 minutes or so, she removed the masks and applied a soothing toner, a serum and moisturizer with SPF on top.
The facial lasted around 1.5 hours.
SHOP THE PRODUCTS
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The Results
The day of, my skin felt plump, shiny (in a good way), and really moisturized. I didn’t wear makeup for the next 4 days to give my skin time to heal. I noticed more dryness than usual and my skin started to flake due to the microdermabrasion, but it was very minor. For the next week, I applied moisturizing masks at night, used oil cleansers, and heavier moisturizers during the day. A week later, my skin is really smooth, acne scarring is diminished, and I can tell my face is a lot less congested.
The cost of this treatment was $117.
Bottom Line
Prices are mid-range and more affordable than most day spas. It’s a super convenient option to visit your local Ulta Beauty, especially if you’re looking for an efficient and effective facial treatment. If you’re an avid shopper, it might be worthwhile to get your facials here because of their rewards program, Ultamate Rewards. Be sure to share this program and give a referral code to a friend though, because once your friend signs up (using the referral code), both of you will get a $10 coupon to use in-store.
To my SF readers, make sure to book Echo for your next facial!
Ulta Beauty
555 9th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Let me know if this was helpful! I’m planning on posting more about spas and salons to help you choose which one to go to. I totally get it, it can get hard to decide because choosing a salon or spa can depend on your location, your needs, your budget – the list goes on and on!
I’m lucky enough to get the chance to try a bunch of places and if I think it’s worth talking about, I’ll post about it on my blog. If you go under Sections –> SF Bay Area, you’ll see that I’ve made it super easy for you to view some of my favorite places to visit, including spas!
xoxo, Alyson
Is dry skin after a micro dermabrasion treatment typical? My skin leans on the dry end, as well. I’m in need of a good facial – it’s been a long time!