Trying out the Advanced Acne Solution Facial at Bench Skin Expert

After my Chemical Peel-Gone-Wrong experience, I abhorred Facials and vowed to never undergo one for as long as I'm breathing. While I understand that it takes a couple of sessions for peels to produce its wonderful effects, I really hate all that purging-which has been occurring for a year now-on my skin. Eh, all this time, I've been so used to seeing a smooth, spotless face--my face before I got that peel. :( At least my skin is cooperating and in a few months' time, that good ol' beautiful skin of mine will be back!

I had two persistent cystic pimples on my cheeks. They were flattened after a week of topically treating them, but they stopped responding to the treatment. I was told by a beauty blogger friend of mine, Jheng of I am Brigitte (who really digs facials, by the way) that most cystic pimples require to be pricked (professionally, for that matter) in order to eradicate them completely. My eyes popped out when I heard the word "Pricked" because a lot have told me that it's really painful. Ugh. There's no way I'm having my pimples pricked! But the choice was between my fear of pricking and my beautiful skin--So I courageously chose beautiful skin because that's how bad I want it back. To hell with pain and needles! :p

Anyway, It took me over two weeks to open myself up again to facials. When I was ready to undergo one, I remembered having a couple of GCs from Bench Skin Expert so I decided to try it out.

I went to the newly- opened Bench Skin Expert branch in Glorietta 4, the most accessible branch for me. Here's a shot of one of their treatment rooms. There are also walled rooms, and methinks they're intended for slimming and laser treatments. For regular facial procedures, I think they just do it in the curtained rooms.

I inquired about their Acne Solution and Advanced Acne Solution treatments. Both treatments are intended for people with oily skin and mild to moderate acne problems, but the difference between the two is the latter involves the use of a Galvanic Machine. Actually, the ideal thing to do is to consult with their in-house dermatologist for you to get the right treatment for your skin concern, but I was in a hurry that time and they only had one doctor available. (Unfortunately, her schedule was quite jam-packed) I hope next time they'll have two doctors on standby always so as to accommodate more costumers.

I digress. I went for the Advanced Acne Solution Facial because I was curious about the Galvanic Machine. Click READ MORE and see the step-by-step procedure of this treatment!

My makeup was removed using a Tea Tree Oil- infused cleanser.

My skin was toned using an alcohol- free clarifying toner. After the cleansing and toning process, a suction tool was navigated across my face to suck stubborn dead skin cells.

A steam machine was used on me for about 3 minutes to open up my pores--Because if your pores are open, the pain from pricking is minimized.

OH MY GOD--THE PRICKING PART! I wasted a good 5 minutes of my treatment's time inspecting the pricking gadget my aesthetician had used, and asking so many damn redundant questions like "Is it really painful?" LOL! Ladies and gents, yes, I was THAT petrified. :D

Lo and behold, it wasn't as painful as I had imagined! My aesthetician had performed two types of pricking on my skin: Pimple Pricking and Blackheads and Whiteheads Extraction.

Let's go to the extraction first: For one, my aesthetician was very gentle and she knew how to maximize and utilize every extracting moment. The standard pricking tool Bench Skin Expert is using has a thicker and rounder head and shape: It does not pinch my skin unlike traditional pimple prickers with very thin, wire heads. Well, there was pain but it was tolerable, at least to me. Lastly, I don't know if other derma salons do it, but at Bench Skin Expert, the aesthetician would always apply alcohol- free toner on every pricked part and after every extraction to minimize sensitivity and to soothe pores.

For the pimple pricking, it was pretty fast and nearly painless. In fact, the extraction was the more painful procedure if compared with this one! My aesthetician had used a very fine needle and with a quick, pricking motion, she had extracted the pus from my two tenacious cystic zits--easily and effortlessly.

Of course, the pain level of the whole pricking process would vary depending on how mild or grave your acne problem is, as well as your pain tolerance. As for me, the entire pricking and extraction procedure was bearable!

After the pricking segment, a laser was dabbed all over my face to minimize sensitivity and redness. It also helps shut the pores.

Here's now the part where the Galvanic Machine was used on me. Prior to using the machine, an Acne Serum was applied on my face. Its consistency is gel, has a very light, refreshing minty fragrance, and yields a cooling sensation.

What's a Galvanic Machine? I'm not really familiar with this machine so I'd rather grab an excerpt rather than interpret it in my own terms so here's one from livestrong.com:

Hand held galvanic facial machines are not only affordable but effective anti-aging tools. "Galvanic is an electric current that is applied to the skin by way of conductive gels. It works on the principle of like charges repelling each other," says certified aesthetician Jeffie Ann Hall. When used in combination with specially charged gels, galvanic facial machines smooth skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, clarify skin tone and give sagging skin a lift.

Basically, Galvanic machines drive the skin care concentrate right into the deeper layers of your skin using electricity. Before proceeding with my Galvanic treatment, I was asked to hold on to this steel rod all throughout the procedure.

While I was holding the steel rod, the aesthetician was running this metal roller on my face, and it was imparting very slight pricks onto my skin. It's not painful, don't you all worry.

After the Galvanic Machine Treatment, an invigorating, cooling mask was applied on me and left on for 5 minutes.

After the mask was removed with just plain water, my face was toned using a a gentle meant for sensitive skin because I've just undergone pricking.

Final step: An anti-irritant cream was applied on my skin to prevent facial redness and swelling.

Overall, I am quite happy with my experience: The place and tools were sanitary, the procedure was great, my face felt really clean after the treatment and more importantly, my cystic pimples were flattened completely and breakouts were reduced. I also realized that I'm better off with cleaning facials such as this one rather than peels because peels make the skin dependent on a product/procedure, hence you have to do maintenance. I'm going back next month for this treatment again!

The Advanced Acne Solution Facial is P800.00/session. Please visit BENCH SKIN EXPERT on Facebook to inquire about their services.