Ah, Sephora: the promised land of endless samples, weekly deals and all your favorite brands...and now, you can add "free facials" to the ever-growing list of perks. Consider this your PSA.
Aptly dubbed the Perk Hydrating Facial, you can nab the 30-minute service for free with a $75 purchase (and as anyone who's ever shopped at Sephora knows, that's distressingly easy to do). Each treatment uses a Perk device, easily operated by any Sephora team member with the prerequisite training. It's equal parts hydrating and exfoliating, resulting in a glowy complexion that makes for the perfect midweek pick-me-up.
Alas, the service is not yet available at every Sephora but you can find it in select stores across the nation. If they offer it in one near you, it's well worth checking out — read on to see why.
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Each treatment starts with a consultation. A Sephora team member will use a moisture meter to check the hydration levels in different areas of your face to help determine your skin type. They'll also take your own knowledge and preferences into consideration and together you'll build a post-facial skin care routine, sure to feature a sampling of Sephora's latest and greatest skin care launches.
While your team member assembles your new routine, you'll be treated to a relaxing steaming with a Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Pro Facial Steamer, $149, to help open your pores (which is always nice).
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After the consultation, the treatment starts in earnest. The Perk device is essentially a rollerball of serum attached to a tiny vacuum. The serum simultaneously exfoliates, hydrates and nourishes, while the vacuum cleans up debris. Now, full disclosure: The suction is not strong enough to make extractions but it will still help clear away dead skin and excess oil, collecting it all in a vial, which you may or may not want to see after your facial, depending on how gross you are (I totally looked and promptly asked if the amount of grime removed from my face was considered above average).
After exfoliating, you'll also be treated with a different serum that focuses more on brightening and hydrating, to be used on areas of your face that need a little extra TLC, such as your under eyes.
Due to the exfoliation, you'll probably experience at least a little redness. For many, that fades in a manner of hours, though for me it lasted for the rest of the day. Still, the results were more than worth it: After my facial, I awoke to bright, clear skin, and my pores looked smaller than they have since childhood. And it wasn't just that first day, either — the results lingered for a couple weeks, especially since I try to maintain my exfoliation game by using a combination of glow tonics and peel pads.
Bottom line? If you're planning on making a big purchase (or two) at Sephora to the tune of $75, why not drop in for a mini-facial while you're at it? Your skin will thank you.
