Which facial should you choose for your skin type? The complete guide

Deep cleansing, hydrating facial, HydraSkin, microneedling, anti-ageing facial… Faced with a facial menu, it's easy to feel lost. And for good reason: the "best" facial doesn't exist. There is only the facial that suits your skin, what it is going through right now and what you expect.

This guide helps you recognise your skin type, understand what the different facials offer and know where to start, whether you live in Wemmel, Jette or Brussels.

Skin type or skin condition: an essential difference

Before choosing a facial, you need to distinguish two often-confused notions:

• Skin type is fairly stable: it depends on your genetics and how much sebum your skin produces. We talk about dry, normal, combination or oily skin.
• Skin condition is temporary: dehydration, sensitivity, blemishes, a dull complexion. It changes with the seasons, stress, sleep, the products you use or hormones.

So oily skin can be dehydrated, and dry skin can have blemishes. That is why an effective facial takes both into account.

Recognising your skin and its needs

Dry skin

Dry skin lacks lipids, in other words fats. It feels tight, especially after cleansing, may have rough or flaky areas and its pores are barely visible. It needs nourishing care that strengthens the skin barrier.

Dehydrated skin

Dehydrated skin lacks water. It can also feel tight, but it is recognised mainly by its dehydration lines, dull complexion and a feeling of discomfort. All skin types can be dehydrated, including oily skin. It needs hydrating actives such as hyaluronic acid.

Oily skin

Oily skin produces a lot of sebum: it shines, its pores are enlarged and it is prone to blackheads. It doesn't need stripping, quite the opposite: overly aggressive cleansing can push it to produce even more sebum. It needs purifying and balancing care.

Combination skin

Combination skin combines an oilier T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) with normal to dry cheeks. It is the most common skin type. It needs a facial that treats each area according to its needs.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin reacts easily: redness, heat, tingling, reactions to certain products or to cold. It needs gentle, soothing formulas and suitable techniques. If redness is permanent or comes with small spots, a dermatologist's opinion may be useful.

Mature skin

Over time, skin produces less collagen and elastin: it loses firmness, wrinkles set in, the complexion can become uneven and the skin drier. It needs care that stimulates, firms and nourishes.

Blemish-prone skin

Blackheads, enlarged pores, small spots, uneven complexion: blemishes can affect any age. Regular professional cleansing helps a lot. In case of significant inflammatory acne or scarring, see a dermatologist: some situations require medical treatment.

The different facials, and who they are for

The classic facial

This is the foundation: cleansing, exfoliation, mask, hydration and, if needed, extraction of blackheads. It suits almost every skin and is an excellent starting point if you have never had a salon facial.

Deep cleansing facial

It goes further in purifying: steam to open the pores, manual extraction of blackheads and impurities, targeted actives and a suitable mask. It is particularly recommended for oily, combination or blemish-prone skin.

HydraSkin

HydraSkin is a technology-based facial that deeply cleanses, protects and hydrates the skin. It is aimed at dull or dehydrated skin, congested pores and anyone who wants a visible glow. It can be combined with other techniques such as microneedling.

Microneedling

Microneedling uses very fine needles that create controlled micro-perforations on the skin's surface. These micro-stimulations encourage the skin to regenerate and help the applied actives penetrate. It is used for dull complexions, uneven texture, pigmentation spots, lack of hydration and the first signs of ageing.

A few things to know:

• redness and slight warmth are normal at the end of the session;
• sun protection is essential in the following days;
• as a precaution, it is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or in case of infection, lesion or active acne breakout on the face.

Professional BABOR facials

BABOR is a German brand of professional skincare. Its cosmeceutical range DOCTOR BABOR offers highly concentrated formulas targeting a specific concern: dehydration, sensitivity, redness, firmness. In the salon, these products let us build a tailor-made protocol: an express hydrating facial, a soothing facial for hypersensitive skin, or an anti-ageing facial combining premium ranges with massage techniques.

Personalised protocols

For multiple needs, for example dark spots and loss of firmness, the ideal is often to combine several approaches: a targeted BABOR facial, a technology such as HydraSkin or microneedling, and a suitable home routine. The best results rarely come from a single isolated treatment, but from a consistent programme over time.

Summary table: which facial for which skin?

This table gives general guidance: only a diagnosis lets you choose with certainty.

Why have a skin diagnosis before choosing?

Many women honestly misjudge their skin type. Shiny skin can be dehydrated. Skin that feels tight may simply be reacting to an overly harsh cleanser. Choosing a facial "by feel" can therefore lead to disappointing results, or even irritation.

A skin diagnosis lets you:

• identify your skin type and its current condition;
• spot what the eye doesn't always see: dehydration, sensitivity, early dark spots;
• choose the facial and actives that truly suit you;
• set a realistic treatment frequency;
• adapt your routine at home.

Your home routine: half the result

A salon facial gives a real boost, but what you do every day maintains the result. An effective routine doesn't need to be long:

1. Cleanse morning and evening with a gentle product suited to your skin. In the evening, remove make-up carefully.
2. Treat if needed with a targeted serum: hydration, radiance, anti-ageing.
3. Moisturise with a cream suited to your skin type.
4. Protect every morning with sunscreen, even in winter and even in Belgium: the sun is one of the leading causes of dark spots and skin ageing.

Once or twice a week, a gentle scrub and a mask complete the routine. If you've had a technical treatment such as microneedling, follow your therapist's aftercare advice precisely.

Facials at Victory Beauty, in Wemmel and Jette

At Victory Beauty, every facial starts with a simple question: what does your skin need today? Our therapists work with professional BABOR and DOCTOR BABOR products, and with technologies such as HydraSkin, microneedling and LED.

• The full skin analysis: our analysis device captures detailed images of your face and produces a full report with personalised recommendations (15 minutes, €49).
• The BABOR First Experience, ideal for a first visit: a skin analysis (30 minutes, €45), or an analysis followed by a classic facial (1 hour, €70).
• Facials for every need: BABOR Glow for an express hydration boost, Unique Experience for deep cleansing and blemishes, Precise Experience for sensitive, dehydrated or less firm skin, Luxury Experience for an exceptional anti-ageing facial.
• Technology-based treatments: HydraSkin, microneedling and the Expert TECH protocol, which combines BABOR expertise with our technologies for intensive correction.

You leave not only with fresher skin, but also with practical advice for your routine.

In short

To choose the right facial, you first need to know your skin: its type, which changes little, and its current condition, which varies. Oily and blemish-prone skin benefits from deep cleansing, dry and dehydrated skin from nourishing and hydrating care, sensitive skin from soothing facials, and mature skin from protocols that stimulate and firm. In every case, a skin diagnosis remains the best starting point, and a suitable home routine makes results last.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my skin type?

Look at your skin a few hours after cleansing, without any product: if it shines all over, it's rather oily; if only the T-zone shines, it's combination; if it feels tight, it's dry or dehydrated. A salon diagnosis lets you be sure.

What is the difference between dry and dehydrated skin?

Dry skin lacks lipids: it's a skin type. Dehydrated skin lacks water: it's a temporary condition that can affect any skin type, including oily skin.

How often should you have a salon facial?

Generally, a facial every four to six weeks supports the skin's natural renewal. For an intensive programme such as microneedling, your therapist will suggest a suitable rhythm.

Is microneedling painful?

You feel tingling, more or less marked depending on the area and your sensitivity. Redness is normal at the end of the session and usually fades quickly.

Which facial should you choose for a first visit?

A facial that starts with a skin diagnosis. At Victory Beauty, the BABOR First Experience was designed for exactly that: a skin analysis, optionally followed by a classic facial.

Can you have a facial with sensitive skin?

Yes, as long as you choose a suitable facial with gentle, soothing formulas. Always tell your therapist about past reactions.

Should you wear sunscreen after a facial?

Yes, always, especially after a scrub, HydraSkin or microneedling. Daily sun protection is also the most effective anti-ageing habit.