It’s easy to get caught up in the ‘do this, no, do that’ jargon of ways to keep your skin glowing, clear or ageless—when it comes to skincare, marketing takes the lead, and it can be extremely confusing, expensive, as well as potentially harmful to your skin. We hear you, we’ve got you. I’m going to cover three of the most common skin worries, and show you some research into what facial might best suit the issue.

Remember that our outer layers are also mirrors to our internal layers. For example, your gut. Keeping a healthy skin has everything to do with what you put into your body or what may be inflaming your digestive system. I want to start off by saying that if you’re yearning for perfection, just stop there. Our skins are delicate and so is our mental health—what is most important is how you feel, and every single one of us deserves to feel great! So, release perfection into the nonsensical realm that it came from. Done it? Cool, now we can begin with a facial, recommended by dermatologists, that can aid in healing your skin.

Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy is a one stop for many issues. The lights themselves have actually been used since the 1960s, but people have only recently begun to use them as a skin treatment. NASA originally developed these LED lights for plant growth experiments in space, if we were to ever need a vegetable patch on Mars. Anyway, the science has shown results in wound healing and human tissue growth as well. How does it work?

Fundamentally, healing is a result of your skin’s reaction to the LED light rays, the penetration of which triggers a biological process that helps the skin rejuvenate and heal itself. There are three different kinds of light to consider here: blue, white and red.

Experts believe that blue LED light reduces activity in the sebaceous glands, which are tiny oil producing glands in the skin. The light reduces the activity that these glands produce, therefore they produce less oil, leading in turn to improved acne. Blue light also kills a type of bacteria that contributes to inflammatory caused acne.

White light penetrates the deepest and works to tighten the skin.

Red or amber LED light is more common. It is said to improve scarring and signs of ageing by targeting skin cells that are responsible for collagen production, which is a protein in the skin (as well as other connective tissues) that plays a role in skin healing. As we age, the body produces less collagen, and red LED lighting encourages the opposite. This kind of light also targets oil glands to reduce cytokines, which are what cause inflammation and therefore play a role in bringing up acne. The devices essentially send light waves deep into the skin, which triggers your body’s natural intracellular response.

All skin responds differently to each type of light. If it’s red, your skin builds, strengthens and maximises cellular structure. The bluer lights, as stated above, targets and wipes out the unhealthy bacteria.

Peach fuzz, or a little more fur than needed on one’s face is extremely common, and so is dead skin. Our skin is dying all the time, and regenerating, layer upon layer. Exfoliating your skin is paramount when it comes to reaping the benefits of your lotions and potions, but you don’t want to be using harsh scrubs on your face either. This is when dermaplaning comes into play, and by the way, please see a real professional for this facial. Also, if you have highly reactive skin, like those with rosacea or keratosis pilaris, or if you’re experiencing a break out, you’ll probably want to give this one a miss, because it can spread the bacteria. What is it, and how does it work?

A buildup of dead skin can clog up your pores, unsurprisingly, so what dermaplaning does is, essentially, shave it all off. By aiming a sterile blade and dragging it slowly across your skin, you remove dead cells, scar tissue, and other debris that may be making your skin’s surface look uneven. Our skin is exposed daily to harsh toxins and irritants, all of which doesn’t get removed frequently enough, so this is a good facial option for those who want a smoother complexion.

Another exfoliant facial is something called microdermabrasion, which is a minimally invasive procedure used to renew overall skin tone and texture. It works by basically sanding (with microcrystals) away the outer layer of the skin. Simultaneously, this stimulates collagen and elastin production naturally, as your skin reacts to the facial.

Chemical peel facials are commonly used to combat skin issues that require more exfoliation as well, and the types of chemicals used will be decided upon consultation with a dermatologist. There are many different types that target different skin, for example: trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and lactic acid rev up collagen synthesis deep down and dissolve the drab skin on top. Salicylic acid peels dive into unclogging pores while skimming the surface to erode blackheads. Always wear sunscreen after a chemical peel, or any facial for that matter. You should really wear it every day regardless, as it’s the number one thing you can do to help your skin heal itself while being protected from uber damaging UV rays.

Dry skin is something many of us will encounter at some point in our lives, and it can be painful to say the least. There is a huge amount of hydrating facials to choose from, but we couldn’t leave the dry skin issue out of this list due to just how common it really is. One therapy is something called a Hydrafacial, which will be available in most dermatology offices. It is known for its three-step process: a deep clean, an exfoliation and a hydration boost.

First, a wand-like device will lightly scrub and brush away dirt and oil from deep in your pores, then it acts like a vacuum cleaner to suck away those extra impurities, leaving your skin open to the products that will be chosen for your skin type, and in turn replace those pre-existing impurities. The moisturisers or serums will definitely vary—they may be oil-based or water-based depending on the texture and sebum activity of your skin.

Time to treat yourself!