Some wax for your face?

Clean & Clear: Paraffin facial removes all the impurities from your skin and makes you glow from within, suggests Dr Vandana Punjabi

Today, one has to fight a number of battles to protect her skin. Be it pollution, stress, or unhealthy diet, everything takes a toll on your skin. There are a number of solutions in the market that promise to take years off from your skin and keep it fresh. And here’s one of those solutions offering to clean your skin and make it shine from the inside.

Say hello to paraffin facial. A natural facial peel, this facial is done with the help of wax at different temperatures. And no! They don’t apply hot wax on your face directly! A protective gauze is definitely used here. Paraffin facial does not involve any chemicals and is thus, recommended for everyone.

This process, which involves deep cleansing of the skin, opens up the skin’s pores, moisturises, and lightens the complexion. Paraffin facial has been in existence for a very long time. However, it is still gaining popularity amongst women who are fighting dry and lacklustre skin.

Paraffin facial promises to moisturise your skin, making it healthy and satin smooth. It can be done on your face, neck, hands and feet. Here are some of its benefits:

• Hot wax opens up the skin pores and harmful elements like dirt, whiteheads, and blackheads trapped in the skin are naturally removed.
• It helps reduce skin tan, thus making your skin radiant and vibrant. The heat of the wax warms the blood vessels underneath. As a result, blood circulation increases and your skin starts to glow.
• It helps in reducing the signs of ageing such as wrinkles, crow’s feet etc. It also soothes trite facial muscles.
• It gives you a relaxing and rejuvenated feeling, bringing out your inner beauty at its best.

There are different procedures involved in a paraffin facial, which includes steaming, exfoliation, extraction, cream massage, application of lotions, and a paraffin wax mask treatment. The best recommended steps are as follows:

• Cleansing: The face along with the neck area is cleaned throughly to eradicate dirt and impurities.
• Massaging: Here, experts use different creams that suit your skin type and cater to your beauty needs, and massage your skin. This exercise helps the skin to relax and also readies the skin for the wax treatment.
• Cleaning: Excess massaging cream is removed in this cleaning process. You can also use a good moisturising lotion before you recline for the treatment.
• Paraffin treatment: Here, your expert will use a gauze to protect your skin from hot wax. Once the gauze mask is set on the face, hot wax is applied on the gauze for about three to four times. The mask is kept on the face for about 15-20 minutes, after which the mask is removed. Once the mask is off, you will definitely notice a difference in your skin. All the impurities and dirt would have vanished and all you would be left with would be clean, fresh skin.

It is recommended not to go for paraffin facial if your skin is sensitive. If you have capillary problems, or your skin is oily with blemishes, paraffin facial is not recommended. This treatment involves application of warm to hot wax on treated areas and should be done by trained professionals only. Otherwise, you might end up with burns.

(The author is a consultant dermatologist, trichologist, cosmetologist, Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai.)