Search for facials in Ottawa and you will find a lot of language that does not explain much. Advanced. Medical grade. Transformative. Words that sound like an answer without being one.
Here is the plain version. What a facial actually does, what happens during one, how often they are worth booking, and how to pick the right treatment when you are not sure.
The short version
A facial is a professional skin treatment that typically includes cleansing, exfoliation, targeted treatment work, and a hydrating finish. The standard interval is every four to six weeks, matching the skin's roughly 28 day renewal cycle. Choose by concern: microdermabrasion for rough texture, dermaplaning for smoothness and fine facial hair, hydrating facial for tightness and flaking, LED facial for tone, lymphatic facial for puffiness.
What a Facial Actually Does
A facial is a professional treatment of the skin on your face, and usually your neck. Most follow a similar arc: cleansing, some form of exfoliation, treatment work suited to your skin, and a finish that hydrates and protects.
What it does well:
- Removes buildup you cannot reach at home. Dead skin accumulates faster than most routines clear it, and that buildup is behind a lot of dullness and rough texture.
- Delivers hydration more effectively than a cream alone. Professional treatment gets moisture into skin that has been running dry, which is why the result usually feels different from a good skincare night.
- Gives you an accurate read on your own skin. Most people are working from a guess. An esthetician looking closely at your skin, in good light, with your history in front of her, will tell you things a mirror will not.
- Provides genuine rest. Not a small thing, and not a marketing line. Uninterrupted time with your phone in another room does something a scrolled evening cannot.
What it does not do is fix everything in one visit. Skin renews itself roughly every 28 days, and meaningful change comes from a series rather than a single appointment. Anyone promising otherwise is selling something. What your skin is asking for also shifts with the season, which our seasonal skincare guide covers in more detail.
What Happens During One
Consultation. Your esthetician reviews your intake form, asks what bothers you, and looks at your skin before deciding anything. If a different treatment would suit you better than the one you booked, she will say so.
Cleansing. Twice, usually. Makeup and sunscreen do not come off in one pass.
Exfoliation. The method depends on the treatment and on what your skin can comfortably handle.
Treatment work. This is where the treatments differ from each other. Resurfacing, hydration, drainage, light therapy, or something more targeted.
Finishing. Serum, moisturizer, and sun protection appropriate to your skin.
Aftercare. You will be told what to expect over the next day or two and what to avoid. Some redness or warmth after a treatment is normal and usually settles within a few hours.
Throughout, you will be told what is happening before it happens. If anything is uncomfortable, say so. That is not a complaint, it is information, and it lets your esthetician adjust. If this is your first appointment with us, what to expect on a first visit walks through the rest of it.
How Often to Book
Every four to six weeks for most skin types. That interval lines up with a full skin renewal cycle, which is why it is the standard rather than an arbitrary number.
- Oily or congested skin often does well on the shorter end, around three to four weeks during a corrective stretch.
- Normal or combination skin sits comfortably at four to six weeks.
- Dry, sensitive, or reactive skin usually prefers a longer gap, closer to six weeks, with gentler treatments.
Consistency matters more than intensity. A gentle treatment every month does more than one aggressive appointment twice a year. There is more on finding a rhythm you can keep if you want to plan a year rather than a single visit.
Choosing the Right Treatment
The menu names describe the method, not the outcome, which is what makes choosing difficult. The shortcut is to pick based on the single thing that bothers you most.
| What bothers you | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Rough texture, dullness | Microdermabrasion |
| Peach fuzz, makeup not sitting well | Dermaplaning |
| Tightness, flaking, sensitivity | Hydrating facial |
| Uneven tone, clarity | LED facial |
| Texture and tone, already using retinol | Retinol facial |
| An event in the next few days | Instant glow facial |
| Puffiness, congestion | Lymphatic facial |
| Back and shoulders | Back treatment |
| No idea | Skin care consultation |
If none of that lands, book the consultation. It exists for exactly this situation, and it is a better use of your money than guessing from a list of names. Which facial should you book goes treatment by treatment if you would rather decide for yourself.
What to Do Before Your Appointment
- Pause retinol and strong exfoliants for a few days beforehand.
- Come with or without makeup. It is removed either way.
- Mention any medications, recent treatments, or past reactions on your intake form. This genuinely changes what we do.
- If you have an event coming up, book three to five days ahead rather than the day before, and do not try a treatment for the first time in that final week.
What Makes a Facial at QST Different
Women only. QST Esthetics is women owned, staffed entirely by women, and serves women exclusively. There are no men on the team and none in the space. For some clients that is simply more comfortable. For others it is the reason the appointment is possible at all. We do not ask which.
Appointment only. No walk ins. The room is ready for you, the time is yours, and nobody is being rushed through so someone else can be fit in.
Private rooms, always. Door closed, draped throughout, and you keep on anything you would rather keep on.
No upselling. If your skin needs a specific treatment, we will tell you. If it needs nothing more than what you are already doing, we will tell you that instead. You will not be sold a package you did not come in for.
We are in Orléans, in the east end, and clients travel to us from across Ottawa and beyond, largely for the reasons above. You can see the full range on our facials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I get a facial?
Every four to six weeks for most skin types, which aligns with the skin's roughly 28 day renewal cycle. Oily or congested skin may do better on a shorter interval, while dry or sensitive skin often prefers a longer one.
Will my skin be red afterward?
Some redness or warmth is common and usually settles within a few hours. Resurfacing treatments are more likely to leave visible redness than hydrating or light based ones, which is why timing matters before an event.
Can I wear makeup after a facial?
It is generally better to skip makeup for the rest of the day so skin can settle. Your esthetician will give you specific aftercare based on the treatment you had.
Which facial is best for dry skin?
A hydrating facial is usually the starting point, focused on restoring moisture and calming reactivity.
Can I get a facial if I have sensitive skin?
In most cases, yes. Treatments are adjusted to what your skin can comfortably tolerate, and sensitive skin often does better on a slightly longer interval between visits.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes. QST Esthetics is appointment only, with no walk ins, so that every booking gets an unhurried room and a full time slot.
Is QST Esthetics really women only?
Yes. The business is women owned, the team is entirely women, and only women are served. There are no men in the space at any time.
Book When You Are Ready
You do not need to decode a menu on your own, and you should not have to guess what a treatment involves before you book it.