Growing up in Australia, we had the luxury of having the beach and salt water on our doorstep. I think most of us could agree, a salty life is the best kind!
When you live in tune with nature, there are some secrets you intuitively learn – no textbooks or intellectual discussions needed.
One of the wise things the salty spray taught me was if I had a pimple breakout – as any hormonal teen would – my first remedy was not the acne cream, but to jump on my bike and head to the beach. Let the Vitamin D from the sun and the salt water from the ocean work its healing magic.
I believe in the healing power of nature; it is the first doctor I make an appointment with. Salt is one of those powerful healers that nature provides. I have salt lamps all over my house, add electrolytes to my water, and am never afraid to salt my food (with the right kind).
Our long-term partner Blue Water Spa has introduced a relatively new skin renewal therapy to their non-invasive offerings – a salt facial.
Now the intellectual has cottoned on to what I always intuitively knew – salt is great for the skin. Salt facials are quickly gaining in popularity and a worthy addition to your skincare treatment.
I popped into Blue Water Spa recently to experience the salt facial so I can share it with you. It’s safe to say I’ll be back for more!
What is a Salt Facial?
A salt facial, often referred to as salt therapy for the skin, is a cutting-edge skincare treatment designed to revitalize and rejuvenate your complexion.
With the gentle yet powerful touch of natural sea salt, the magic of aesthetic ultrasound, and the illuminating wonders of LED phototherapy, the Salt Facial effortlessly works to revive your skin in one treatment.
Historically, salt has been used for its healing properties in salt caves, natural salt springs, and places like the Dead Sea, which receive thousands of visitors each year to float in the saltiest water in the world (been there, done that, I can attest my skin and hair felt wonderful for days after).
While the concept of using salt for skincare isn’t new, the specialized equipment and techniques employed in modern salt facials now make them a popular choice for effective and innovative ways to renew and refresh their skin.
GOOD TO KNOW: Sea salt is very different from regular table salt because it contains numerous skin-healing minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, iodine, and sodium. These minerals have various roles in maintaining the health and function of your skin cells. I share how they help the skin below.
Why People Choose Salt Facials
People opt for salt facials for a variety of reasons, mostly the desire to achieve smoother, healthier, and more radiant skin. These treatments are particularly appealing for those seeking a non-invasive, natural, and holistic approach to skincare.
The exfoliating and hydrating properties of salt facials can help address skin issues like blemishes resulting in smoother, more even-toned skin.
The rejuvenating properties of salt facials aim to slow down the effects of aging, environmental damage, and stress on skin.
The Salt Facial at Bluewater Spa is ideal for anyone looking to improve acne and acne scarring, eczema, stretch marks, enlarged pores, preventative treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven texture and pigmentation sun damage and vascular lesions.
Additionally, those with sensitive skin may find salt facials appealing because they are generally gentle and suitable for various skin types. Of course, this kind of salt facial should be performed by a licensed esthetician or skincare professional. We recommend you talk to them first about your skin and any issues you may be concerned with so they can give their expert opinion.
NOTE: All Blue Water Spa skin care professionals and body treatment specialists have a minimum of five years of experience with an average of ten years’ experience in skin care or body treatments.
How Salt Facials Work
A salt facial is an easy skin care therapy treatment that will take around 40 – 60 minutes. It’s completely non-invasive and requires you to lay down, close your eyes, and relax.
My practitioner at Blue Water Sap was Serenity, a Medical Aesthetician & Body Treatment Specialist. She also gave Craig his man facial a few months ago! She was sweet and gentle, lovely to talk to, and let me know what was happening during each step of the procedure and why.
When you see how beautiful and glowing her skin is you’ll feel even better about your decision to treat your skin in such a nourishing way.
There are three stages to a salt facial, outlined below.
1. Restore: Sea Salt Resurfacing
This is the exfoliation phase using sea salt. Positive-pressure flow technology delivers salt to the skin through a handheld hand piece that pushes salt crystals across the skin that allows for more accurate exfoliation.
It works to remove dead skin cells as well as drawing in and locking that moisture into the skin cells.
It’s important for you to know that it won’t hurt. It feels like tingling on the skin. If you’ve had microdermabrasion or HydraFacial, then you’ll understand how it feels. It’s less intense as there is no vacuum or suction.
There may be a slight redness to your face after, but that’s because you’ve just exfoliated it in a deep, nourishing way. It’s all relaxing from here on out.
2. Replenish: Aesthetic Ultrasounds
The next stage to the salt facial is cooling and replenishing.
At this stage you get to experience the luxurious skin care products from Blue Water Spa. Serenity applied the Blue Water Spa Lipopeptide Mask, which is a gel mask that delivers moisture deep into the epidermis.
An aesthetic ultrasound then gently massages the skin, helping it to absorb the mask at a deeper level, and to stimulate collagen, increase circulation, and hydrate the skin from the inside out.
3. Rejuvenate: LED Phototherapy
The last step of The Salt Facial Skin Renewal process uses high-powered LED phototherapy to rejuvenate skin cells and improve circulation for an instant glow.
LED phototherapy is a machine that hovers over your face and uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs), i.e., wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin’s layers and stimulate cellular activity. It’s known to reduce redness, speed healing rate, and encourage collagen production.
Craig and I regularly have infra-red-light saunas and absolutely love how great they are for many aspects of your physical and mental health. We believe in the healing power of light (the right kind) just as much as salt.
For this part of the treatment, you wear goggles and patches (with eye cream on it) over your eyes to protect them. You’ll be shocked at how bright the light is when turned on.
I spent the rest of the time contemplating how on earth I could “see” the brightness even though my eyes were closed and covered. That was some kind of rabbit hole to wander down. But I enjoyed it.
At first, because it’s so foreign, it may feel uncomfortable, but breathe through it, after a minute your eyes will adjust and you can relax, maybe even take a quick nap.
There were more Blue Water Spa products at the end with the Blue Water Spa Soothing Hydrogel. This gel contains peptides and niacin for clarifying the skin, and vitamin B and green tea extracts to soothe the skin.
And the BAE Cream (Biomimetic Antioxidant Emulsion), which contains hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid and vitamin B that work together to moisturize, control acne and repair sun damage.
It was the first facial I’ve ever had where I noticed a difference immediately. As I said to Serenity when she applied the creams, “Oh wow, I can really feel my skin soaking this up.” It felt thick – not thick on the top of my skin – but thick soaking under.
I have never experienced that luxurious feeling before and it made me want to book my next months’ appointment. Serenity recommends keeping up with your salt facials every 4-6 weeks, and they can take the place of your regular facials.
You’ll want to give your face time to settle after the facial (it may be slightly red) but give it a day or two and you should start seeing a healthier glow!
We had a work event to go to after the appointment, so I applied my mascara on in the car and was taken aback by how different my eyelashes looked., long, silky and spaced apart rather than clumping together.
I messaged Blue Water Spa to ask what could have helped my lashes look so much nicer, and they said probably because my eyes were so hydrated after the creams applied!
And that’s it. Now you can walk out of there feeling like a new face has been planted on you!
P.S. I unintentionally licked my lips as I was leaving the spa, and you can bet the salty taste of the ocean was there! Just in case you ever doubted – which I didn’t – this salt facial is legit!
Benefits of Salt Facials
Let’s finish up by reviewing the benefits you can expect from a salt facial – why do it otherwise? Here’s how the various minerals in sea salt benefit the health of your skin cells.
- Magnesium helps reduce inflammation
- Calcium promotes cell renewal
- Potassium balances hydration
- Zinc fights acne-causing bacteria
- Iodine heals wounds
- Sodium regulates pH levels.
And here is a list other benefits to your skin thanks to the Salt Facial:
- Helps your skin absorb other topical products better (I felt this!)
- Exfoliate dead skin cells and remove impurities from the pores.
- Balance the skin’s natural pH level and prevent bacterial growth.
- Reduces inflammation.
- Boost blood circulation and promote skin healing and radiant complexion.
- Hydrates the skin and prevents moisture loss by attracting water molecules.
- Smooths and softens the skin – mine felt a lot plumper after the facial.
- Helps acne by killing the bacteria that causes it and reducing the inflammation that it brings.
The Blue Water Spa Difference
We have partnered with Blue Water Spa for a year now and love their commitment to customer care and safety and how they give back so positively to the Raleigh community.
Here are a few reasons they are a standout when it comes to medical and non-medical spa treatments:
- Voted Best Medical Spa in North Carolina.
- Blue Water Spa is owned and operated by Dr. Michael Law who is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and directly oversees all treatments, and his wife, Kile Law, who has over 11 years’ experience in training doctors and other aesthetic professionals on laser hair removal.
- They offer a wide range of services from facials to fillers and their spa has more of a luxurious and relaxing atmosphere than a clinical one. You can read more about our experience with the life changing Emsella therapy and laser hair removal (how did I not do that years ago?)
- They stay up to date with the latest technology to provide the most effective treatments.
- The staff are highly skilled, trained and experienced professional.
- It’s also evident that diversity and inclusion is an important value of the company.
- BlueWater Spa is renowned for its warm and friendly customer service, which I have experienced from every person I have received treatment, consultation with, or just staff working the front desk greeting me or booking me in for my next appointment.
- They regularly donate and help raise money for local charities and causes.
- BlueWater Spa is committed to reducing their environmental impact by using eco-friendly products and implementing sustainable practices. They are a 1% for the Planet partner where they donate 1% of our annual sales to environmental causes and they are a proud partner with Trees for the Future.
Final Thoughts
The Salt Facial at Bluewater Spa makes an excellent addition to your skin care treatment. This relatively new therapy is a powerhouse for helping your skin to clean, heal, and moisturize.
Most importantly, the salt facial is a fantastic non-toxic option for natural exfoliation as it’s naturally antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory.
The versatility of this treatment in addressing an array of skin concerns makes it an attractive option for a broad demographic. I love how it is noninvasive and uses one of nature’s greatest healers – sea salt, with the powerful addition of LED light therapy!
The holidays are coming up, there is no better time to treat someone you love – or drop the hint to your loved ones that you want it – than a rejuvenating salt facial from Blue Water Spa.
Don’t wait for the holidays, just book one now because you deserve it! Tell Blue Water Spa we sent you!
