Hydra Glow or deep cleansing, which to book

Key takeaways

• Same length and price: 60 minutes, AED 390 each, travel included.
• The Hydra Glow Facial adds water and comfort. The Deep Cleansing Facial clears the surface.
• Hydra Glow usually leaves little redness, so it suits the day before or the morning of an event.
• Deep cleansing can leave some pinkness for a few hours, so give it a few days before a big occasion.
• Combination skin can alternate between the two, one month each.

Two facials, two different jobs

On paper the two look alike. Both are 60-minute facials at home, both cost AED 390, and both start with a cleanse and a gentle exfoliation. The difference is what happens next and why you would book one.

The Hydra Glow Facial belongs to the Hydration group. After cleansing, your aesthetician layers hydrating serums, gives a short facial massage and leaves a hydrating mask on while you rest. The aim is skin that feels plumper, softer and more comfortable.

The Deep Cleansing Facial belongs to the Cleansing group. After a double cleanse and exfoliation, the focus is careful work on congested areas such as the nose and chin, followed by a purifying mask and a light moisturiser. The aim is skin that feels clean, smooth and lighter, not tight.

Side by side, point by point

A quick comparison of the two:

• Length and price: both 60 minutes for AED 390, travel within our areas included.
• Group: Hydration for Hydra Glow, Cleansing for Deep Cleansing.
• Best for: tight, dry, dull or flight-tired skin (Hydra Glow); congested, shiny, clogged skin (Deep Cleansing).
• Feel: mostly soft and soothing (Hydra Glow); calm overall, with a few more focused moments around the nose and chin (Deep Cleansing).
• Redness afterwards: usually little (Hydra Glow); some pinkness around worked areas for a few hours is common (Deep Cleansing).
• Make-up after: possible a few hours later (Hydra Glow); better left off for the rest of the day (Deep Cleansing).
• Before an event: the day before or the morning of (Hydra Glow); a few days to a week before (Deep Cleansing).

When the Hydra Glow is the better pick

Choose the Hydra Glow if your skin feels tight by mid-afternoon after hours in air-conditioned offices, cars and malls, or looks flat and dull after a long flight. It is also the gentler choice if you find stronger facials too intense or your skin is easily irritated.

Because there is usually little redness, it is one of the facials people book on the morning of an evening event or the day before a wedding. It can help skin look fresher for photos and feel comfortable under make-up. It does not change skin type or smooth away lines; think of it as a deep drink for thirsty skin.

If your skin feels particularly tight, also look at the Hyaluronic Hydration Facial, which centres the session on hyaluronic acid.

When deep cleansing makes more sense

Choose the Deep Cleansing Facial if your skin feels congested, you notice blackheads around the nose, or daily sunscreen and make-up never feel fully gone. It is a practical first facial for many people, and a common reset after weeks of heat, sweat and heavy products.

If your breakouts are active, inflamed or being treated by a doctor, check with your doctor first; your aesthetician will not work on broken or inflamed skin. For skin that feels rough rather than clogged, the Dermaplaning & Jelly Mask is the other cleansing option, with the same cautions on acne, broken or sunburnt skin and recent peels or injectables.

A small spot or two can appear in the days after a deep cleanse as skin settles. Keep your routine simple, use a gentle cleanser and do not pick.

If your skin is a bit of both

Combination skin is common in Dubai: shiny in the T-zone from the heat, tight on the cheeks from the AC. You do not have to choose forever. Many people alternate, with a deep cleansing facial one month and a Hydra Glow the next, or book the one that matches their biggest concern at the time.

Tell your aesthetician about both concerns in the skin chat. Products and pressure are adjusted on the day, so a deep cleansing facial can be gentler on dry cheeks, and a Hydra Glow can include a little more attention to congested areas.

You can add the Red-light LED face mask add-on (AED 90) to either facial, or the Neck & Décolleté add-on (AED 235) if you want the care to continue down to the neck and chest.

Aftercare for both

After either facial, skin is more sensitive to the sun. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen for the next few days and reapply it outdoors, skip the gym, sauna and pool until the next day, and go back to strong actives such as acids or retinoids only after two or three days.

Booking at home helps with both. After a deep cleanse you can stay in while any pinkness settles; after a Hydra Glow you can get ready for the evening in your own space. Compare every option on the facials page or see the prices page, then book your facial online.