Facial
Facials may include the use of a facial mask.For other uses.
A facial is a procedure involving a variety of skin treatments, including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, masks, peels, and massage. It is normally performed in a beauty salon but it is also a common spa treatment. Facials are generally categorized, for example:
European Facial

Mini-Facial

LED Light Therapy Facial

Facial mask

A facial mask is a creamy mask applied to clean or smooth the face. It often contains minerals, vitamins, and fruit extracts, such as cactus and cucumber. There are different kinds of masks for different purposes; some are deep cleansing for cleaning the pores, healing acne scars or hyper-pigmentation, or brightening for a gradual illumination of the skin tone. The perceived effect of a facial mask treatment can be revitalizing, rejuvenating or refreshing and can serve temporary or long term benefits depending on its usage.

Masks are generally washed off with tepid water, wiped off by a damp cloth, or peeled off by hand. Duration for wearing a mask depends on the type of mask and the directions specified by the product itself. The time can range anywhere from 5 minutes to overnight. Those with sensitive skin are advised to test out the mask on a small portion of the skin in order to check for any irritations.

Masks can be found anywhere from drugstores to department stores and can vary in its shape and form. They include clay form where it is thicker in consistency and will dry to pull out impurities from the pores, a creamier form that stays damp to hydrate the skin, a sheet style where the paper mask is dampened with liquid to tone and moisturize the skin, and lastly, an in between clay and cream form that includes small sandy beads for exfoliating the skin. These different forms are made to suit different skin types such as oily or dry, as well as the different needs of the skin, whether it be moisturizing, cleansing, or exfoliating. Clay and mud masks suit oily skin while cream based masks suit dry skin types.

Spa

The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, whose name is known back to Roman times, when the location was called Aquae Spadanae,perhaps related to the Latin word "spargere" meaning to scatter, sprinkle or moisten.

Since medieval times, illnesses caused by iron deficiency were treated by drinking chalybeate (iron-bearing) spring water (in 1326, the ironmaster Collin le Loup claimed a cure,when the spring was called Espa, a Walloon word for "fountain").

In 16th century England, the old Roman ideas of medicinal bathing were revived at towns like Bath, and in 1571 William Slingsby who had been to the Belgian town (which he called Spaw) discovered a chalybeate spring in Yorkshire. He built an enclosed well at what became known as Harrogate, the first resort in England for drinking medicinal waters, then in 1596 Dr Timothy Bright called the resort The English Spaw, beginning the use of the word Spa as a generic description.

It is commonly claimed, in a commercial context, that the word is an acronym of various Latin phrases such as "Salus Per Aquam” or "Sanitas Per Aquam" meaning "health through water". This is very unlikely: the derivation doesn't appear before the early 21st century and is probably a "backronym" as there is no evidence of acronyms passing into the language before the 20th century;nor does it match the known Roman name for the location.