'The Only Facial’ Offers Opportunities for Men’s Health (and Women too!)

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- I’m not ashamed, as a man, to admit that I frequently attend a nail salon for a manicure, since in my line of work I need it; plus it gives me an opportunity to do absolutely nothing, close my eyes, to just think, or relax my mind. So when it comes to my skin, I use a moisturizer on my face and skin, and as I age; my skin plays an important part in my life, and besides my clothes, it's that important first impression that we should all strive for. I’ve actually been wanting to write something on my skin, or better yet, on the proper care for men’s skin, for a while now. I believe it to be an important part of our health; and when I recently came across the owners of ‘The Only Facial,’ in The Woodlands, I made an appointment, and was blown away with just how far back in The Stone Age I was when it came to men’s, or my skin care. I, like most men, wash my face and body when showering, scrubbing away those old skin cells to the best of my ability. But beware, what you don’t see on the surface of your face can horrify you. I did me.

I was met by The Only Facial’s Certified Aesthetician Manager, Cameron Galban, a beautiful German-Filipiana, who literally had my face in her hands for an hour.

And getting back to that shower, I apply lotion all over, but when Cameron (whose father is a big ‘Diaz’ fan) began her investigation, I came to find out that even as a non-teen, I have ‘blackheads’ on, or rather in, under the skin of my nose. And I was taken aback, even though I was lying on the bed with a razor-like skin scraping instrument forcing those little critters from the rent-free environment of my nose. Cameron says that even the owner, Nick Doneff, frequently refuses that step, but since I’m poked and prodded all the time, medically. lol. I didn’t mind being held at bay with a sharp-flat implement forced upon me, to evict some undeserving nasal squatters. It really isn’t that bad of a procedure, and I wouldn’t call it loss of focus of pain receptors following my cancer, but I considered it necessary.

Normally, I’d fall asleep when back down on a bed, or even in the chair in my office when hit with any hint of drowsiness, but I really wanted to learn, and I asked Cameron a lot of questions. She made me feel at ease, and I could tell she’d been at her task for ages, despite her 6 and 20 years, with rhetoric in the confidence of an expert totally self-assured in her craft. We discussed my eyebrows, which I felt were lacking, after once being strong, when I was precancerous; much younger, and full of confidence. I appreciate strong eyebrows, especially on women, and as she pulled out tweezers to address hairs on my nasal bridge. I thought of Frida Kahlo and her unibrow (and mustache), as Cameron pulled my offensive hairs, and didn’t feel, nor mind, the usual sting that people feel when certain hairs are yanked.

The brow shaping was basically a light cleanup to preserve my brows natural shape. I had considered eyebrow tattooing, of which there is a shop in my newspaper offices’ building, but Cameron gave some confidence in mine, and the thought quietly drifted from my mind. She then started the Exfoliation Sequence consisting of dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, an enzyme mask, and a chemical peel if my skin were really leathery. Thankfully it’s not. The Dermaplane Razor removed the vellus hair, or peach fuzz, which applies, in my mind, more to the supple and fine skin of the ladies. It also removes dead skin, of which I could imagine the thousands of skin cells that were building up on the blade as she swiped. I’d normally feel embarrassed, but Cameron is a professional, a skin-confessor of sorts, holding in confidence the result of our session as if she were my lawyer. After she cleared my facade of thousands of cells that we lose on a daily basis, the next step was Microdermabrasion; of which I likened it to a miniature vacuum cleaner hose that gently suctioned my skin to essentially polish it and boost circulation. The aesthetician uses this step to get an initial assessment of the skin, on which steps could be added or retracted. For instance, I didn’t need the chemical peel, so I must have been doing something right all along.

Of course, through all this, Cameron was briefing me on everything that was happening, making me feel as comfortable as possible. The Enzyme Mask, which is a gentle chemical exfoliant, did its job in loosening any congestion in my pores. I felt some slight heat and facial tingling as the mask did its job.

I had noticed in the past, if I traveled to fish in a modest cabin on the bay for days on end, with no proper way to wash or bath. I’d come back and hit my portable sauna, and feel those dead cells piling up as I scraped my arms and abdomen, holding a sense of self-embarrassment of sloughing skin washed off as a point of pride, when I confessed it to my nephews. The sauna is great for me, in several ways. Skin-wise those pores are opened, then I hit my shower with its cooling waters, washing away tens of thousands of dead skin cells, causing consternation with my housekeeper with some extra scrubbing of the shower floor, but for me it’s worth paying her the $32/hr.

The extraction of the infamous Blackheads (actually sebaceous filaments) involved a Bio-Therapeutic, or BT Micro Extractor, a sort of ultrasonic skin exfoliation tool. It does look dangerous, but in the proper hands, it finds those little rent-free critters that I’ve vowed to permanently banish from my nose. I won’t trust the use of the instrument in my hands, so I’ll leave the task to Cameron on a regular basis. Several instruments that intrigued me was the Red LED light therapy, which helps with skin cell regeneration, and acts against inflammation while promoting healing of your skin. Another was a High Frequency Acne Device, which glowed due to the Argon gas, and was used to tone the facial muscles, sculpt, and reduce under-eye puffiness, which we can all use. And thankfully, with some recent help in regards to my key-tapping duties, my all-nighters have greatly reduced, and my puffiness is not as prominent.

The goal of improved cellular turnover, allows for plumper, more youthful skin, and reduces pigmentation and fine lines. Essentially, it slows the aging process, which should be pleasing to everyone. I’m amazed at times at the state of my skin, in how few lines are visible, as compared to people who are 15-20 years younger than me. I was exposed to a lot of the Sun’s rays prior to my cancer, and my reluctance since, for prolonged direct exposure may have played a part in that, but I still get out and enjoy myself. And now I’m mixing up my everyday lotion bottle with aloe and suntan lotion, for the added protection, a small hint from Cameron that struck me, not to think of it first.

Cameron noted some things for after the facial such as not exposing your facial to excessive amounts of hot water for several days after your appointment, and to include sunscreen in my skin repertoire, which I had mentioned earlier. As a parting gift, each customer receives a small bottle of squalene oil (olive based) which is used as a prep before applying lotion.

The only thing that The Only Facial does is facials. They sell no products related to skin, except their skill in seeing that every face is healthy that graces their shop. They will recommend products for their customers to use. Owners Nick Doneff and Leslie Blix, are a husband and wife team that really believe in great skin care, and recently opened their shop. Leslie is a professor at Sam Houston State University, teaching accounting, and is a great promoter of the shop, while Nick mainly runs front of house issues. Aesthetician Manager Cameron Galban has known Nick and Leslie for many years, and was confident enough to take on the top aesthetician role at The Only Facial. She had her own small shop associated with a hair salon prior to joining Nick and Leslie.

I learned a lot during my initial facial, and I encourage all men, if possible, to take extra care with their skin, which is a small part of our overall health, even though our skin is the human body's largest organ. With my medical history, I have to be proactive in regards to my health, and simple things like a facial or getting a manicure or pedicure can go a long way into keeping healthy.

Website - theonlyfacial.com/locations/the-woodlands-houston/

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