A spa facial is not a clinic treatment
Someone searching for "skin care" may mean two different things. One is medical treatment by a dermatologist or a clinic: prescription treatments, lasers, deep chemical peels, injections. The other is care by a beautician in a spa: cleansing, gentle exfoliation, a mask, moisturising and a facial massage. This guide covers only the second. Beatus Spa is not a clinic; we do not carry out medical procedures or treat conditions.
This matters for your expectations. A spa facial cleans and moisturises your skin and gives you a calm hour. Many people feel their skin looks softer and fresher afterwards, but a lasting change or "fixing" a problem is not what these treatments promise. Cleveland Clinic, describing the steps of a facial, also stresses keeping a regular routine and good skin care at home.
For the general steps of a spa facial and first-timer tips, see what happens during a facial. Here the focus is Sapanca: what is available, how to choose and how it fits into the day.
Which treatments are available at Wellwood Sapanca?
At the Sapanca spa, our beauticians offer anti-ageing, moisturising and dark-spot-appearance treatments with dermocosmetic products suitable for sensitive skin. The menu has three groups.
Facials
| Treatment | Length | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Spa Facial | 60 min | Cleanse, exfoliation, mask and moisturising |
| Tailored Facial | 60 min | Products and steps chosen for what your skin needs |
| Anti-Ageing Facial | 60 min | With collagen and seaweed-based products |
| Selvert Gold Facial | 60 min | With Selvert's gold range |
| Express Facial | 40 min | A short treatment with the Delicattesen range |
| Selvert Face Mask | 25 min | A peel-off mask |
Skin care
| Treatment | Length | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Skincare Treatment | 45–60 min | A thorough cleanse and care |
| Moisturising Skincare Treatment | 45–60 min | For dry, tired skin |
| Treatment for the Look of Dark Spots | 45–60 min | With products chosen for the look of uneven tone |
Body treatments
| Treatment | Length | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Seaweed Body Treatment | 55 min | A seaweed mask and moisturising |
| Selvert Gold Body Treatment | 55 min | Full body, with Selvert's gold range |
| Firming Body Treatment | 75 min | A scrub, a mask and a massage with firm techniques |
| Delicattesen Body Treatment | 60 min | With the Delicattesen range |
Treatments can vary by location. Check on WhatsApp which treatment and time are available on your day.
Which treatment suits whom?
The easiest way to choose is to look at how your skin feels that day and what you expect. The matches below are a general guide; you decide with the beautician after the short skin check.
- First spa facial: the Classic Spa Facial is a good start, with cleansing, exfoliation, mask and moisturising in one session.
- Dry, tight or tired skin: the Moisturising Skincare Treatment, a common choice in winter after Sapanca's cold, damp air.
- Fine lines and firmness: the Anti-Ageing Facial or the Selvert Gold Facial. These work on how the skin looks; they do not promise to "remove" wrinkles.
- Uneven tone: the Treatment for the Look of Dark Spots. Finding the cause of dark spots is a dermatologist's job; the spa treatment works only on appearance.
- Short on time, or a small add-on to a massage: the 40-minute Express Facial or the 25-minute Selvert Face Mask.
- Sensitive skin: say so in your booking message and at the start of the session. The Sapanca spa uses dermocosmetic products suitable for sensitive skin, but if you know a product your skin reacts to, tell the beautician its name.
If you cannot decide, simply describe your skin in your message; deciding with the beautician after the skin check is completely normal.
How a session goes
- Short skin check. The beautician looks at your skin and asks about the products you use and any sensitivities. If you use prescription skin medication, a retinoid or benzoyl peroxide, be sure to say so.
- Cleansing. Make-up and dirt are gently removed.
- Exfoliation. A gentle exfoliation removes dead skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends exfoliating gently and choosing a method that suits your skin type, and warns that it can irritate skin if you use certain medications.
- Mask. A mask chosen for the treatment is applied and left on for a while; for many people this is the most relaxing part.
- Facial massage and moisturiser. The treatment ends with a facial massage and moisturiser.
Your skin may look slightly pink for a short time afterwards. It is a good habit to avoid heavy make-up that day and to use sunscreen.
Hammam, massage and facial on the same day
Most visitors to Sapanca think of a facial as part of a spa day. The order then matters.
Suggested order: sauna or steam room, hammam, rest, massage, facial last.
There are two reasons. First, going back into the heat and sweating after a facial reduces its effect, so the facial comes at the end. Second, the hammam's kese scrub is usually applied to the body; facial skin is thinner. Do not have the kese on your face; the beautician will exfoliate it during the facial. Having both a kese scrub and a facial exfoliation on the same day can be too much for sensitive skin, so tell the beautician you have come from the hammam.
We build the whole day step by step in a wellness day in Sapanca. For the hammam steps, read our Sapanca hammam guide.
Short plan (about 2.5 hours): Pasha Hammam (40 min), rest (15 min), 55-minute aromatherapy massage, Express Facial (40 min).
Facial-focused plan (about 1.5 hours): steam room (10 min), rest, Moisturising Skincare Treatment (60 min), herbal tea.
Winter and summer in Sapanca
In winter cold, damp air outside and heating indoors can leave skin dry and tight, so moisturising treatments are chosen more often. Protect your face from the wind when you leave.
In summer you spend more time outdoors and, from early June to the end of September, at the outdoor pool. A facial is not recommended on sunburnt skin; if you have been in the sun a lot, book a few days later. Use sunscreen after the treatment; the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
The first 24 hours after a facial
- Avoid heavy make-up; use a light product if you need to.
- Use sunscreen; skin can be more sensitive to the sun.
- Do not go back into the sauna, steam room or hammam the same day.
- Leave home exfoliation and strong products for a day or two.
- Drink water and keep moisturising.
If redness, burning or itching lasts more than an hour or two, or gets worse, see a dermatologist.
Facials for men
Many spa facial guests are men, and treatments are chosen for the skin, not the gender. The main topic for men is shaving: shaved areas can be more sensitive. If you shave on the morning of your treatment, tell the beautician, and the exfoliation step will be lighter. For bearded guests, cleansing and moisturising are adapted around the beard. For a short start, the 40-minute Express Facial or the Professional Skincare Treatment works well.
Who should ask a doctor first?
- if you have an active skin condition such as acne, eczema, psoriasis or rosacea
- if you use prescription skin medication, a retinoid or benzoyl peroxide
- if you have recently had laser, a chemical peel or a similar procedure
- if you have an open wound, a cold sore or sunburn on your face
- if you are pregnant and unsure about the products
If any of these apply, write it in your booking message and tell the beautician at the start. The treatment may be postponed or a lighter option suggested.
Booking: what to write on WhatsApp
- the date and time
- which treatment you have in mind (or a short description of your skin: dry, combination, sensitive)
- whether you want a hammam or massage the same day
- any sensitivity or skin medication (the name is enough)
Sample message:
Hello, I would like a facial on Sunday 23 November at around 15:00. My skin is dry and a little sensitive. Would you suggest the moisturising treatment or the classic facial? I'd also like a hammam before it. Could you tell me the order and the current price?
Prices are not shown on our website; message the spa on WhatsApp.
