With a glance
- The Gentleman’s Facial is a 60-minute professional treatment designed specifically for men’s skin
- No preparation is required before your appointment
- Three steps: diamond tip exfoliation, professional extractions and medical grade oxygen infusion
- Zero downtime: you can get back to your day straight away
- Most first-time clients leave looking more rested than when they arrived
- Available at Joanna Vargas spas in New York, Brooklyn and Los Angeles
Because your first male face is easier than you think
Most men who book their first facial at Joanna Vargas are not skin care people. They don’t research ingredients or follow a 10-step routine. They appear because someone whose opinion they trust told them, or because they looked in the mirror and decided something needed to change.
This is exactly the right reason to book.
The Gentleman’s Facial at Joanna Vargas was made for men who want results without the complications. You don’t need to know anything before you arrive. The beautician handles everything. This is what you can expect from the moment you enter until the moment you leave.
Before your appointment: What to do
Do I need to prepare anything before my first men’s facial?
Nothing. No preparation required. You don’t need to clean differently, avoid shaving, or buy anything in advance. Arrive as you are. The treatment starts with exfoliation, so whatever is on your skin when you walk in will be treated in the first step.
Should I shave before a men’s facial?
It doesn’t matter at all. The exfoliation step with the Diamond Peel works on both freshly shaved and freshly exfoliated skin. If you have shaving irritation, the oxygen injection at the end of the treatment will help calm you down. If you have not shaved, the treatment is just as effective.
What should I wear to my facial appointment?
Comfortable clothes that you don’t mind lying down in. You will be lying down for a full 60 minutes. Leave anything tight around the neck at home.
When you arrive: What the first few minutes look like
When you arrive at the spa, you will be greeted and taken to a private treatment room. Your esthetician will ask a few quick questions about your skin: any sensitivities, current concerns, or areas you want to focus on. This takes two to three minutes and requires no preparation on your part. Just answer honestly.
You will lie on your back on the treatment bed, covered with a curtain, and the treatment begins. There is nothing to do but relax.
During The Gentleman’s Facial: Step by Step
Step 1: Peel Diamond microdermabrasion
What is the first step of the male face?
The treatment begins with a Diamond Peel, a natural exfoliation using a diamond-tipped wand that gently moves across the skin. As Ioanna describes it in her book Glow from withinafter microdermabrasion “the skin is noticeably smoother and more supple, like your skin has traveled back in time a few years”. Most customers describe the sensation as a gentle suction or slight scratching. It’s not uncomfortable.
This step removes the outer layer of dead skin cells, smooths the rough texture and cleans the surface so that the following steps can work more effectively. For men, this is especially powerful because thicker skin and post-shave buildup create a layer of texture that traps congestion below the surface. Joanna includes microdermabrasion as a complimentary part of every facial in her salons because the results are immediate and visible.
Step 2: Professional exports
What are professional exports and do they hurt?
After exfoliation, your esthetician will perform professional extractions: the manual clearing of deep pore buildup that contributes to breakouts and persistent congestion. This is the step most clients are nervous about before their first facial, and the step most clients say was worth it when they see the results. Some areas may feel like a brief squeeze. A skilled beautician works quickly and accurately, and any discomfort is short-lived. The clarity you see in the mirror afterwards is why this step exists.
If you have particularly sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts, just let your esthetician know at the start of your appointment. Treatment can be adjusted accordingly.
Step 3: Inject medical grade oxygen
How is the oxygen infusion?
The final step is the oxygen treatment: a pure grade oxygen blast infused with green tea, vitamins and aloe delivered directly to the skin. Ioanna writes Glow from within: “I do oxygen treatments after every facial in both my salons and I can promise you that I see huge results in all my clients.”
She describes the experience bluntly: “My clients report that they love the tingle of the mist on their face and enjoy the instant hydration they get from the serum.”
The science behind it is clear. As Joanna explains in the book: “It gives your skin a burst of 98% pure oxygen, free of pollutants, and this helps you look firmer, firmer, lifted and with an overall glow.” Oxygen also fights bacteria and toxins on the surface of the skin, which makes the skin look cleaner, healthier and more radiant. By the time this step is complete, skin is calm, clear and noticeably more rested in appearance.
After your appointment: What to expect
Is there any redness or downtime after a men’s facial?
There is no downtime. You can step out of the spa and go straight to work, a dinner, or anywhere else. Some customers experience mild redness immediately after the extraction step, which usually subsides within an hour. Most clients leave the spa looking more rested and cleaner than when they arrived.
What should I do after my first facial?
Drink plenty of water. Avoid touching your face unnecessarily for the rest of the day. If you use moisturizer, apply it as normal. There are no restrictions on what you can do after the appointment. A note from the book: Joanna recommends drinking plenty of water after treatments to support skin recovery and enhance results.
When will I see results from my first men’s facial?
Immediately. Improved clarity, smoother texture and a more rested appearance are visible the same day. With monthly treatments, these results are enhanced over time: pores appear smaller, congestion is reduced, and skin maintains a consistently clearer baseline between appointments.
How often should men get a facial?
Monthly. One appointment per month is the rate that provides cumulative improvement. Your first face cleans up the build-up. The second preserves and builds on this result. By the third appointment, most clients notice that their skin maintains clarity for longer between visits.
What makes the gentleman’s face different from a typical face
Most standard facials offer a generic protocol designed without the specific concerns of men’s skin in mind. The Gentleman’s Facial combines three clinical steps in a specific sequence based on what men’s skin really needs: natural cleansing of thicker skin and post-shave buildup, professional extraction of deeper congestion, and oxygen restoration of hydration and vitality.
With more than 20,000 hands-on facial experience, Joanna Vargas developed the protocol behind this treatment for clients who want visible results without the complications. The same approach that has made her the trusted facialist for clients such as Mandy Moore, Meghan Markle and Julianne Moore is applied with the same precision to every appointment at her spas.
FAQ: First Men’s Facial
Is it normal to be nervous about your first facial?
Yes, and it is common. Most men who book their first facial at Joanna Vargas have never had a professional skin treatment before. The estheticians at Joanna Vargas are experienced with first-time clients and will walk you through every step before that happens. There is nothing strange about the treatment.
How long is The Gentleman’s Facial?
60 minutes from start to finish.
Is a men’s facial worth it?
Professional extractions alone accomplish something no at-home routine can replicate: the natural removal of deep pore buildup that causes congestion, dullness, and recurring breakouts. Combined with diamond exfoliation and oxygen restoration, the result after just one appointment is immediately visible. Most customers who book once rebook within the month.
What is the best men’s facial for first time customers?
The Gentleman’s Facial is the ideal entry point. It is results driven without being aggressive, suitable for all skin types, requires no preparation and has zero downtime. It gives a first-time customer an immediate and clear sense of what professional skin care can do.
Does oxygen therapy really work on the skin?
Joanna Vargas addresses this directly Glow from within: “Oxygen is one of the greatest life forces in the world. If your skin gets enough oxygen, it works better, turning over its cells and producing the collagen and elastin that help you look young.” She performs oxygen treatments after every facial at both of her salons and reports seeing results in all of her clients.
How much does The Gentleman’s Facial cost?
$250. Treatments with a primary esthetician incur an additional fee of $50.
Where can I book The Gentleman’s Facial?
At all three Joanna Vargas spa locations: Midtown New York, Brooklyn and West Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Book your first appointment
The Gentleman’s Facial is now available at all Joanna Vargas spas. No preparation required. There is no routine for learning. One hour, immediate results.
The Gentleman’s Facial Book
