Tulasara Facial: What Is It and What's Included?

Formulate user Brooke has some questions about a type of facial:

My sister in law is obsessed with facials and wants me to do the Aveda Tulasara facial with her. I am not the biggest fan of theirs, since I've had mixed results from their products. I think they're kind of overpriced. She's not an Aveda stan either but she is seriously so hell bent on us doing this facial. I'm a little skeeved out, since it seems kind of woo-woo and hippie-dippie, and I don't really go for that. Also, they dry brush your face which I thought you're not supposed to do, so I'm super confused by that. So please give me the details on what happens in this facial. What should I expect? Will it actually do anything for my skin?

Thanks for writing, Brooke! To answer your questions, we spoke with an esthetician who is trained to provide the Tulasara facial. She asked to remain anonymous, so we'll just be referring to her as our source throughout our answer. We hope the info we can provide is helpful!

What does a Tulasara facial do for your skin?

A Tulasara facial is a facial that uses the Tulasara line of products from Aveda. The facial is designed to give your skin a deep clean and to help clear your pores. It is also designed to help improve your skin's overall health and appearance. Acording to Aveda, "Dry, oily, aging, uneven, sensitive and acneic skin conditions and eye concerns can all be addressed with a customized Tulasara facial treatment."

Who performs a Tulasara facial?

Aveda trained professionals perform Tulasara facials. These are spa professionals who have been trained in the use of the Tulasara line of products. "Choosing a qualified skincare professional is important to ensure the treatment is performed safely and effectively," says our source. "If you want someone who actually knows how to do this facial, you should make sure they're genuinely qualified and got trained by Aveda."

Where can you get a Tulasara facial?

Tulasara facials are available at Aveda salons and spas. "You can find a salon or spa near you by using the Aveda salon locator on Aveda's website," says our source. "Aveda is really big so unless you're somewhere remote it should be relatively easy. Plus, if you go through this tool, you know that Aveda is vouching for the provider."

What procedures are done during a Tulasara facial?

During a Tulasara facial, a trained aesthetician or skin care professional will first consult with you to learn more about your skin's needs, and how it typically reacts to various treatments. Using this information, the skin care professional will create a customized treatment specific to your needs. "Everyone has different needs, so it's not a cookie-cutter treatment," says our source. "They'll only use Aveda products though, so there are limits on the customization."

That being said, the treatment does follow a few specific steps. During the treatment, the skin care professional will cleanse the skin, exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, and apply various Tulasara products to nourish and hydrate the skin. This may include a mask, toner, serum, and moisturizer. The skin care professional will also use facial massage techniques to improve circulation and promote relaxation. "The facial massage is super nice, it's a lot of people's favorite part of the treatment," says our source. "It's so soothing. Even if you're not really into Aveda products, the experience is still just very relaxing."

To exfoliate the skin, the skin care professional will utilize a dry brush either with or without steam. Dry brushing is useful, as it can encourage blood circulation, promote lymph flow/drainage, and open clogged pores. Dry brushing also stimulates the nervous system, providing a pleasant, calming sensation, similar to a massage.

Usually, dry brushing is a technique that is only utilized for the body. The Tulasara facial is unusual in that it uses dry brushing on the face as well. Per our source: "The dry brush that is utilized is extra soft to minimize irritation. The brush is worked up the neck, all over the face, and then down the neck once more, to sweep away dead skin once it's been exfoliated and encourage drainage. Don't use a normal dry brush on your face if you want to do stuff like this at home, that will irritate your skin. If you want, you can buy the Tulasara brush through Aveda, or you can get a cheaper one that isn't Aveda branded through Target. Just make sure that it's made specifically for the face, not for the body."

How should your skin feel/look after a Tulasara facial?

Your skin should feel clean and refreshed after a Tulasara facial. It may look a little pink, but this will fade within a few hours.

Aveda reports that the benefits of a Tulasara facial include the following:

Improved skin texture and tone.
Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Increased hydration and nourishment of the skin.

How long does a Tulasara facial take?

A Tulasara facial typically takes about 60-90 minutes to complete. However, the length of the treatment may vary depending on the specific products and techniques used and the individual's skin concerns and needs. "It's unusual at the place where I work for the facial to go longer than an hour, but I know that some other places go for way longer. But at my place, they're strict about how much time you can take to provide the treatment because of productivity goals."