Booking a facial in Kathmandu is easy. Booking the right facial is where most people go wrong — they choose by price or by whatever the salon recommends, get a treatment aimed at someone else’s skin, and conclude that facials do not work. This guide explains the two treatments we offer, what each one is actually for, what they cost in 2026, and how often you should realistically be having one.
The two facials, and who each is for
| Facial | Price (NPR) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Cleansing Facial | From 2,500 | 60 min | Congestion, blackheads, oily and city-exposed skin |
| Brightening Facial | From 3,000 | 60–75 min | Dullness, uneven tone, pigmentation, sun damage |
Deep Cleansing Facial — for congestion
A thorough cleanse, exfoliation, extractions and a hydrating mask. This is the treatment for skin that feels clogged: blackheads around the nose and chin, bumpy texture on the forehead, an oily T-zone, or the general grime of commuting through Kathmandu traffic every day. The extraction step is the part you cannot replicate at home safely — a trained therapist softens the skin first, works with correct pressure and disinfects afterwards, which is very different from squeezing at a bathroom mirror and pushing bacteria deeper.
Choose this if your main complaint is texture, congestion or oiliness. It is also the sensible first facial for most people, because clearing congestion improves how every product you use afterwards absorbs.
Brightening Facial — for tone
A vitamin C and AHA treatment that evens skin tone and restores radiance. This one is for pigmentation, dullness, patchiness, and the flat grey look that skin gets after months without proper exfoliation. Vitamin C interrupts excess melanin production and works as an antioxidant against pollution damage; the AHA component lifts the dead surface layer that is scattering light and making skin look tired.
Choose this if your skin is reasonably clear but the colour is the problem — sun spots, post-acne marks, or an uneven tone that makeup keeps having to correct.
Why Kathmandu skin needs a different approach
Two local factors change the calculation:
- Altitude and UV. Kathmandu sits at roughly 1,400 metres, where UV is stronger than at sea level. UV is the single biggest driver of pigmentation and premature ageing, and it works through cloud cover. Any brightening treatment is a waste of money without daily SPF afterwards — you are lifting pigment out of the front door while the sun puts more in through the back.
- Dust and air quality. Particulate pollution settles on skin and oxidises the sebum in your pores, which is exactly the mechanism that turns an open pore into a blackhead. This is why deep cleansing is a maintenance treatment here, not a luxury.
Dry winter air and the humidity swing during monsoon also mean the facial that suited you in Magh may not be the one you need in Saun. A good therapist adjusts.
How often should you get a facial?
Every four to six weeks is the standard answer, and it is based on the skin’s turnover cycle rather than marketing. Skin renews itself roughly every 28 days in your twenties, slowing with age, so a treatment every four to six weeks meets the new surface layer as it arrives.
More often is not better. Over-exfoliated skin — from stacked facials, home acids and scrubs all at once — loses its barrier function and reacts by becoming sensitive, red and paradoxically oily. If your skin stings when you apply anything, you do not need another facial; you need two weeks of nothing but a gentle cleanser, a plain moisturiser and sunscreen.
Before your appointment
- Stop retinol and strong acids three to five days before. This is the single most important instruction and the one most people ignore. Exfoliating at home right before an in-salon exfoliation is how you get a burn.
- Do not book a facial in the week before a wedding or a shoot. Extractions can leave temporary redness and skin sometimes purges. Two to three weeks ahead is the right window — see our bridal makeup timeline for how facials fit into wedding preparation.
- Mention everything. Accutane use in the last 12 months, active cold sores, recent laser or peels, waxing in the last 48 hours, pregnancy, or any prescription retinoid all change what is safe to do.
- Come with a clean face if you can, and skip a heavy base that morning.
After your facial
Leave the skin alone for 24 hours: no makeup if you can manage it, no scrubs, no acids, no retinol for three days, and no gym, sauna or steam on the same day. Sunscreen every morning without exception, especially after a brightening treatment — freshly exfoliated skin burns faster. A small purge in the following few days is normal after a deep cleanse; new inflamed spots two weeks later usually means a product, not the facial.
Pairing facials with other treatments
Sequence matters. Do not have a facial on the same day as microblading, nano brows or lip blush PMU, and keep exfoliating facials away from healing permanent makeup entirely — acids near a fresh brow will lift the pigment straight back out. Leave two weeks either side, and once your PMU has healed, ask your therapist to work around the brow area. Lash extensions are the other one to plan: steam and cleanser around the eye can weaken the adhesive, so book the facial first and the lash appointment after.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a facial cost in Kathmandu?
At Artistry Academy a Deep Cleansing Facial starts at NPR 2,500 for 60 minutes and a Brightening Facial starts at NPR 3,000 for 60 to 75 minutes. Both include cleansing, exfoliation and a treatment mask suited to your skin on the day.
Which facial is best for pigmentation?
The Brightening Facial, which uses vitamin C and AHA to even skin tone and lift dull surface cells. Results depend on daily sunscreen afterwards — Kathmandu’s altitude means strong UV year round, and unprotected sun exposure replaces pigment faster than any treatment removes it.
How often should I get a facial?
Every four to six weeks, which matches the skin’s natural renewal cycle. More frequent treatments combined with home acids and scrubs can damage the skin barrier and leave skin red, sensitive and oilier than before.
Can I get a facial before my wedding?
Yes, but schedule it two to three weeks before, not in the final week. Extractions can cause temporary redness and skin sometimes purges for a few days, so leave time for it to settle before the day.
Should I stop using retinol before a facial?
Yes — stop retinol and strong acid exfoliants three to five days before your appointment, and avoid them for three days afterwards. Combining home exfoliation with an in-salon treatment is the most common cause of irritation and burns.
Can I have a facial after microblading or lip blush?
Not while the pigment is healing. Wait until the treatment is fully healed, then ask your therapist to work around the brow or lip area, because acid exfoliants near permanent makeup will fade it. Leave at least two weeks either side of a PMU appointment.
Book a facial in Kathmandu
We are at Sohrakhutte Chowk, Kathmandu, open every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. If you are not sure which treatment your skin needs, come in and we will look at it properly before recommending anything. Book online or call +977-9708274017.
