Over the course of my career as an esthetician I have heard a lot of “what ifs.”
“What if” I hadn’t spent so much of my teens and early 20’s worshipping the sun; “what if” I had worn sunscreen; “what if” I had started purchasing quality skincare sooner; “what if” I had committed to a regular schedule to see my esthetician?
Everyone is looking for a corrective solution for their skin, and at some point most of us find ourselves in our local aesthetic practice investing in facials, skincare, and procedures to find our very own versions of “The Fountain of Youth” once again.
Modern science innovations continue to support these efforts but how do you protect these investments once you’ve left the treatment room?
“Invest in your skin. It’s going to represent you for a very long time.”
Once you’ve made the commitment to your skin-investments, these treatments and procedures should be treated arguable better than any other investment you make for yourself. Being mindful of this commitment will guarantee you’re not only protecting your investments but enhancing them for many years to come.
I’ll breakdown “My Top Rules” for 3 of the most requested services:
1. HydraFacial Pre & Aftercare:
What to Avoid
• Avoid heat (sun, showers, swimming, & Jacuzzis).
• Avoid harsh products for 3-5 days including retinoids or other acids (such as AHA/BHA acids, salicylic acid & antioxidants.
• Use SPF daily. This will insure the best result possible
• Ideally makeup should be avoided immediately after your procedure although you may want to use a tinted physical sunscreen, Minerals like zinc heals & soothes the skin without irritation post procedure, and can cover up possible redness which should lighten after a few hours.
What To Do:
• Continued care: Like all professional facials, DiamondGlow™ yields best results when done regularly, but this is especially critical when targeting skin issues. Professional facials are suggested monthly for the health of your skin.
• Invest in the right products even if it means spending more, and invest in the time it takes to commit to a routine am/pm (A gentle Cleanser, Toner, Weekly Exfoliant, Peptide Rich Serum, Moisturize, and SPF) your licensed professional can build a customized routine that is more tailored to your skin concerns.
2. Microneedling Do's & Dont's:
What To Avoid:
• Don’t spend prolonged time out in the sun for the first week after your microneedling procedure, as you’ll be more prone to sun damage than usual.
• Don’t apply makeup, especially with a makeup brush that has been used before, in the 24 hours following microneedling.
• Do not use topical agents that may increase the sensitivity of your skin such as retinoids, exfoliants, topical antibiotics or acids 5-7 days prior to your treatment.
• Do not take anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, Motrin, or Advil for at least 3 days prior to your microneedling session. These will interfere with the natural inflammatory process that is critical for your skin rejuvenation.
• Avoid IPL/Laser procedures, unprotected sun exposure, or sunburn for at least 2 weeks prior to your procedure.
• You’ll also need to avoid swimming pools, saunas, and situations where you may sweat heavily, including intense workouts at the gym, to protect your newly treated skin. After 72 hours have passed, you may be able to resume these activities.
• Do not wax the treated area for 7 days following your treatment.
• No laser to the treated area for 7 days following your treatment.
• Avoid harsh products for 3-5 days including retinoids or other acids (such as AHA/BHA acids, salicylic acid & antioxidants.
What To Do:
• Hydration. Hydration. hyaluronic acid/sodium hyaluronate following microneedling, will help to alleviate dryness. Peeling may start 3-5 days after the treatment. You’ll notice skin dryness and flaking which is due to an increased turnover of skin cells. DO NOT pick, scratch, or scrub at treated skin! My top recommendations for hydrating products for ampoule post-microneedling recovery are REPLENISH Hyaluron Peptide Ampoule, ULTRA-RICH Moisture Cream and Deep Hydration Aloe Mist
• As a general rule, you should reach for sunscreen constantly for the first 2 weeks after microneedling. Make sure to apply SPF 50+ anytime you go outside in the days following your treatment and wear a wide brim hat for extra protection.
• Retinol A and vitamin C serum should be avoided for the first 48 hours, minimum, after microneedling. Once 2 full days have passed, you’ll want to gradually add active products back into your daily routine.
• For best results: We recommend follow-up and repeat microneedling treatments every 4-6 weeks, with a series of 3-5 treatments depending on your personalized care plan.
• Red light therapy is an excellent complement to microneedling, offering benefits like faster healing, reduced inflammation, boosted collagen production, and decreased redness. To ensure safety and effectiveness, it’s recommended to wait 24 to 48 hours post-microneedling before starting red light therapy, allowing the skin to settle. During this window, the skin is more receptive to rejuvenation, maximizing the synergy between the treatments. For best results, consult a skincare professional, use a safe device like Aloisia Beauty’s LED Refining Face Mask, avoid harsh products, follow manufacturer guidelines, sterilize the device, and begin with shorter sessions.
3. Laser Resurfacing:
What To Avoid:
• Discontinue any Retin-A, Retinol, Vitamin C or acid containing products 2 weeks prior to treatment (this includes benzoyl -peroxide, glycolic, salicylic, facial scrubs or hair removal products such as Nair).
• Stop the following 7-10 days prior to treatment: waxing, abrasive scrubs and microdermabrasion treatments.
• Pre-treat with a tyrosinase inhibitor for 2-3 week prior to treatment.
• Pre-treat with Valtrex if you are prone to developing cold sores.
• Discuss what skin care products you currently use with your practitioner, and be prepared to purchase gentle products if necessary.
• Please be sure you do not have any spray tan or self-tanner for approximately 2 weeks prior to treatment.
• Please be sure to limit your sun exposure prior to treatment. We will not be able to treat you if you are sun tan or burnt.
• No allergies to Lidocaine.
• Has not taken Accutane in the last year.
• No active infections
What To Do:
• Do book a post treatment Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial between days 3 and 5 to accelerate healing and to hydrate the skin.
• Do use a tinted mineral SPF can be worn immediately post treatment to mask any temporary redness and/or swelling.
• Itching and dryness are common symptoms once the skin has healed initially. This will clear gradually over a few days with the use of post peel recovery lotion, along with a hydration mist. I recommend the Deep Hydration Aloe Mist because of its intense healing and hydrating benefits to post laser skin
• Sunblock..Sunblock..Sunblock is a must. Please use a good UVA/UVB sunblock every morning. Trust your practitioner’s suggestion with this one, this is a critical step to prevent any further issues.
• Healing time varies from person to person. Be PATIENT with your healing process. You will see improvement of your skin texture shortly after even the first treatment. Fine lines and deeper lines will also improve, but it will take more time. The fibroblasts in the dermal layer of the skin will begin to build new collagen over the next three to six months. Abnormal color and uneven skin tones will improve with each treatment.
• Continue the use of a tyrosinase inhibitor beginning 7 days post treatment.
• Do consider a series of treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart for optimal results and one treatment a year to maintain results.
And last but not least….
Be a regular client/patient of your esthetician (make sure they are licensed in your state). Part of the skin-investment is creating lifestyle habits in between your treatments and procedures. Just like exercise and a good diet, you need to stay on top of regular facial maintenance. Remember, it takes at least 20 days to see a significant change in your skin’s appearance. Do not expect a miracle in one appointment. I recommend monthly visits to get facials, use a skin specific regimen for your skin concerns, and invest in procedures annually to reverse damage, and maintain healthy skin based on your age, genetics, and exposure to the environment.
- Kelly Horton-Beeman