Facials are trendy and popular for very good reasons. They address various skin concerns, but also pamper and relax you and your skin. Because of their growing popularity, one common query is what to do after a facial.
After a facial, you should be gentle with your skin, and that includes no picking at your skin. Keeping your skin moisturized and yourself hydrated should also help your skin heal. Skip on any harsh and aggressive at-home products including exfoliators, peels, retinol, and active ingredients. Avoid sun exposure and never skip proper sun protection.
Post-facial care instructions would vary from one type of facial to another. What we will go through below is just basic post-facial care. Your esthetician can adjust these guidelines according to the treatments you got.
Below, we’ll go over some important pre-facial points to get the best results and all the dos and don’ts to keep in mind after a facial.
What is a Facial?
A facial is a skincare treatment usually done by licensed estheticians in skin clinics, salons, and day spas. It can be tailored to different clients according to their different skin types, concerns, and goals.
Though facials and the steps involved in each type can vary, they often include deep pore cleansing that leaves you with nothing but clear, bright, and glowing skin.
Facials are also a great way to relax, pamper, and treat the skin.
What Happens During a Facial?
Facials can be tailored and adjusted to address specific skin concerns so not all facials are the same. Nonetheless, here are the most basic components of facials:
- Skin assessment and evaluation
- Cleansing
- Exfoliation
- Extraction
- Facial massage
- Facial masks and treatments
The products and techniques to be used will depend on the client and how the esthetician assessed their skin.
How to Prepare for a Facial
Preparing your skin before your facial appointment is as important as the facial itself and taking care of your skin after.
- Bring a list of your at-home skincare products and habits
Let your esthetician know your regular skincare routine and the products you use every day. This would also help them give you recommendations on how you can improve your skincare routine for the best results toward your skin goals.
- Arrive without makeup on
Your esthetician would need to start with a clean slate when you arrive for your appointment. If you can, arrive without any makeup on. You can moisturize and wear sunscreen but skip on any makeup.
If you’re coming from somewhere else and can’t come without makeup on, then your esthetician will help you clean everything off.
- Say no to intense at-home facial treatments
While you can still continue with your regular skincare routine before the appointment, skip intense and invasive at-home facial treatments.
These include retinol, facial masks, peel-off masks, and exfoliating treatments. Doing any of these before a facial can make your skin extra sensitive.
- Skip out on waxing or shaving
For at least 24 to 48 hours before your appointment, skip waxing or shaving the facial’s target treatment areas. This often includes the face, brows, and lips.
Doing so before a facial appointment will make your skin extra sensitive.
- Don’t drink caffeine right before the appointment
Caffeine consumption before a facial can make your skin dehydrated. Additionally, coffee jitters are not exactly relaxing and when getting a facial, they can make relaxing a little bit too difficult.
What Happens to Your Skin After a Facial?
After a facial, your skin will feel and look more hydrated than ever. Expect much smoother skin as dead skin cells are sloughed off the skin’s surface and your pores are deeply cleansed. You can also enjoy a post-facial glow and even rosy skin right after the appointment.
It’s very important to know that the skin becomes extra sensitive after the appointment from the exfoliation, extractions, and special treatments and procedures done on your skin.
Extra sensitive skin would also mean immediate-after-facial skin could potentially react to many different products.
Facial Aftercare Dos: What to Do After a Facial
After getting yourself a facial, it’s important to know proper after-facial care to keep the results and benefits up:
- Be gentle with your skin
Your skin goes through exfoliation, extractions, and deep cleansing during a facial appointment. After all these, your skin might be very sensitive.
Because of this, it’s important to be very gentle with your skin, to avoid unwarranted skin reactions. Gentle cleansers should be your go-to after the appointment.
For the next 48 hours after your facial is crucial. During this time, avoid active ingredients and any skincare product that’s abrasive and can cause irritation.
- Keep skin well-moisturized
After deep cleansing and exfoliation, your freshly-exfoliated skin needs proper moisture to help with recovery. Opt for a gentle moisturizer to give your skin the moisture it needs and help lock that in as well to keep your skin feeling deeply moisturized.
- Keep yourself hydrated
Aside from keeping your skin moisturized, keeping yourself hydrated is also a key essential. Drink plenty of water to help your skin make complete recovery faster and your skin cells function effectively.
- Protect skin from harmful UV rays
You should protect your skin from harmful UV rays every single day, even if it isn’t sunny out. This is especially true after a facial. Post-treatment, your skin is more prone to sun damage.
Your skin is also more vulnerable and sensitive to developing sunburns. Prevent this and the irreversible damage of the sun by protecting your skin with sunscreens with at least SPF 30.
- Use non-comedogenic products
Facials usually involve extractions that remove dirt, oil, and impurities lodged deep within your pores. After an appointment, this leaves your pores still open.
For this very reason, you’d want to stick to using only non-comedogenic products to prevent pore blockage and breakouts.
- Use clean pillowcases and towels
Again, after a facial, your pores will be open and exposed. Dirt can easily clog your pores and one major source of dirt is used pillowcases and towels.
After your facial, switch out old pillowcases and towels with new ones to make sure no dirt makes contact with your face while sleeping and after cleansing your face.
- Follow your esthetician’s aftercare advice and instructions
Your esthetician knows how you can extend the results right at home and they will give you various advice and instructions. Trust their words and follow what they have to say for post-facial care.
- Book your next appointment and follow through
Facial results are cumulative, which means results get better and last longer with each appointment.
The general consensus is to get a facial at least every month, though this could vary depending on the treatments involved. Ask your healthcare provider when you should come back for a follow-up, book, and follow through with it.
If you happen to be giving yourself a steam facial at home, learn how to clean your steamer so it stays in great condition.
Facial Aftercare Don’ts: What Not to Do After a Facial
After your facial treatment, there are also things you should avoid to get far better results:
- Don’t pick at your skin
Keep your hands off of your face. This can cause dirt and bacteria transfer and could do more damage to your skin. While you should always stop yourself from picking at your skin, it’s especially important post-treatment.
- Skip on wearing makeup
Right after a facial, don’t wear makeup. Again, your pores are still open and exposed so applying makeup could be irritating.
Refrain from wearing any makeup for at least 24 hours after the facial.
- Reschedule your workout
It would be best to skip a day or two of workout sessions right after professional facial treatments.
Excessive sweat can be damaging to your sensitive skin and open pores. And because there is sweat, both dirt and pollutants are more prone to stick to your face and infiltrate.
- Avoid direct sun exposure
Skin fresh from a facial is extra sensitive and more vulnerable to sun damage. Avoid direct sun exposure post-facial. Stay indoors and out of the sun’s way for your skin’s health now and in the long term.
- No swimming, saunas, steam rooms, and hot showers
Extreme heat can easily irritate skin that’s just been exfoliated and extracted. Steer clear from the sauna or steam room, and even hot showers no matter how enticing they sound after a facial.
Swimming right after is also a no-go as the combination of the sun, water, heat, and chlorine can be very irritating to your skin.
- Say no to harsh and aggressive at-home skincare treatments and products
Because your skin is extra sensitive post-facial, avoid any product that’s harsh, abrasive, and aggressive. Using them post-facial can destroy your skin barrier and open up a can of skin issues.
This includes exfoliators, active ingredients, retinol, and peels. Refrain from using any of these for at least 48 hours after the treatment and allow your skin’s natural turnover cycle to take over.
- Don’t wax, shave, or pluck hair
Waxing, shaving, or plucking hair in the treated area can cause redness and inflammation. Skip on any hair removal techniques a few days after your appointment.
Conclusion
Facials are a great way to relax and pamper the skin. But more than that, they can address a myriad of skin concerns and bring you closer to your skin goals. If you’ve booked an appointment for yourself, then you should know the many dos and don’ts after a facial.
Post-facial, you should be gentle and avoid picking at your skin. Skip harsh and aggressive products including active ingredients, exfoliators, and peels. Stick to non-comedogenic products to prevent clogged pores. Don’t ever skip on sun protection and stay away from direct sunlight. And lastly, keep your esthetician’s advice and instruction in mind and follow them.
And that has been our detailed guide on what to do after a facial. For answers to more of your queries, hit us up right below!
