Your skin always looks amazing the day after a facial, but the youthful glow isn’t permanent. It’s the result of providing your skin with the care and nourishment it needs to look its best and stay healthy. What you do after a facial will determine how long that radiant aura will last. Here’s what you should know about caring for your skin post-facial and keeping your skin healthy in the long term.
Things You Should Do After A Facial
You want the results of your facial to last as long as possible. You can prolong the healthy radiance of your skin by changing up some of your habits. Hydrate yourself, prioritize skincare, be consistent with sun protection, and book regular facials to keep your skin looking as fresh as possible.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Water is one of the most important things your body needs to maintain its health and facilitate the repair of soft tissue. Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and it heavily relies on water to stay plump and hydrated. Make sure you’re meeting your daily water intake goal.
Drinks like herbal tea can help you achieve your water goal. Fruit-based herbal teas are also rich in antioxidants, which can help defend your body’s cells against free radical damage. Carbonated water and fruit-infused sparkling water also count. Many people find that essenced seltzers are a great replacement for drinks like soda.
Establish A Skincare Routine
Facials can do a lot to promote the health of your skin, but you can’t rely on facials alone to keep your skin healthy. Your skin, just like every other part of your body, needs to be cared for daily. If you’re unsure of how to establish a skincare routine for your skin type and unique concerns, your esthetician will be able to guide you in the right direction following your facial.
Wear Sunscreen Daily
You need to wear sunscreen every day, even if you won’t be spending much time outside. Your skin can be affected by sun exposure even through the windshield and windows of your car. A thirty-minute drive without sunscreen is thirty minutes of unprotected sun exposure. You should use a 30 SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face every day. If you wash your face, shower, or get wet, don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen.
Schedule Another Facial
The best way to maintain the appearance and health of your skin following a facial is to schedule another facial. Most people find that getting a facial every four to six weeks keeps their skin healthy. They’re able to maintain their skin at home and return to their esthetician for an in-depth skincare treatment.
The frequency at which you need facials will change depending on your skin type. If you’re working to get acne under control, you may need facials more frequently. If your main concern is keeping dry skin hydrated, your at-home maintenance may allow you to go longer without needing another facial. Your esthetician will work with you to create a facial schedule that addresses your individual skincare goal.
Things You Shouldn’t Do After A Facial
A facial can be an intense experience for your skin. You’ll experience the benefits of your facial if you continue to nourish and protect your skin after the experience. It’s best to avoid harsh skincare products, sun exposure, sweating, and hair removal while your skin is still in a tender state.
Don’t Use Exfoliating Face Products
Exfoliating or resurfacing skincare products with ingredients like salicylic acid, retinol, alpha hydroxy acid, and beta hydroxy acid are generally safe for most people to use. After a facial, you won’t need them. Your esthetician will exfoliate your skin and apply a treatment serum to address your skin’s needs. Give your skin a few days to recover before you incorporate exfoliating or resurfacing products into your skincare routine.
Don’t Go Out In The Sun For Long Periods Of Time
You shouldn’t risk lengthy periods of sun exposure for a week or so following a facial, even if you’re wearing sunscreen. While sunscreen can effectively prevent a lot of sun-related damage to the skin, it isn’t infallible. It often wears off after you’ve been swimming or sweating for a few hours, and most people don’t think to reapply it.
Direct heat, sun exposure, and sweating all pose a threat to your skin immediately after a facial. Skip the pool for a week or so, and when you do go, make sure to regularly reapply broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to preserve the health of your skin.
Don’t Shave Or Wax Your Face
When you shave, wax, or dermaplane your face, dead cells on the surface act as a buffer between the blade or wax and your skin. After a facial, that buffer is gone. Shaving and waxing are both slightly irritating by nature. They’re even more irritating without that small bit of protection. It’s best to get a facial a few days after hair removal or to wait a few days after your facial for hair removal.
Don’t Work Out
Most people wouldn’t think a facial would have downtime, but it does. Sweating or overheating during a workout at the gym, a morning run, or even lounging in a hot tub can be irritating to your sensitive skin. You need to be gentle with your freshly exfoliated skin for a few days after a facial. It’s best to avoid situations that may make you sweat or may expose your skin to bacteria for two to three days after a facial.
Book Your Next Facial Today
Greentoes in Tucson offers targeted facials to address a variety of skincare concerns. We use responsibly sourced skincare products with gentle active botanicals to deeply hydrate and nourish your skin. We also offer dermaplaning, waxing, and exfoliating peels. You can take care of all your skin’s needs in one relaxing place. Book your first (or next) facial at Greentoes online or by phone. We look forward to seeing you!