Extend the Glow: How to Care for Your Skin After a Facial

By Liz Zack

We know the feeling – you float home after your facial, checking your reflection in the rearview mirror at every stop light. Look at that glowing skin! I look so rested! But how can I make sure I keep looking like this tomorrow… and next week? 

When it comes to maintaining the gorgeous results of your latest facial treatment, there are a few things to keep in mind, says Dr. Debra Jaliman, board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Here’s what to know.

Post-facial skincare rules: What to avoid right after a professional treatment 

The first day after your facial, your skin will likely be more sensitive than usual and you’ll want to be particularly careful, especially if you’ve been exfoliated, says Dr Jaliman. Go easy on any new products, too. “A lot of times people buy products from their esthetician and are excited to start using them,” she says. “But you’ve really got to wait a few days,” she says. “At least 24 hours.” 

Skip retinoids during that initial period too, suggests Dr Jaliman, to allow your skin to recover. You’ll also want to pause acne products like benzoyl peroxide, physical scrubs, or anything formulated with glycolic acids and salicylic acids, all of which can be especially harsh on post-treatment skin. 

“If you’re a big exerciser,” says Dr. Jaliman, “don’t go for hot yoga right away. That’s where we see a lot of reactions because your skin is now more sensitive than it would normally be.”

When it comes to sunscreen, switch to a zinc-based formula for a few days, says Dr. Jaliman, so the chemicals don’t irritate your skin.  

Your esthetician should be able to answer any additional specific questions you have about what to do or avoid after your facial treatment, says Gillian Cahill, service, education and curriculum manager at Hand and Stone Spa. “All of those recommendations are going to be in your skincare plan, which your esthetician will review with you at the end of your treatment,” she says.

Building an easy at-home skincare routine 

One of the most important things you can do to maintain the post-treatment glow is skincare. And that means coming up with a simple daily practice you can stick to. “It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it has to be consistent,” says Dr. Jaliman. “It’s like somebody who exercises every day – they’re going to be much better off than somebody who decides to exercise once every few weeks.” 

An effective daily skincare regimen has three simple steps, she says. Cleansers, Vitamin C and SPF. “I like gentle cleansers,” says Dr. Jaliman. “I don’t like harsh cleansers that strip the skin a lot. The only people who can usually tolerate them are acne-prone, with oily skin.”

After you cleanse, apply your vitamin C. “Vitamin C stimulates collagen production,” says Dr. Jaliman. “It also helps with uneven discoloration, like from melasma. But it’s not irritating, so it’s something easy that anyone can use.”

The final daytime step is sunscreen. Make sure you’re applying an SPF of at least 30 and note that it doesn’t matter if your sunscreen is mineral or chemical.

At night, you’ll want to cleanse again and then add an active ingredient to your routine like a retinol. “But skip it if you’re prone to redness,” says Dr. Jaliman. “Retinol will make you redder.”

The Takeaway

If you give your skin those first 24 hours to settle, keep your routine simple and consistent, and let your esthetician’s post-treatment plan be your guide, the results of your facial won’t fade – they’ll become your baseline. Then you’re not just extending the glow from your last facial, you’re preparing your skin for even better results next time.