8 Things You Should Never Do After A Facial

8 Things You Should Never Do After A Facial By: Audrey I consider facials to be regular complexion maintenance—kind of like car tune-ups for our face or regular dental cleaning for your teeth. Regular facials can help fight the stress, the environment, and some of our lifestyle habits that take a toll on our skin. And there is plenty to be said for that fresh, shiny glow and soft skin post-facial (not to mention the relaxation of an hour or two of all about me time).
But after more than 25 years as an esthetician, I’m always surprised how some people spend $400-$500 on hair and nail on a regular basis and yet, their skin is last on their list! Skin is the largest organ of our body and one of its main functions is to protect our internal organs from harmful things and yet it’s neglected by people of all ages.
For those of you that facial is part of your lifestyle, here is the list of 8 things NOT to do on the day of your treatment.

For the first day after getting a facial, you'll want to avoid these things:

1. Picking at Your Face

True, you really should try to avoid this all the time, but your skin is especially sensitive after a facial. Even though it’s tempting to pop every tiny black- or whitehead that is staring back at you, keep your hands off if you want a flawless skin. There’s a reason your facialist didn’t extract some of them during your facial. “If I've done extractions on a client, I don't want them picking at their skin anymore, as it can cause irritation, eruption and potential scarring. There is a logical explanation if a breakout was not touched by an esthetician during your facial.
2. Using Heavy Makeup
If your face is looking red from the exfoliation or extractions during your facial, you might be tempted to splatter your heaviest foundation or concealer . Don’t do it. 
Because your facial provides such a deep cleanse, it’s smart to give your skin a break from makeup and heavy products for a day or so, because your pores are more open than normal and, therefore, susceptible to more bacteria. Taking a break from makeup will also allow the products that were used to be more effective. You can go back to your usual makeup routine the following day. The first time you do apply makeup after a facial, make sure to disinfect your brushes and applicators or anything that touches your skin to avoid post-facial breakouts.

3. Stepping into a Sauna

It’s in your skin’s best interest to enjoy this heavenly luxury pre-treatment. Once you’ve had your facial, keep away from hot rooms of any kind for at least a day. Your skin has already been steamed to the max during your facial, and adding any more heat could lead to sensitivity, broken capillaries and breakouts.

4. Going to the Gym

If you didn’t get the chance to work out before your facial, you might be tempted to sneak it in right after, but wait at least a day. The increased heat in the skin and sweat can be irritating to your freshly cleaned and exfoliated skin. I suggest you make sure to go to the gym before your facial appointment so your skin has time to rest.

 You'll also want to wait a few days before trying:

5. Using an Exfoliator or Face Scrub

There’s a reason the directions on the back of most exfoliators recommend using them no more than once or twice a week. Over-exfoliating can damage your skin’s protective layer, lead to inflammation, and even cause irreversible damage. Since most facials incorporate an exfoliant—either chemical or physical—I recommend skipping anything that could irritate your skin for several days after.

6. Applying Acne Products and Other At-home Treatments

It’s best not to overdo it on products post-facial, and this is especially true when it comes to harsh, potentially irritating products. This includes retinols, face masks, at home peels, and the cleansers and toners with salicylic acid. These products will turn that fresh post-facial radiance into redness and irritation. So it’s important to communicate with your esthetician to find out what kind of products she/he has used in your facial treatment.

7. Sunbathing

You should cancel any plans to sit at the pool- or beach-side after your facial—Because your skin has just been exfoliated, it is more sensitive and vulnerable to the sun’s harmful rays. After a few days, you can worry less about your skin reacting negatively to the sun, but it’s still smart to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 to protect against the everyday threat of skin cancer.

Wait a full week before doing this:

8. Getting a Wax or Laser Treatment

When your esthetician gives you the green light for any hair removal procedure on your face will depend on how intensely you were exfoliated during your facial, but a good rule of thumb is to wait at least a week. Waxing, especially, exfoliates the skin, and over-exfoliation will make it more likely that the wax will lift the skin and leave you with an ugly scab instead of beautifully groomed brows or lips.

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