How to Prep Your Skin Before a Facial
A little preparation helps your facial go smoothly and gives your esthetician the best canvas to work with. None of it is complicated. Here's how to prep so you get the most out of your appointment.
In the days before: ease off strong products
In the few days leading up to your facial, go gentle on harsh active ingredients like strong retinoids or aggressive exfoliants. Using these right before can leave your skin more sensitive than usual, which limits what your esthetician can safely do during the treatment. Keeping your routine mild in the days before means your skin arrives calm and ready, not already irritated.
Skip fresh sun and avoid getting sunburned
Try not to arrive with a fresh sunburn or heavily sun-exposed skin. Treating already-irritated, sun-stressed skin isn't ideal and may mean parts of the facial have to be adjusted or skipped. Sensible sun protection in the days before helps your skin be in good shape for treatment.
The day of: come with a clean-ish face
You don't have to do anything elaborate the day of. Arriving without heavy makeup is helpful, since the facial will start with a thorough cleanse anyway, but coming with a bare or lightly made-up face makes it easy. If you had makeup on, no worries, they'll cleanse it off, but a clean face saves a little time.
Don't do your own extractions or exfoliation first
Resist the urge to "clean up" your skin yourself right before, no picking, squeezing, or heavy at-home exfoliating in the day or two before. Let the professional handle it with proper technique, since DIY extractions can leave skin irritated and harder to treat.
Come ready to share
Finally, think about your skin goals and any concerns or sensitivities so you can tell your esthetician. Mention allergies, reactions you've had, or anything you're working on. The more they know, the better they can tailor the treatment.
The takeaway
To prep for a facial, ease off strong actives in the days before, avoid sunburn, arrive with a relatively clean face, skip DIY extractions, and come ready to share your skin goals. Simple prep, better facial.
