Post-Facial Skincare Mistakes to Avoid: What Not to Use Right After a Facial

A facial is a rejuvenating treat for your skin, designed to cleanse, exfoliate, and nourish it. However, your skin is more sensitive right after a facial, and using the wrong skincare products can cause irritation, undo the benefits, or even damage the skin. To help maintain the results of your facial and avoid any unwanted side effects, it's important to avoid certain skincare mistakes in the hours and days following your treatment. Here’s a guide to what not to use right after a facial:

1. Harsh Exfoliants

After a facial, your skin has just gone through an exfoliation process. Whether it was mechanical (scrubbing) or chemical (acid peels), your skin is more sensitive and thinner. Using a harsh exfoliant right afterward can cause irritation, redness, or even over-exfoliation, which can damage the skin barrier.

What to Avoid:

• Physical exfoliants like scrubs with coarse particles.

• Chemical exfoliants like AHAs, BHAs, or retinoids, which may cause irritation on freshly exfoliated skin.

What to Use Instead: Stick to gentle, hydrating skincare products that focus on calming and replenishing your skin’s moisture.

2. Strong Active Ingredients

Active ingredients like retinoids, vitamin C, and benzoyl peroxide are powerful, but they can be too intense for your skin right after a facial, especially if your skin has been exfoliated or treated with acids. These ingredients may cause redness, peeling, or stinging, as your skin’s barrier is temporarily compromised.

What to Avoid:

• Retinoids (Retinol, Tretinoin)

• Vitamin C (especially in high concentrations)

• Benzoyl Peroxide (commonly found in acne treatments)

What to Use Instead: Focus on soothing, hydrating products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin, which help restore moisture and repair the skin barrier.

3. Sunscreen Alternatives

While it’s essential to protect your skin from the sun after a facial, not all sunscreens are created equal. Certain chemical sunscreens, particularly those with high concentrations of ingredients like oxybenzone or avobenzone, can cause irritation on freshly treated skin.

What to Avoid:

• Chemical sunscreens with potentially irritating ingredients.

• Spray sunscreens, as they can be too harsh for sensitive skin.

What to Use Instead: Opt for a physical (mineral) sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as they are gentler on sensitive skin and provide broad-spectrum protection.

4. Alcohol-Based Toners and Astringents

After a facial, your skin is likely to be more sensitive and prone to dryness or irritation. Alcohol-based toners or astringents can strip away moisture and damage the skin barrier, leading to redness and dryness.

What to Avoid:

• Toners with alcohol or strong astringents.

• Products with high fragrance content.

What to Use Instead: Choose a gentle, alcohol-free toner that hydrates and soothes the skin, such as ones with rose water, aloe vera, or glycerin.

5. Hot Water or Steaming

While it’s tempting to enjoy a warm shower or a steaming session after a facial, exposing your skin to extreme heat can worsen irritation and dehydration. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, while steam can cause your pores to become overly open, leading to possible inflammation.

What to Avoid:

• Hot water in your shower or face washing routine.

• Steaming your face immediately after the treatment.

What to Do Instead: Use lukewarm water for washing your face, and avoid any steamy environments like saunas for at least 24 hours after your facial.

6. Excessive Touching or Picking

After a facial, your skin is clean, exfoliated, and refreshed, but it’s also more sensitive. Constantly touching your face or attempting to pick at any blemishes or blackheads can transfer bacteria to your skin and lead to breakouts, irritation, or even scarring.

What to Avoid:

• Touching your face unnecessarily.

• Picking at skin or any blemishes.

What to Do Instead: Keep your hands off your face and use clean, sanitized tools if you need to treat any specific spots.

7. Heavy Makeup

If your skin has just been pampered with a facial, it’s best to give it a break from heavy makeup, which can clog your pores or irritate freshly treated skin. Foundation, powders, and other makeup products may also interfere with the skin's ability to absorb the beneficial ingredients from the facial.

What to Avoid:

• Heavy makeup, including thick foundations or full-coverage products.

• Makeup with comedogenic ingredients (ingredients that can clog pores).

What to Do Instead: If you must wear makeup, opt for light, breathable products like tinted moisturizers or mineral makeup that won’t suffocate your skin.

8. Avoid Hot Showers and Sweating

After a facial, your skin is in a vulnerable state, and exposure to heat can increase inflammation and cause discomfort. Avoid hot showers and intense physical activity that leads to excessive sweating, as this can irritate sensitive skin and potentially undo the benefits of your facial.

What to Avoid:

• Hot showers or baths.

• Intense exercise that causes sweating.

What to Do Instead: Take cool or lukewarm showers and allow your skin to breathe by avoiding strenuous activities for 24 hours post-facial.

Conclusion

While a facial can leave your skin glowing and refreshed, it’s essential to take extra care of it in the hours and days following the treatment. By avoiding harsh exfoliants, potent active ingredients, alcohol-based toners, hot water, and heavy makeup, you can ensure that your skin heals properly and continues to benefit from the treatment. Stick to gentle, hydrating, and soothing skincare, and allow your skin the time it needs to fully recover and absorb the goodness from your facial. This way, you'll be able to maintain that healthy, radiant glow for longer.