Before Your Facial
A little prep goes a long way! Here's what we recommend leading up to your appointment:
Day of Your Appointment
Wear your SPF — yes, even if you're indoors all day (tinted okay!)
Come with a clean face if you can- at a minimum, skip the heavy eye makeup
Skip any facial or neck shaving or trimming
Plan to keep the rest of the day low-key - no makeup or workouts until tomorrow
Please also share any sensory sensitivities or so we can tailor your experience — for example, skipping LED light therapy if needed
Three-Five Days Before
Pause all skincare actives, especially exfoliants — this includes acids, Retin-A/tretinoin, adapalene/Differin, retinols, retinoids, bakuchiol, and scrubs
Limit use of acne treatments (benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and clindamycin) to spot treatments only until after your visit. These can be drying and compromise your barrier
Minimize sun and heat exposure — sunburned or overheated skin can compromise your treatment and results
Avoid facial waxing, sugaring, threading, hair removal creams, and at-home dermaplaning
Skip the suana and steam room and limit heated workouts
Two-Three Weeks Before
Check with your practioner if doing any advanced services like microneedling, laser, injectables (botox, filler, etc) before your facial. Wait time is typically two-three weeks but can vary based on recovery time and depth of service
Six Months Before (if applicable)
Brides! If you are getting your skin in shape for your big day, an early start is ideal
If you've used Accutane (isotretinoin) or a similar medication, we ask for at least six months between your last dose and your facial — your skin needs that time to fully recover first
Post Facial Care:
What you do after your facial matters just almost as much as the facial itself.
Right after your treatment, your skin enters its glow-up era — but it takes a minute to get there! For up to a week, you may notice more sensitivity than usual as your skin sheds the old and reveals what's underneath. Totally normal, totally temporary. Stick to the guide below and you'll be set.
Questions or concerns along the way? Email: mclaughlinstudiosskin@gmail.com
For the next five days: (or until skin feels balanced again, time frame can vary)
Welcome to ugly duckling week! Some purging or sensitivity is just your skin working through the process on the way to your results
Embrace the process: A little temporary purging or sensitivity just means your skin is doing the work on its way to final results.
Ice rolling: Treat yourself to a gentle ice roll for 1–2 minutes morning and night after cleansing. It feels amazing and helps calm any redness or puffiness, especially if we did extractions.
Hands off: If congestion surfaces, resist the urge to pick! Pop a hydrocolloid patch on it so it can heal safely.
Sun protection: Your skin is extra sun-reactive right now. Reapply your SPF diligently (use a water-resistant formula if active), and seek shade or wear a hat when outdoors.
Pause the actives: Hold off on exfoliating products and active ingredients—including acids, retinols, bakuchiol, physical scrubs, Vitamin C, and niacinamide serums—while your barrier recovers.
Spot treatments: If you use benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, or sulfur, it's fine to use them as targeted spot treatments, but skip applying them all over your face.
Keep workouts light: Save intense, heated, or sweaty outdoor workouts for when your skin calms down.
Skip heat & steam: Steer clear of heated workout classes, saunas, and steam rooms for now.
Hold on hair removal: Waxing, sugaring, and threading are on pause for about a week (tweezing is totally fine!).
Avoid chlorinated water: Pools and hot tubs are a hard pass this week, as chlorine can irritate fresh skin.
Barrier support: Minor dry patches or superficial scratches are totally normal post-treatment. Applying a thin layer of Aquaphor or CeraVe Healing Ointment for a day or two will help your skin barrier bounce right back.