Before Your Facial

A little prep goes a long way! Here's what we recommend leading up to your appointment:

Prep Like a Pro

A little prep goes a long way — and sets you up for the best possible results. 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

  • Come with a clean face if you can — at minimum, skip the heavy eye makeup

  • Skip any facial or neck shaving or trimming

Three Days Before

  • Pause all skincare actives, especially exfoliants — this includes acids, Retin-A/tretinoin, adapalene/Differin, retinols, retinoids, bakuchiol, and scrubs

  • Minimize sun and heat exposure — sunburned or overheated skin can compromise your treatment and results

One Week Before

  • Avoid all facial hair removal, including waxing, sugaring, threading, and hair removal creams

Two Weeks Before

  • Give yourself at least two weeks after any injectables or laser treatments before coming in — and good news: you're welcome to book injectables after your facial. Just give yourself two weeks before coming in if you've already had them

Post Facial Care:

What you do after your facial matters just as much as the facial itself.

Your skin may be sensitized for up to a week following your treatment — even if you leave glowing! This is all part of the process: dead skin shedding away, fresh new skin rising to the surface. For that first week, your skin will be more temperamental than usual, but diligently following these post-care instructions will make a world of difference.

We're always in your corner — reach us anytime at mclaughlinstudiosskin@gmail.com

For at least five days post-facial:

  • Wear and reapply your SPF as directed — if the weather is warm or you're active, opt for a sweat- and water-resistant formula to keep that protection in place

  • Pause all exfoliants — acids, retinols, bakuchiol, scrubs, etc. — until your skin has rebalanced

  • Set aside benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and sulfur for now. If you've been using any of these as a targeted spot treatment, that's fine to continue — just avoid applying them broadly until your skin has settled

  • Ice, ice baby. Do an ice massage or cold roller for 1–2 minutes after cleansing morning and night to minimize inflammation, speed healing, and soothe any swelling — especially important after extraction-heavy appointments

  • Skip makeup and intense exercise for the rest of the day following your facial

  • Keep workouts light and cool. Avoid moderate, heavy, and heated exercise until your skin has settled — heat and sweat can trigger breakouts and accelerate irritation

  • Step away from the steam room and sauna until your skin is back to normal

  • Hold off on facial hair removal — waxing, sugaring, and threading — for at least a week. Tweezing is fine

  • Limit sun exposure for at least a week. Your skin will be significantly more sun-sensitive post-treatment, even with SPF and a hat. Be extra diligent

  • Skip the pool and hot tubs. Chlorine and post-facial skin are not friends — trust us on this one

  • Embrace the ugly duckling week. A facial is a catalyst, not an instant fix. Some temporary purging or sensitivity is part of getting to the results you're after — it's working!

  • Patch it, don't pick it! If accelerated cell turnover brings deeper congestion to the surface, that's completely normal and a good sign. It's temporary, and addressing it now means fewer breakouts down the road. In the meantime, a hydrocolloid patch is your best friend

  • Noticed a dry patch or small scratch? Not to worry — this is completely normal and very temporary. Your skin barrier just needs a little extra support. Dab a small amount of Aquaphor or CeraVe Healing Ointment on the area as a spot treatment for a day or two and let it do its thing