What Is the Aftercare for a HydraFacial?

You must keep your face dry for at least six hours after your HydraFacial treatment. Since the last step of a HydraFacial is serum application, you must allow your skin enough time to absorb the serum fully. If your face becomes wet, you risk washing away any serum that has yet to be absorbed, and you may not achieve the best results possible. Therefore, we recommend you do not wash your face or engage in strenuous activity that will result in sweating until the day after your treatment.

When it comes time to cleanse your face, you should choose gentle products and avoid exfoliating cleansers. Cleansers containing NaPCA (sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) are ideal. PCA is a humectant, meaning it tends to draw water towards itself. This results in a hydrating effect and will further the results of your HydraFacial treatment.

A prime objective of a HydraFacial Treatment is the hydration of the skin, and it is important to continue providing moisture after treatment to enhance results. It is beneficial to utilize humectants, such as hyaluronic acid-boosting serums or NaPCA moisturizers, which attract water. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance abundant in the fluids of the human body. This acid can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water and reduces the rate of evaporation as well. After your HydraFacial treatment, you should be moisturizing your skin every morning and night for 30 days.

Another step of the HydraFacial process is a chemical peel, which works to remove the outer layers of skin and reveal the fresher layers below. While this technique will give you a rejuvenated look, it is important to recognize the sensitivity of the newly unprotected skin. These unadopted layers will need extra protection from heat and UV rays, so we recommend you use hydrating sunscreen for a week, applied daily.

We recommend not using makeup products until a day or two after your treatment. This suggestion is also due to the effects of a HydraFacial. Since your skin has fresh layers exposed, it is more likely that irritants in makeup products will cause an adverse reaction.

In addition, exfoliating products may damage fragile skin, and drying agents may have a more substantial effect. If you would like to wear makeup soon after your treatment, it is best to peruse the ingredients of your products and determine which ones are most suitable.

Before learning what not to do after a HydraFacial, it is essential to understand why you avoid certain things. A HydraFacial is done in 4 steps: Cleansing and exfoliation with hydradermabrasion, chemical peel, extractions, and finally, serum application. Hydradermabrasion is performed with a diamond-tipped device that uses suction and infusion to achieve the four steps. Compared to regular dermabrasion, this technique is less harmful to the skin and doesn’t require a recovery period. While exfoliation in a HydraFacial treatment is gentle, the chemical peel is slightly harsher on the skin.

Chemical peels break down oils, dirt, and dead skin in the pores and atop your face. The broken-down components are then extracted using vortex vacuum suction, leaving behind fresher layers of skin. This step makes your skin temporarily vulnerable as it hasn’t had the chance to adapt to environmental exposure yet. The first step in aftercare is to keep your face dry so your skin has an opportunity to fully absorb all of the serums applied in Step 4 of the HydraFacial. This means you shouldn’t engage in any activity that will make you sweat or wash your face for at least 6 hours.

You shouldn’t use makeup products for the first day or two after your treatment so as not to irritate the skin with possible drying or exfoliating agents found in makeup products. It would be best not to use exfoliators such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are common ingredients in over-the-counter acne medications and should be avoided as they promote skin shedding. Prescribed acne medications like Tretinoin (Retin-A) shouldn’t be used for the same reasons.

Postpone use of these substances until 48 hours have passed after your facial. Depilatory (hair removal) creams, face masks, and alcohol-based toners should also not be used for 48+ hours after treatment. You should not use tanning beds for at least 72 hours after treatment to not cause thermal damage. Extra sun exposure should be avoided for two weeks following treatment, and sunscreen should be used daily to combat sun exposure.

Finally, treatments such as medium or deep chemical peels, laser treatments, wax treatments, dermaplaning, or any microdermabrasion or microneedling shouldn’t be performed for two or more weeks after a HydraFacial treatment.

Depending on your skin type, condition, aesthetic goals, and provider recommendations, the frequency of HydraFacial treatments varies from patient to patient. New patients who want to establish a routine baseline may complete HydraFacials biweekly to monthly for the first few months.

Once you feel comfortable in your routine and result in upkeep, you may schedule sessions every month. Here at Essence MediSpa, we are passionate about providing optimal care and education for our clients. We would love to hear from you and create a customized care plan to suit your needs. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment. We are located at 222 NY-299 Suite A, Highland, NY 12528. We serve clients from Highland NY, Poughkeepsie NY, New Paltz NY, Clintondale NY, Milton NY, and surrounding areas.