How to prepare for your facial

TOP TIPS to get the most out of your facial treatment

When I say ‘It’s never just a facial…’ that’s exactly what I mean.

You may think that I will be doing all the work when you come in for your facial treatment, which is true! BUT to elevate your professional facial time and maximise the results, here are some great tips of how to prepare for your facial before you come into clinic …

To help you get the most from your time with me and to avoid any hiccups that might prevent your facial on the day, here are my top tips to prepare for your facial.(Last-minute cancellations are as disappointing for me as they are for you).

1. Your Daily Skin Routine – Please Don’t Skip It!

You might be tempted to skip your skincare on the day of your appointment, but please don’t. Your usual skincare routine gives me the most accurate picture of your skin’s current health and behaviour.

Skipping it may cause temporary changes like dehydration, sensitivity, or oiliness that aren’t truly reflective of your skin’s normal state. So whatever your usual routine is, do it!

It’s not a waste of your skincare products using them before you come for you facial.  By not doing your usual ‘thing’ your skin will look and behave differently. It doesn’t give me a true picture of it’s state of happiness. It can cause temporary conditions like sensitisation, dehydration, redness or oiliness.  Wrap your skin in love everyday (even on the day of your facial) with your daily routine and of course SPF. 

2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Think of your skin cells like grapes: plump, juicy and vibrant when hydrated… or shrivelled and dull like a raisin when they’re not. Well-hydrated skin not only functions better, but it also responds much better to all treatments.

When your skin cells are plump and juicy, full of hydration they work so much better and communicate much more clearly with other cells, hormones and tissues within the layers of the skin.  I want your skin cells to have the best conversations with each other.  Team work makes the dream skin work! Water is life of the skin and is the cheapest beauty product and advice you could ever have!

In the days leading up to your facial, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. This helps your skin cells talk to one another more effectively, supporting regeneration and repair.

Professional tip: Limit alcohol before your appointment, especially if you’re having microneedling or advanced treatments like the Pyramid Facelift, as it thins the blood. Also, go easy on caffeine, which can dehydrate your skin.

3. Avoid Actives and Exfoliation

Please avoid using strong actives like retinol, retinoids, glycolic acid, lactic acid, or BHA/ salicylic acids for 3–4 days before your facial to avoid over stimulation of the skin

Why? These ingredients stimulate the skin and can leave it more sensitive. When avoided, it allows me to safely use professional strength actives during your treatment giving you a better result with less risk. Exfoliants examples are: scrubs, tretinoin, retinol, retinoids, lactic acid, glycolic and salicylic.

4. Make-up Free Skin is Best (If you can)

If possible, come bare-faced. No makeup = more time for treatment. Heavy, long-wear makeup can take a while to remove and reduces ‘facial’ time during your appointment.

5. Hair Appointments

Ideally, book your facial at least 24–48 hours away from any hair colour appointment.

Treatments like Microneedling, the Pyramid Facelift (Fractional Microneedling and RF) and peels, for example, should not be carried out on the same day as having colour or high/lowlights treatments to ensure no adverse reactions happen. Its also advised not to have hair colouring treatments immediately after advanced facials.

6. Had Botox, Filler or Other Skin Boosters Recently?

If you’ve had Botox, you must wait at least 2 weeks before having your facial. For dermal fillers or other injectables, it’s a minimum of 4 weeks post-treatment before I can safely treat your skin, longer if the treatment was particularly invasive. This is also from subsequent top-ups

Why? To ensure everything has settled properly and to avoid migration or disruption of your results.  If in doubt, always ask, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

7. Communication – It’s Good To Talk!

From recent surgery or new medications to cold sores, flu, skin lesion removal, ear infections or even a dental procedures. All these things can all affect your treatment.

Please don’t wait until the day to let me know. If you’re unsure about anything, send me a message before your appointment. That way, we can avoid any disappointment (and wasted time) and reschedule.  If you are not sure, let’s talk!  The last thing you want is being disappointed on your facial day if you can’t have your treatment that you have been so looking forward to.

8. Waxing, Laser, Electrolysis & Beards 

Facial waxing, electrolysis and laser hair removal should be done at least 48 hours before your facial.

If you have a beard, a tidy trim the day before is great. If you shave, try not to shave on the same day as your facial, especially if your skin is sensitive.

9. Get Comfortable!

There’s nothing worse than feeling restricted when having your facial, so wear something thats comfortable! Avoid high neck tops, or anything that can be itchy against the skin.  

10. Stay Out Of The Sun

We all know that UV light causes premature ageing. Sun-damage, pigmentation, lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity and a whole host of other stresses caused by uv exposure show on the skin. This why a good quality separate SPF is crucial. SPF found in make-up or moisturiser just does not offer enough protection enough from daylight UV radiation. Extended sun exposure especially if you’ve recently been abroad, can limit what treatments are safe for your skin. I recommend AlumierMD Mineral SPF https://uk.alumiermd.com?code=101CA042

Planning a holiday soon? The Byonik Pulse-Triggered Laser Facial is a perfect pre- or post-sun treatment to deeply hydrate, repair, and strengthen the skin barrier.

Having sunburn or very recently returning from a sunny destination with extended sun exposure can impact which treatments you can have.  Byonik Pulsed Trigger Laser is a perfect advanced treatment before and after your holiday!

Discover more about Byonik https://andreasimpson.co.uk/facial-treatments-byonik

11. Take a Moment – This is Your Time …

Stopping the clock and the busy world for just a moment, is so important to the body, mind and of course your skin.  Whether you are having microneedling, a lunchtime peel or an Autograph Facial subliminally curated for you …

When you’re relaxed, your skin responds better. Your nervous system shifts into healing mode, allowing your facial to work even deeper.

Give yourself permission to hit pause, take the moment to breathe ….

Final Thoughts…

A little preparation goes a long way. I want every treatment to be not only results-driven and safe, but a moment for you, to pause and be just for you. These simple steps mean you’ll arrive ready, relaxed and completely ready for the best experience possible.

Your skin will thank you.
Your future self will thank you.
And I’ll be ready with to look after you and your skin

‘It’s never just a facial …’

Love Andrea x