Instructions for facial
Before: How to prepare for a facial
Preparing for your treatment can ensure a positive facial experience and maximum benefits. The first step is understanding what to expect before and during your appointment.
If this is your first facial, you may not realize that you’ll most likely be asked to get undressed (down to your underwear) and put on a robe, even if you aren’t there for a body treatment. If you’re comfortable with it, you can also take off your bra, making it easier for your aesthetician to apply serums and other products to your décolletage.
Most facials include cleansing, exfoliation, steaming, extractions, product application, and facial massage, though this can vary depending on the treatment you get. You’ll have time to speak to your aesthetician about your skin concerns and regular skincare routine. This is a great time to ask any questions about the treatment process.
For a Geneo facial, you can expect a consultation to identify your needs, followed by a three-step treatment that provides oxygenation, exfoliation and nourishment, and sculpting. Geneo’s unique method of exfoliation does not include any pulling or tugging on the skin, so it is suitable and comfortable for all skin types. The ultrasound step provides a gentle, warming, and soothing sensation that helps the skin absorb the active ingredients from the serum. The massage step provides a tension-relieving vibration-based massage to encourage stress in the face to fall away.
Now that you know what to expect before and during your facial, it’s time to discuss how to prepare your skin before treatment. Read on for a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts before a facial.
Pre-Facial Dos and Don’ts
You should (and shouldn’t!) do several things before a facial. Follow these tips to ensure you get the most out of your professional facial treatment.
Dos:
Wash your face gently so you arrive with clean skin. Your provider needs a clean slate to work with.
Continue with your normal morning skincare routine, except for masks, peels, or deep exfoliation. It’s fine to moisturize and use sunscreen, but skip any treatments as these may interact negatively with your facial.
Create a list of the skincare products and ingredients you’re currently using. This helps your aesthetician understand your current skincare habits and make recommendations or adjustments to improve your routine.
Let your provider know what skincare concerns you have. This will help them create a targeted treatment that gives you the results you want.
Consider taking a shower before your appointment. This helps open your pores and also ensures you arrive at your most hygienic.
Drink plenty of water so you’re well hydrated, but not so much that you have to run to the bathroom in the middle of your appointment!
Take some time to relax so you don’t go into your appointment stressed out. Facials are just as much about relaxing self-care as healthy skin.
Speak up if you’re nervous. Your provider’s goal is to give you a great experience, and they can talk you through the process or answer any questions to put you at ease.
Don’ts:
Wear makeup to your appointment. Your aesthetician can’t treat your skin until your face is clean.
Make changes to your skincare routine a week or sooner before your appointment. If you change up your routine, you won’t know if your post-facial results are because of the treatment or one of the changes you made.
Do any intensive or invasive skincare treatments, like facial masks, peels or peel-off masks, or exfoliating treatments. Also, make sure to stop using chemical exfoliants and potential irritants a week or so before your treatment. This can irritate the skin when combined with facial treatments.
Shave or wax any treatment areas like brows, face, lips, legs, or bikini line. You don’t want to make your skin extra sensitive before a professional facial or body treatment.
Forget to tell your aesthetician about any medications you’re taking and any allergies you have. Your provider must know about any potential issues before they get started.
Schedule your appointment too close to a major event. Depending on the type of treatment you get, you could experience redness or peeling for a few days after. Book your appointment about five to seven days before your event.
Drink caffeine too close to your appointment time. It can cause facial twitching or make it hard to relax.
After: What to do after a facial
Some facials, such as laser treatments or chemical peels, require downtime afterward. This can be anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks. During this time, your skin will be red and possibly peeling, so it’s a good idea to clear your calendar of any social events for that time period.
If you’d prefer not to hide your face for days after a facial, you can choose treatments like Geneo facials, which are gentle, non-invasive, and require no downtime. If you see any redness after your treatment, it will be slight and fade quickly.
Post-Facial Dos and Don’ts
No matter what treatment you get, you can follow the post-facial dos and don’ts below to ensure excellent, long-lasting results.
Dos:
Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and help flush out toxins.
Try not to touch your face or other treated areas, and skip any at-home facial massage. Your skin may be sensitive, so a hands-off approach is best.
Avoid makeup for at least the rest of the day. While this isn’t 100% necessary, applying makeup right after a facial is not ideal and may clog your recently deep-cleaned pores.
Wait at least two to three days before using skincare treatments or products that could irritate your skin or increase skin sensitivity. That means no toners, exfoliants, new products, or acne treatments. You should also avoid products with vitamin C and retinol.
Stay out of direct sunlight and avoid high heat. Some products used during your treatment may make you more sensitive to the sun.
Take some time to relax and let your skin rest. This isn’t a requirement for Geneo treatments, but it’s still nice to continue the relaxing spa vibe for the rest of the day.
Make sure to use a clean pillowcase and clean towels. This will help keep dirt and oils out of your pores.
Don’ts:
Wash your face or take a shower until at least six hours after your treatment. The serums and treatments need to have time to absorb into your skin completely.
Forget to use sunscreen with noncomedogenic ingredients. Sunscreen is always a must, but make sure your post-facial sunscreen is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores.
Exercise right after your treatment. Sweating will remove the serums that are still being absorbed into your skin.
Swim or apply water or steam to your face until at least six hours after your treatment. As with exercise and sweating, applying water or steam will remove the skincare products before they’re fully absorbed.
Pick at your skin. While you should never do this, it’s especially important to avoid it after a facial when your skin is at its most sensitive.
Wax, shave, or pluck hair in the treated area for at least a few days after treatment, as this can inflame your hair follicles.
Do not forget to follow the post-facial care instructions provided by your esthetician. Your provider knows the best way to care for your skin based on the procedures and products used during your treatment.
Instructions for facial threading
Pre-treatment
Cleanse: Wash your eyebrows with a mild cleanser and water every morning and evening to remove dead skin, bacteria, and infection. You can use antibacterial soap or a cleanser without exfoliants, retinol, or acids. Gently rub the area in a circular motion for about 10 seconds and rinse thoroughly. Pat dry.
Exfoliate: The day before your appointment, gently exfoliate the skin around your eyebrows with a soft washcloth or chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Avoid harsh scrubs that can irritate your skin.
Avoid makeup: Don't wear makeup on your eyebrows, eyelids, or mascara before your appointment.
Post-treatment
Soothe: After threading, you can soothe your skin with aloe vera gel or a calming balm.
Wash: When you get home, wash your face with ice-cold water to close your pores.
Apply ointment: Apply an aftercare ointment with clean hands or a Q-tip, and allow your eyebrows to air dry completely before applying. Don't rub, pick, or scratch the treated area, as this can cause scarring and pigment loss. Let any scabs or dry skin exfoliate off naturally.
Instructions for microblading
Post-treatment:
Avoid sleeping on your face or with your hair down for the first 10 days.
Avoid touching: Don't rub, pick, or scratch your eyebrows, as this can cause scarring and pull out pigment. Let any scabs fall off on their own.
Avoid makeup: Eyebrow makeup can irritate healing brows, and eyeliner and mascara can damage your lash line. Avoid all makeup and skincare products for two weeks.
Avoid water: Keep your eyebrows dry from water and sweat for a week or longer to prevent blurring or fading. Limit showers to five minutes, and keep your face out of the water while you wash your body. Avoid face-down swimming, lakes, and hot tubs for the first 10 days.
Avoid sun exposure: Avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds for at least four weeks, as sunlight can cause color changes, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. After 10 days, you can use sunblock to prevent color fading.
Avoid sweating: Avoid activities that cause sweating, like working out or gardening, for about 10 days, as sweat can make eyebrow hairs brittle.
Use ointments: Apply any recommended brow ointments to moisturize the skin and create a protective layer that can speed up healing.
Cleanse gently: After the initial healing period, you can gently cleanse your eyebrows with a non-abrasive cleanser and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Instructions for Cosmetic Tattoo
Very little Vaseline should be applied to the treated area twice a day for 3 days. This is especially important after cleansing in the morning and before bedtime.
You may apply makeup around the treated area after 72 hours, but remove it only with Vaseline. To keep the area sanitary, makeup has to be brand new. Apply makeup only after 7 days on the eyes.
Avoid sleeping on the treated area. Try to sleep on the back, not the side or face.
Absolutely no cleansing crèmes or chemicals are used in the treated area.
Absolutely no scrubbing. Do not pick at the epithelial crust; allow it to flake off independently.
Do not soak the treated area in the bath, swimming pool, or hot tub. Do not swim in fresh, salt or chlorinated pool water for at least 5 days.
Do not expose the treated area to full pressure in the shower for at least five days.
Do not touch the treated area with your hands until healing is complete.
Do not expose the treated area to a room with a lot of debris, smoke, or steam.
Thicker eyeliner and all full lip color will require more than one session.
Colors appear brighter and more sharply defined immediately following the procedure. As the healing progresses, the color will soften. This will take approximately 5-10 days.
After the skin heals, the top color flakes off, and your permanent makeup will appear spot-like and uneven as your skin does not shed the color evenly and all at once. The color may also appear to be “gone” as you go through the frosting stage. Do not worry; the color will reappear after your skin is completely healed, which can take up to three weeks.
Losing up to 20% of the color in the initial procedure is normal.
If a touch-up is required, an appointment cannot be scheduled sooner than 4 weeks after the procedure.
Touch-ups scheduled later than 8 weeks after the initial procedure are considered a boost for an additional charge.
Failure to follow post-treatment instructions may cause loss of pigment, discoloration, or infection.
Instructions for eyelash extensions
Before:
Avoid clustering lashes, which can damage your natural lashes over time.
After:
To make your extensions last longer:
Be gentle: Avoid rubbing your eyes, picking, or pulling at your lashes. This can cause them to fall off prematurely and damage your natural lashes.
Brush daily: Spend 10–15 seconds a day brushing your extensions with a spoolie brush to keep them clean and tidy. Gently sweep the brush in a downward motion.
Clean regularly: Regular cleaning helps maintain the health of your eyes and natural lashes and can also make your extensions last longer.
Avoid certain products: Don't use mascara, even water-based, as it can damage your extensions and natural lashes. Also, avoid alcohol- and oil-based skincare or cosmetic products near your eyes, as well as bath oils and salts, which can weaken the lash adhesive.
Avoid certain conditions: Don't get your lashes wet for 24 hours, and avoid steam rooms for 48 hours. Also, avoid extreme heat, like direct sunlight, which can weaken the lash bond and cause extensions to fall off. If you sleep on your stomach, the friction can stress the lash adhesive and cause extensions to fall out.
Instructions for lash filler (eyelash lifting)
After:
Refrain from getting your freshly lifted lashes wet for 24-48 hours.
Use cleanser to clean your lashes daily (after 48 hours).
Avoid spas and saunas.
Reduce rubbing as much as possible with your hands, wipes, etc.
Brush lashes with a spoolie.
Rebook every 5+ weeks to continue improving your lash's strength, length, and diameter with three consecutive treatments.