Okay, here’s the thing. You’ve decided to take the plunge and cough up cash for a complexion-perfecting procedure at your go-to clinic.
Naturally, you’d want to prolong the beautifying benefits for as long as possible. Click through to find out how:
If you’ve undergone an “ablative” treatment – this refers to resurfacing lasers that remove the outer layers of your skin – you should consider using prescription-strength salves to soothe your fragile face.
Take it from an expert: “I find using products with epidermal growth factors (EGF) useful for accelerating wound healing as well as enhancing the effects of laser treatments,” says Dr Karen Soh, dermatological doyenne and medical director of Prive Clinic. Of course, crucial caveats apply: “It’s important to use EGFs that your doctors are comfortable with, as there are many off-the-shelf products that are ineffective at best and at worse, can cause sensitivity issues at a time when your skin is healing and vulnerable.” Duly noted!
If there are pin-prick puncture wounds after your Botox and injectable fillers, ask for a tube of arnica gel. In my experience, this botanical balm works beautifully to decrease downtime by buffering against bruising and post-procedural pain.
Use a minimally irritating mineral sunscreen to shield your skin, especially if it’s red and raw post-treatment. If you’re self-conscious about your scabs, try mixing equal parts of a lightweight, high-SPF product with your favourite foundation, then use this concoction as a concentrated concealer on existing freckles. That way, these vulnerable spots get additional protection. Incredibly ingenious, right? It’s also good practice to top up during the day with a spray-on sunscreen – simply spritz generously as a sun-killing makeup setter.
Your frail postprocedural face needs all the help it can get, which is where ceramide creams come into play. This multi-tasking moisture magnet is superb for dealing with dryness and itchiness, both of which are likely side-effects of an intensive facial treatment.
Finally, if your facial treatment has left your skin with angry red splotches, consider cooling the “hotspots” with periodic icing. Simply hold a cold compress – something as simple as a couple of ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth will do – against the affected area for a minute or so, then pat dry. The dip in temperature will shrink your skin’s blood vessels to placate puffiness and blot out blotchiness. Good luck!