How to prepare for a facial treatment: a checklist

How do you prepare your skin for a professional treatment?

You prepare for a peel, microneedling or a device treatment over a few days or weeks: pause your active products, protect your skin from the sun and tell us about your medication in advance. That way your skin is calm on the day and the treatment can be done as planned. Start as soon as you have booked: some breaks last two weeks, so they cannot be squeezed in at the last minute.

The exact days depend on the treatment. The checklist below tells you what to do and when. Treatment-specific instructions are always on the treatment's own page. What happens during the visit itself is covered in your first visit to Skinique.

What should you do 1–2 weeks before?

At this stage the sun and your own medication matter most.

• avoid the sun and sunbeds: two weeks before a GIGI Acid Peel or BioRePeel C13, one week before GIGI Glow Vitamin C
• do not wax or exfoliate your face in the week before a peel
• if you take isotretinoin or stopped less than six months ago, peels are not done – mention it when you book
• if you are going on a sunny holiday or your skin is tanned, move the acid peel to a later date
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, peels are not done; let us know and we will choose a suitable treatment

Also tell us about anything that affects the treatment: for RF lifting, a pacemaker, metal implants, fillers or thread lifts (RF is not done over filler less than a month old); for Hydrapeel, filler or other injections in the last two weeks. Before GIGI Glow Vitamin C, tell us if your skin has reacted to vitamin C products before, and before Skin Reset, about any medication that makes skin more sensitive to light.

The last few days before the treatment

Retinoids and strong acids are paused before the treatment. How long depends on the treatment:

• GIGI Acid Peel: 5–7 days
• BioRePeel C13: 5 days
• mechanical deep cleansing and Skinique Skin Reset: 3 days
• RF lifting and GIGI Glow Vitamin C: 2–3 days

Do not squeeze spots yourself before a cleansing treatment, and do not try new strong products that week. Before microneedling, tell us about your medication, pregnancy, skin conditions and any tendency to cold sores. Suitability is always checked before the treatment.

What should you remember on the day?

The day itself is easy once the preparation is done.

• you can come wearing make-up, as it is removed at the start
• drink well, especially before an RF treatment
• bring your home products, or photos of them, if you would like advice
• book a cleansing treatment so that you have no important event the same evening

If your skin has wounds, a rash, an active cold sore or sunburn, contact us before the visit. The treatment is not done then, and the appointment is moved.

How do you look after your skin afterwards?

Aftercare depends on the treatment, and you always get the instructions at the end of the visit. After microneedling you get them in writing. The most common ones are:

• no sauna, swimming or sweaty exercise on the day, and for 24–48 hours after a peel
• SPF 50 every day for one to two weeks after a peel
• gentle cleansing and light moisturising; do not pick at flaking skin
• strong active products back only after a few days, 2–5 days depending on the treatment
• no make-up on the day of a cleansing treatment, and no touching your face with your hands

Sun protection is the most important part of aftercare, because pigmentation darkens again in the sun. After Hydrapeel, leave your skin without make-up until the evening if you can. With RF lifting the effect builds up over the sessions, so keep to the agreed course.

Frequently asked

• What if I forgot to stop my retinol? Tell us before the treatment, ideally the day before. Your cosmetologist will judge whether the treatment can go ahead or the visit is better moved.
• Can I come wearing make-up? Yes. Make-up is removed at the start of the treatment. After some treatments, though, make-up is best left off for the rest of the day.
• Can I go to the sauna after the treatment? Not on the day of the treatment. After peels, sauna, swimming and sweaty exercise are avoided for 24–48 hours, depending on the peel.
• Is the preparation different for each treatment? Yes. The breaks differ, so check the treatment page or ask your cosmetologist when you book.

Book a visit or ask first

If you have already chosen a treatment, check its page for the exact instructions and book directly: GIGI Acid Peel, microneedling or BioRePeel C13.

If you are not sure whether a treatment suits your skin or your medication, book a free skin consultation. Fill in the pre-visit questionnaire at home first; it takes about seven minutes. Deniza then sees before the visit which products and medication you use, and the preparation can be planned for you.