WHAT TO DO BEFORE A FACIAL

Preparing for a facial does not need to be complicated.

In most cases, the best approach is to arrive with your skin in its normal condition and avoid doing anything unnecessarily aggressive immediately before your appointment.

At Skin Devotee Facial Studio in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, every facial is customized according to what your skin needs when you arrive. A little thoughtful preparation can help your esthetician assess your skin accurately and make appropriate treatment decisions.

There is usually no need to dramatically change your skincare routine before a standard facial.

Instead, focus on keeping the skin comfortable and avoiding unnecessary irritation.

• Continue your normal gentle cleansing and moisturizing routine.
• Use sunscreen and avoid unnecessary sun exposure.
• Avoid experimenting with new products immediately before your appointment.
• Do not aggressively scrub, pick or squeeze the skin in preparation for your facial.
• Let your esthetician know if your skin has recently become irritated, unusually sensitive or reactive.

The goal is not to make your skin look perfect before your appointment. Your esthetician needs to see how it is actually behaving.

Anything that leaves the skin unusually irritated, sensitized or compromised can affect what your esthetician is able to do during the appointment.

Before your facial, it is generally helpful to avoid:

• Excessive exfoliation: Do not try to prepare for your facial by aggressively exfoliating or scrubbing the skin.
• Picking or squeezing: Manipulating breakouts can increase inflammation and make the area more sensitive.
• Significant sun exposure: Sunburned or highly sensitized skin may limit treatment options.
• Trying multiple new products: If irritation develops, it becomes harder to know what caused it.
• Other aggressive skin treatments immediately beforehand: Tell your esthetician about recent professional treatments so your skin's condition and recovery can be considered.

If you have been given specific preparation instructions for a professional peel, microchanneling or another corrective treatment, follow those treatment-specific instructions instead.

This depends on the product, your skin and the treatment you are receiving.

Retinoids, exfoliating acids and other active products can affect skin sensitivity. Rather than assuming the same rule applies to everyone, tell your esthetician what you are currently using and follow any preparation instructions provided for your specific treatment.

If you are unsure whether a product should be paused before your appointment, contact the studio before making changes.

You do not need to memorize every ingredient in your routine, but knowing which products you regularly use can be helpful.

Be prepared to tell your esthetician about:

• Your cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen
• Retinoids, exfoliating acids or other active products
• Any products that recently caused irritation
• Recent professional skin treatments
• Changes you have noticed in your skin

This information gives useful context when your esthetician evaluates your skin and decides how to personalize the facial.

For professionally selected skincare options, you can also explore CURATED by Skin Devotee.

You do not need to arrive with perfectly bare skin.

Cleansing is part of a facial, so wearing everyday makeup does not prevent your esthetician from treating your skin.

If it is convenient to arrive without heavy makeup, that can simplify the beginning of the appointment, but there is no reason to stress about removing everything beforehand.

You do not need to know exactly what your skin needs before you arrive.

Your appointment gives your esthetician an opportunity to assess your skin, discuss your concerns and customize treatment accordingly.

If you have not yet selected a service, our guide on how to choose the right facial for your skin can help you understand the options.

You can also learn more about why personalized facials matter.

Good preparation also means communicating anything that could affect your treatment.

Tell your esthetician about recent changes in your skin, unusual sensitivity, recent procedures or treatments, and anything else you think may be relevant to how your skin is behaving.

There is no benefit in hiding a breakout, irritation or reaction because you feel your skin should look better before a facial. Those observations can help guide treatment decisions.

If you are developing an ongoing professional skincare routine, our guide on how often to get a facial explains why treatment frequency should also be personalized.

What you do after your appointment can be just as important as how you prepare beforehand.

Post-facial care helps you avoid unnecessarily disrupting freshly treated skin and supports the work performed during your appointment.

Continue with our guide: What to Do After a Facial.

Skin Devotee Facial Studio is located in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, where every facial is customized according to your skin, concerns and goals.

If you have questions about preparing for a specific treatment, review our FAQs or contact the studio before your appointment.

Founded by Joanna Kula, Skin Devotee is a private facial studio in Rittenhouse Square focused on customized, results-driven treatments and long-term skin health.

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