Professional treatments and home skincare are usually discussed separately, as though they’re alternatives. They aren’t. What you do at home directly affects how well treatments work, how quickly you recover, and how long results last.
Getting the interaction right is worth more than any individual product.
Morning Routine Basics
Three steps, applied consistently, cover most of what matters.
Gentle cleanser. Skin doesn’t accumulate much overnight beyond its own oil. A harsh morning cleanse strips lipids you need. Cream or gel depending on your skin, nothing that leaves it feeling tight.
Antioxidant serum. Vitamin C is the most studied. It provides some protection against environmental damage and supports collagen synthesis. Apply to clean skin before moisturiser.
Sunscreen, SPF 30–50. Daily, year-round, regardless of weather. If you’re having any professional treatment, this stops being optional and becomes the single most important product in your routine — more on that below.
Evening Routine Basics
Cleanse. Properly, if you wear makeup or SPF. A double cleanse — oil-based first, then a gentle second cleanse — removes both without needing an aggressive formula.
Active ingredient. A retinoid for texture, turnover and fine lines. An exfoliating acid if pigmentation or congestion is the concern. Not both on the same night unless your skin has demonstrated it tolerates that.
Moisturiser. Something that supports barrier function — ceramides, glycerin, squalane. Richer than your morning product, generally.
What to Use After Laser Treatment
The treated area is temporarily more sensitive and more vulnerable to UV. The routine needs to reflect that.
For 48 hours: cleanse gently, moisturise, nothing else. No actives, no exfoliation, no fragrance.
For two weeks: SPF 30–50 on the treated area whenever it’s exposed, reapplied if you’re outdoors for any length of time. This isn’t precaution — UV exposure on freshly treated skin is the main route to pigmentation problems.
Also avoid: hot showers, saunas, swimming pools and intense exercise for the first 24 hours. Heat and sweat both aggravate treated skin.
Note on shaving: after laser hair removal, our protocol is no shaving of the treated area for 14 days. This is specific and firm — details in our guide on how to prepare for your appointment.
Resume actives gradually after the two-week mark, starting at reduced frequency.
What to Use After Injectables
Different considerations. The concern is product settling rather than skin sensitivity.
First 4 hours: nothing on the treated area. No makeup, no skincare, no touching.
First 24 hours: avoid anything that involves pressure or massage. That includes facial cleansing brushes, jade rollers, and sleeping face-down. Skip the gym.
First two weeks: no facials, peels, laser or microneedling in the treated area. These involve pressure, heat or both, and can affect how the product has settled.
Normal routine otherwise. Skincare doesn’t interfere with injectables at the surface — the product sits well below where topicals reach.
Full detail in our Botox aftercare guide.
Ingredients to Avoid Around Treatments
Before laser or resurfacing: stop retinoids 3–5 days beforehand and acids 2–3 days beforehand. Both thin the outermost skin layer and increase sensitivity to treatment.
Before injectables: avoid ingredients that increase bruising risk in the 24–48 hours prior — this is more about supplements and medications (fish oil, high-dose vitamin E, aspirin, ibuprofen) than topical skincare.
After any treatment: fragrance, essential oils, physical scrubs, and anything described as “resurfacing” or “brightening” until skin has fully settled.
Ongoing: be cautious about combining a retinoid, an exfoliating acid and vitamin C in the same routine. It’s possible, but it’s the most common route to barrier damage, and compromised skin responds worse to professional treatment.
Building the Habit
The routine you follow in a motivated week isn’t the routine you’ll follow in a busy month. Design for the busy month.
Define a minimum version — cleanse, moisturise, SPF — that you’ll do regardless. Add the rest when you can. A reduced routine consistently beats a comprehensive routine sporadically, and consistency is what compounds.
If you’re investing in professional treatment, the home routine is what protects that investment between appointments. Skipping it doesn’t undo the treatment, but it does mean paying for results you’re not fully keeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need expensive products? No. The evidence supports specific ingredients, not specific price points. A well-formulated $25 moisturiser with ceramides outperforms a $200 cream without them.
How long before a treatment should I stop my retinoid? Generally 3–5 days for laser or resurfacing. Your practitioner will confirm based on the specific treatment.
Can I use my usual routine after mesotherapy? Resume the following day, avoiding actives for 48 hours. Full detail on mesotherapy here.
What’s the single most important product? Sunscreen. Not close.
Book a Skin Consultation
We’ll assess your skin and advise on a routine that supports rather than works against your treatment plan.
👉 Book a consultation or explore our facial treatments.