Journal / Professional care
Before a facial: what to tell your skincare practitioner.
A facial is planned around the skin in front of the practitioner. What you use at home, what has been done to your skin recently and how it tends to react are part of that picture, and only you can supply them.
The short answer
Before a professional facial, tell your practitioner everything you use on your skin, especially retinoids, exfoliating acids, benzoyl peroxide and prescription treatments. Mention recent procedures such as peels, laser, injectables or waxing, past reactions, skin conditions, medication, pregnancy or breastfeeding, recent sunburn and any upcoming event. Then ask what, if anything, to pause and for how long. That decision belongs to the person who will treat you, not to a general guide.
01 / The reasoning
Why the details change the plan.
A facial can include cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, steam, masks, massage or a device. The same step can suit one skin well and be too much for another, and much of what decides this cannot be seen by looking.
A practitioner cannot tell from your face that you used a retinoid last night or had a laser treatment last month. Yet those details matter. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that some medications and even over-the-counter products, such as prescription retinoid creams and products containing retinol or benzoyl peroxide, can make skin more sensitive or cause it to peel, and that exfoliating while using them may worsen dry skin or even cause breakouts.[1]
The conversation before a facial is how that information reaches the person choosing the steps. It is worth having even if you have been treated by the same practitioner before, because routines and circumstances change. If you are still deciding whether professional care belongs in your plan at all, start with when professional skincare belongs in the plan.
02 / The list
What to tell your practitioner.
None of these needs a long explanation. A name, a rough date and how your skin responded is usually enough to start.
- Your current products
- Everything you apply, morning and evening. Name retinoids, exfoliating acids (AHA, BHA, PHA), benzoyl peroxide, any prescription creams or gels and any at-home devices. Say how often you use each. If your routine has grown crowded, active ingredients: when more is not better may help you see it clearly.
- Medication
- Tablets as well as creams. Isotretinoin, a medicine for severe acne, is one example: the NHS lists microdermabrasion, chemical peels, waxing and laser hair removal among the things to avoid while taking it.[3] Mention it even if you stopped recently, and ask your prescriber about timing.
- Recent procedures
- Peels, laser or light treatments, microneedling, injectables such as anti-wrinkle injections or fillers, waxing or threading on the face, and other facials, with approximate dates. See recent cosmetic procedures: what your practitioner needs to know.
- Reactions and sensitivities
- Products or ingredients that have stung, itched or caused a rash, reactions to earlier treatments, and known allergies. What you saw and how long it lasted is more useful than a guess at the cause.
- Skin conditions
- Anything diagnosed, such as rosacea, eczema or acne, plus what you have noticed yourself: cold sores, broken skin, a patch that has changed. Describe it rather than labelling it; the label is for a doctor.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- This can change which products and steps are appropriate. The AAD states that retinoids should not be used during pregnancy.[2] See reviewing your skincare during pregnancy.
- Recent sun
- A holiday, a sunburn or a tan. The AAD advises never exfoliating sunburned skin,[1] and notes that retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun.[2]
- Goals and dates
- What you would like from the session, and any event coming up. Timing around an occasion is its own question; see skincare before an event.
03 / Before the appointment
Pausing products: ask, don’t guess.
Whether to stop a retinoid or an exfoliant before a facial, and from when, depends on the product, its strength, how long you have used it, how your skin tolerates it and what the session will involve. A single rule cannot cover all of that, which is why this guide does not give one.
Ask when you book, not on the day: “Should I stop anything beforehand, and from when?” Ask the reverse question too: when to restart. Dermatologists work the same way with chemical peels. The AAD notes that some patients follow a pre-peel skin care plan, and that the dermatologist decides whether one is needed.[4]
Two exceptions to “just stop it”
Do not stop a prescribed treatment without asking the person who prescribed it. And do not start anything new in the days before a facial: if your skin reacts, neither you nor your practitioner will know why. How to introduce a new skincare product explains the one-at-a-time approach.
04 / On the day
What to bring with you.
Memory is unreliable in a treatment room. A few notes on your phone make the conversation quicker and more accurate.
A short checklist
- Photos of the labels of the products you use, or a written list.
- The names of any medicines you take, including tablets.
- Approximate dates of recent treatments and who carried them out.
- A line on any past reaction: what you used and what happened.
- Your main question, written down so it is not forgotten.
Some practitioners prefer to see your skin bare, others start with cleansing either way. If it matters for your appointment, ask when you book. For a first visit, what to bring to a first skincare consultation covers the same ground in more detail.
05 / Your turn
Questions worth asking back.
Sharing information is half of the conversation. The other half is understanding what will be done with it.
- What will this facial include for my skin today?
- Given what I have told you, is there a step you would leave out?
- Should I change anything at home before or after, and for how long?
- How might my skin look and feel afterwards, and what would be unusual?
If you are choosing between a classic facial and a device facial, choosing a professional facial: where Frozen Face Pro Max fits shows how to ask about each step. A good answer is plain and specific; what a useful skin consultation should leave you with describes what to expect from that exchange. Once the session is over, after a facial: keeping your home routine clear picks up the story.
Start with a conversation.
A consultation is where your history and goals are discussed before any treatment is chosen.
Explore a consultation06 / The boundary
When a facial should wait.
Sometimes the most useful outcome of the conversation is a later date. Rescheduling is a reasonable choice, not a failure; see when to postpone a skin treatment.
See a doctor first if
You have a rash, an infection, broken or sunburned skin, an active cold sore, deep or painful acne, or a skin change you cannot explain. A facial does not diagnose or treat skin conditions, and self-diagnosis is not reliable. When a skin concern needs a dermatologist explains the next step.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a medical condition, ask your doctor if you are unsure whether a treatment is appropriate.
A few common questions
Frequently asked questions.
Should I stop using retinol before a facial?
Ask your practitioner when you book. There is no single rule: it depends on the product, how often you use it and what the facial involves. The AAD notes that retinoids can make skin more sensitive and that exfoliating while using them may worsen dry skin.[1]
What should I tell my practitioner before a facial?
The products you use, any medication, recent procedures with rough dates, past reactions, skin conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, recent sun exposure, your goals and any upcoming event.
Can I have a facial while taking isotretinoin?
Tell both your practitioner and your prescriber. The NHS lists microdermabrasion, chemical peels, waxing and laser hair removal among the things to avoid while taking isotretinoin.[3] Ask your prescriber about timing after you stop.
Can I get a facial when I am pregnant?
Tell your practitioner, because it can change which products and steps are suitable. The AAD states that retinoids should not be used during pregnancy.[2] If you are unsure about a treatment, ask your doctor or midwife.
Should I mention Botox or fillers before a facial?
Yes. Mention any injectables and roughly when you had them, along with other recent procedures. Your practitioner can then decide whether any step should be changed or left for another day.
Should I go to a facial with make-up on?
Ask when you book. Many facials begin with cleansing, but some practitioners prefer to see your skin bare before they start.
Sources & scope
This Journal article offers general skincare education about preparing for a professional facial. It does not provide a diagnosis, prescribe treatment, set timings for stopping products or replace individual medical advice. The points above draw on the following published resources.
- How to safely exfoliate at home (American Academy of Dermatology) — products that make skin more sensitive, and when not to exfoliate.
- Retinoid or retinol? (American Academy of Dermatology) — sun sensitivity and retinoids in pregnancy.
- Isotretinoin: a medicine for severe acne (NHS) — skin treatments to avoid while taking isotretinoin.
- Chemical peels: FAQs (American Academy of Dermatology) — preparation before a peel is decided by the treating dermatologist.
Editorial: Merve Akkaya Journal. Learn more about Merve Akkaya.
Continue reading
A little more clarity.
Start with a conversation
Your history first, then the treatment.
A facial is chosen well when the person giving it knows what your skin has been through. The conversation comes before the towels.
Tell us what you use, what you have had done recently and what you would like from a session. You can explore the consultation options before making an enquiry.
A conversation about suitability comes before choosing a treatment.