Yes - a comprehensive and effective skincare routine is the foundation for healthy, youthful, and glowing skin. But sometimes we want to do a little something extra to add an anti-aging boost: things like botox, microneedling, and chemical peels.

And if you want to get the most bang for your buck, you’ll need to know how to take care of your skin and maximize benefits after these treatments.

Here’s what you should know.

Top Skin Treatments and Their Aftercare

Botox

What Is Botox?

An FDA-approved injectable toxin made by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox actually works by paralyzing the muscle that it’s injected into. This prevents the muscle from contracting, which, in turn, reduces wrinkles and expression lines in the area.

It can also help with a variety of other conditions, including:

• Severe underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• Chronic migraine
• Uncontrollable blinking
• Neurological disorders like cervical dystonia

Do You Need Special Aftercare?

Yes, but not much. Remember, when someone injects Botox into your skin, they’re making holes through your dermis and all the way down into the muscle. That means that, if you get any bacteria, dirt, grime, or makeup on your skin directly after, it’ll go right into those holes. For this reason, we recommend that you:

• Avoid applying makeup for a few hours, especially with dirty brushes (yikes!)
• Consider prioritizing products with ingredients that can minimize redness and bruising, like arnica, antioxidants, or balancing oils like jojoba.
• Apply ice or use a cool tool - like a gua sha - maximize circulation and accelerate healing.

Products that can help:

• Cloud Whip Vitamin C Cream - Fast absorbing formula packed with stable vitamin C, antioxidants, and long lasting moisturizers.
• High Society Botanical Face Oil - Smooths lines with marula, jojoba, and neroli oils.

Dermal Filler

What Is Dermal Filler?

Like Botox, dermal fillers are liquids that are injected into the skin. That said, fillers are not toxins. What’s more, fillers are not only used to reduce wrinkles, but also to restore facial volume or augment appearance. There are many different kinds of filler, including temporary options like:

• Hyaluronic acid: Fillers like Restylane and Juvederm use hyaluronic acid to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
• Calcium hydroxylapatite: The brand Radiesse uses calcium hydroxylapatite to contour the jaw, restore volume, or fill deeper wrinkles.
• Poly-L-Lactic acid: Sculptra can increase facial volume, and it can last from two to three years.

How Does Dermal Filler Work?

Hyaluronic fillers, on one hand, are injected to add volume, reduce wrinkles, or add structure to the face. They actually work by attracting water into the skin (just like hyaluronic acid applied topically can attract water to the surface of your skin).

Radiesse and Sculptra, on the other hand, are biostimulators, meaning that they actually cause an inflammatory response that stimulates your own collagen growth over time. That’s why they provide such long-lasting results.

Do You Need Special Aftercare?

Yes. For one, you should avoid certain activities like:

• Exercising (for 48 hours): Exercise can increase blood flow, which can make swelling and bruising worse. Sweating -- and being in a gym -- can also increase the likelihood of infection, so you should keep it to a minimum.
• Drinking alcohol: Drinking won’t hurt your filler outcome by any means, but it can make your swelling and bruising a little worse. We recommend that you play it safe until you know exactly how your body will respond.
• Eating salty foods: Sodium equals extra swelling! Stick to low-sodium options -- like clean protein, fruits, and vegetables -- for at least a couple of days.

When it comes to direct skincare, we recommend that you avoid makeup! You can also apply a peptide-rich hydration gel at night to give your skin extra protection and restore your natural barrier.

Products that can help:

• Night Shift Hydration Gel - Enriched with peptides to stimulate collagen production and jojoba oil to eradicate fine lines and dryness.
• Daydreamer Restorative Moisturizer - Blends an array of organic oils and botanicals with plenty of hyaluronic acid.

 

Chemical Peel

What Is a Chemical Peel?

A chemical peel is an acid-based peel that exfoliates and resurfaces the skin. It’s like an AHA or BHA chemical exfoliant that you’d buy in the store, but usually much stronger.

How Does It Work?

Generally, chemical peels work by dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the surface of your skin. This can ultimately:

• Exfoliate your skin
• Encourage cell turnover
• Help nutrients reach the inner layers of your skin
• Diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Balance skin tone
• Increase hydration

Do You Need Special Aftercare?

Yes - and the level of aftercare you need will depend on which chemical peel you get. Lactic acid, for example, will provide lighter exfoliation as a rule. Glycolic acid, a smaller molecule, can be stronger. Salicylic acid, a powerful BHA, can treat more prominent signs of aging.

With all, you can expect redness, tingling, flaking, and dryness during and after your treatment. To combat the negative effects (and maximize your exfoliation benefits) we recommend that you apply restorative, protective, gentle skincare products with:

• Lots of collagen-boosting peptides
• Damage-reducing antioxidants
• Hydrating hyaluronic acid
• Barrier-repairing aloe and shea butter

Products that can help:

• Cloud Whip Vitamin C Cream - Fast absorbing formula packed with stable vitamin C, antioxidants, and long lasting moisturizers.
• Night Shift Hydrating Gel Moisturizer - Enriched with peptides to stimulate collagen production and jojoba oil to eradicate fine lines and dryness.

 

Microneedling

What Is Microneedling?

As the name suggests, microneedling is a treatment that uses tiny needles to puncture the very first layer of skin (using either a roller or a pen).

How Does Microneedling Work?

The small holes, or “micro-injuries,” that the needles make actually encourage healing in the skin. Microneedling can ultimately:

• Boost collagen production
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Improve the overall texture of your skin
• Reduce pore size and acne scars
• Tighten sagging skin
• Reduce acne scars and wrinkles

Do You Need Special Aftercare?

As with the other treatments, it’s better if you skin the makeup directly after microneedling (you can always microneedle in the evening so this isn’t an issue). Something else to keep in mind? You’re making tiny holes into a deeper layer of your skin! That means that active ingredients like antioxidants and moisturizers will be able to penetrate your skin more easily. In other words, it’s the perfect time to apply all of your good products.

Products that can help:

• Seeking C Vitamin C Serum -  A concentrated treatment that targets irregularities—including age spots, acne scars & discoloration—for brighter, firmer, and more even skin.
• Pep Rally Hyaluronic Serum - Botanical based hyaluronic acid gives you the ultimate boost in moisturizing power and tones the skin, reversing traces of dullness and stress.

 

Find all of the products you need for effective treatment aftercare in the Eight Saints Discovery Kit!