While we’re not all able to receive the regular facial treatments you might be used to, you can still maintain your skin to glow just like your last facial. To make your facial results last longer or to help give yourself a facial at home, we tapped Tomás Glenn, a Chillhouse esthetician, to get all the safe, at home tips for maintaining glowing, facial worthy skin. 

First Thing’s First: Minimize Exfoliation

Yes, exfoliation is the key to removing dead skin cells and keeping pores clear, but exfoliating too much can have the adverse effect, think: dehydrated skin, excess sebum production, or enlarged pores. Facials give deep exfoliation, so there’s really no need to do too much to your skin afterwards. Tomás notes that “exfoliation frequency depends on skin type and lifestyle, [but] it’s generally safe to recommend two times per week to start and build [your skin’s tolerance] from there.” That being said, it’s not recommended to exfoliate the night of, or even the day following your facial. 

After about two days, exfoliation is safe. Tomás’ favorite? “Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant is genius for at-home treatment. It was a slightly granular texture that is almost perfect for all skin types. I often combine it with a variety of Dermalogica’s professional products in treatment depending on skin type, but at-home use alone is a great start – and recommended.” 

Hydration is Key

Following deep exfoliation in a facial, hydrating is a key step not to be missed – no matter what your skin type! I personally have oily skin and thought simply using an oil to hydrate would be enough for my skin. That was until my facial with Tomás, when he let me know my skin was actually showing minor signs of dehydration. He suggested looking for products containing hyaluronic acid for best results, as this helps bind water to the skin and maintain the integrity of the skin’s moisture barrier. Oils and creams can be added on top for extra moisture (especially in drier, colder weather), but water-binding ingredients are of top priority.

Stick to a Routine

For the skincare obsessed, this comes as an obvious note. For those who could care less, this is your wakeup call: routine is highly important when it comes to skincare!

According to Tomás, to maintain the healthiest and most hydrated skin, “dermal layering is key. [That being said], it all starts with cleansing so [that] the skin receives [all of] the moisture needed [from your products].” Think of it as creating a pristine base so that all of your active ingredients can go deeper into the skin and work most effectively. Tomás suggests the following to optimize absorption: “You have to cleanse, tone, layer in a smart serum [to match your skin goals], then moisturize and protect with a product for you skin type. The steps are militant, but necessary for best results.” 

Be Careful with At-Home Treatments

Some people love to try and maintain their results my mimicking facial treatments at home. While, to an extent, this is okay, it often is not. Tomás notes that “Jade Rolling or Gua Sha are both smart, at-home practices” as they do not penetrate the skin. Instead, they help to sculpt the face and release muscle tension without damaging your skin barrier in any way. He adds that even though they are great and easy to do at home, “best results are seen by a professional, preferably at Chillhouse.” When it comes to other, more intense treatments, Tomás warns to stay away. “Micro-needling must be left to a professional. [He’s] not a fan of retail products that claim to provide micro-needling results at home. There’s no quick fix for that level of expected results.” If you feel like you desire the results of a more intense treatment, it just might be time for another facial. 

Protect the Skin

Last but certainly not least, you need to protect your skin from potential damage and sun. Sunscreen really is great from helping to prevent worsening hyper pigmentation and is the ultimate anti-aging product to have in your arsenal.

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If you have any specific concerns regarding ingredients, how a product might work with your skin type, or what at-home treatments are best for you, be sure to consult an esthetician.

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Feature Image via Camila Gutierrez