Skincare After IPL Photofacial

Let’s be real, we all want a glowing complexion and snatched skin—but without an Instagram filter, it can be really fucking hard to reach your healthy skin goals. 

But, ladies, it’s not impossible. NOT AT ALL!!! 

With the right routines and treatments, you can totally get the skin you’ve been working for. 

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) photofacial treatment is one of the BEST ways to fix hyperpigmentation, undo sun damage, reduce fine lines/wrinkles, and nurture that perrrfect complexion. 

When you think of laser treatments, you might think of hair removal—and that’s a great way to use IPL too if you’re not into shaving. But, IPL can also be used to give you your ideal skin in a super safe and easy way. 

Seriously, this shit takes less than an hour and it makes SUCH a big difference. But, to get the full-effect you’ve got to make sure you do post treatment care properly!

Don’t worry, though, it’s not hard. You just need to know your dos and don’ts! Here’s how to handle the IPL healing process right:

Skincare After IPL Photofacial 

What To Do After IPL Photofacial

Wear sunscreen all the time (you should be doing that anyway.) 

After your IPL treatment, your skin is going to be super sensitive. You’ve gotta have good sunscreen on to prevent damage and irritation! 

To be clear, sun exposure is NEVER good for your skin. Sooo you should always be wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It protects your skin and is the ultimate hack to have youthful, dewy skin. 

Need recs??? We got you: Zo Skin Health Daily SPF, Elta MD Oil-Free SPF, and Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Face Sunscreen Lotion are some of our faves. 

Cleanse your skin gently, twice a day. 

It’s recommended that you use a gentle cleanser with warm water twice a day on the treated areas. 

Again, your skin is raw and sensitive, so you’ll want to use baby washcloths and something like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. 

Stay moisturized. 

Keep your skin moist! Your moisture barrier will be compromised right after, so get to building that back up again right away. 

Some of our fave moisturizers are Cetaphil Moisturizer, Epicuren Colostrum Luminous Glow Cream, and Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench.

Get a microdermabrasion facial. 

Okay, first of all, do not exfoliate while you’re healing. Abrasive tools and harsher chemicals are a big no-no for recovery. 

You’ll have brown spots after IPL that’ll then turn to scabs, and you don’t want to be scrubbing and scratching those off. 

Instead, microdermabrasion facials are perfect for gently getting rid of those scabs and dead skin cells while also hydrating and rebuilding that moisture barrier. So, don’t be afraid to go see a facialist!

Use serum and face oil. 

Serums and face oils kick that rehydration process into high gear. Vitamin C products are always a must, and they’re recommended post IPL too! 

Try Dr. Dennis Gross’ Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum or use the ICE QUEEN FACE OIL. Both have ammmazzzinnggg ingredients for IPL recovery. 

Sleep with your head elevated. 

To help with swelling that sometimes happens after IPL, sleep with your head slightly elevated. 

And, make sure you have a silk pillowcase for maximum skincare benefits. It can help prevent bacteria from building up on the sheets! 

Ice roll your skin!

It’s recommended that you get right to icing after an IPL treatment. For 10-15 minutes every hour for 24 hours, they want ice on your face! (except when you’re sleeping). 

That might sound like a hassle . . . but not if you have the HOT MESS ICE ROLLER. It’s high-quality, ergonomic, and ice fucking cold. Honestly, its perfect for keeping swelling down and reducing irritation after IPL! 

After you use the HOT MESS ICE ROLLER post IPL, you’ll definitely be adding it to your daily skincare routine. Ice rolling has SOOO many benefits beyond IPL recovery! 

What Not To Do After IPL Photofacial 

Turn off the hot water.  

Cleansing is important, but shut off the hot water. No hot baths or showers. Your skin will be pretty sensitive and high temps could definitely cause irritation!  

No picking or scratching! 

Those brown spots forming on your face look and feel gross. And, they are. It’s all the dark spots rising to the surface to flake off and be gone forever. Byeeee hyperpigmentation!

However, don’t scratch or pick at those spots. That could cause scarring, which would be totally counterproductive to your goal. Leave them alone!  

Take a break from the hard exercise. 

Take it easy on the exercise for 48 hours. Overheating can actually make IPL photofacial treatments less effective. So, stick with yoga or something more low key. 

Don’t wear makeup. 

Don’t apply makeup until all the redness has gone away. Applying cosmetics over the compromised moisture barrier could cause irritation and make recovery longer. 

Stay the fuck out of the sun! 

Like we mentioned . . . sun exposure is never good for your skin, but especially not after IPL! Stay inside, wear SPF, and binge our founder’s limited podcast series Get the Fuck Out of the Sun—it’ll help you curate the PERFECT skincare routine once you’re all healed up.  

Avoid skincare products with lots of vitamin A. 

Vitamin A is a type of chemical exfoliant, so you don’t want that on your skin until at least a week after IPL. 

Check your ingredients lists on all your products. We don’t want any retinoic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid . . . really any acid. Just no acids until you’re fully healed. 

Skip the pool. (Go for a sauna instead.) 

The chemicals in the pool do not need to be on your sensitive skin. If you want that spa fix, instead jump in the sauna. That could actually help hydrate your skin and restore the moisture barrier! 

HERE is more on sauna benefits and our fave sauna accessories. 

After IPL avoid exfoliation, keep the skin moisturized, and don’t forget to ice roll! 

IPL photofacial treatments are the ultimate skincare hack. It’s the perfect cosmetic treatment for literally anyone. There are no injections, surgeries, or any other scary stuff. Just some intense light! 

Knowing how to recover gracefully and with optimal skin benefits is key. Use this guide to do your post-IPL treatment right. And, don’t forget to come back to the blog for more on keeping your new glowing skin looking radiant forever!!!