POST CARE GUIDE

Facial Aftercare

A facial deep-cleans, exfoliates, hydrates, and targets specific concerns through a customized blend of steps — cleansing, extractions, masks, massage, and serums — whether you booked a European, Customized, Mini, or Back facial. Because the treatment resurfaces and clears the skin, it is briefly more reactive afterward, especially where extractions were performed: expect a few hours of pink and, for some, mild tenderness or a small breakout. This guide walks through the same-day basics, the 24-to-48-hour pause on active skincare, daily broad-spectrum SPF, and the four-to-six-week maintenance cadence, plus the signs that warrant a call. A facial is ongoing maintenance, not a one-time cure.

Download Post Care Guide (806) 701-5840

Your Facial recovery at a glance

What happens, and when

Here is the path from treatment day to final result.

Same Day

Be gentle, hydrate

For the rest of today, treat your skin as freshly cleaned and slightly reactive. Keep your hands off your face, and if extractions were done, skip makeup tonight so newly cleared pores stay clean. Cleanse gently with lukewarm water and only the products your aesthetician handed you at checkout. Add a hydrating moisturizer, and hold off on anything that scrubs, tingles, or exfoliates.

24 to 48 Hours

No actives

Give your barrier a 24-to-48-hour break from anything active: retinol and retinoids, glycolic or lactic acid (AHAs), salicylic acid (BHA), vitamin C, and physical scrubs. These speed cell turnover, and layering them onto freshly exfoliated skin is what turns a healthy glow into stinging and flaking. Sunscreen is the one product you do not pause — broad-spectrum SPF every single morning.

Every 4 to 6 Weeks

Maintain the result

A facial is maintenance, not a one-time fix. Booking every four to six weeks keeps pores clear and glow consistent, roughly tracking your skin's own renewal cycle so each visit builds on the last. Between appointments, the home products your aesthetician recommends do the daily work no single treatment can. Oily or acne-prone skin may want the shorter end of that range; dry or sensitive skin, the longer.

How to extend your results between visits

How to Care for Your Skin After a Facial

Hydrate inside and out

Hydration works from both directions. Drink water through the day as you normally should, and — where it actually shows on skin — layer a hydrating serum such as hyaluronic acid under your moisturizer to hold water in the surface layers. Well-hydrated skin looks plumper and feels less irritated while the barrier settles. Skip hot showers, saunas, and hot yoga tonight; heat draws moisture out and can drag out the post-facial flush.

Clean pillowcase tonight

Put a clean pillowcase on tonight. A used case collects oil, product residue, and bacteria over the nights you sleep on it, and pressing freshly cleared, possibly extracted skin against that surface for hours reintroduces exactly what the facial removed. It is a small, free step that lowers the odds of a breakout along your cheek and jaw. Fresh side up, and let your skin breathe.

Hands off the face

Keep your hands away from your face for the rest of the day. Your fingers carry oil and bacteria, and after extractions the cleared pores are briefly more open and more exposed — the easiest way to undo the work is to touch, rub, or rest your chin in your palm. Do not pick at any spot that was extracted; pressure and nails push bacteria deeper and are how a clean extraction turns into a scar. Wash your hands before you apply anything.

Daily SPF (always)

Sunscreen is the one non-negotiable. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning — the SkinBetter Science sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 75 we recommend is an easy option — and reapply every two hours whenever you are outdoors. Freshly exfoliated skin is more vulnerable to UV, and under the West Texas sun that exposure is what undoes a facial's brightening and drives new pigment. Broad-spectrum protection is the highest-return habit for your skin, facial or not.

Resume routine the next morning

By the next morning you can return to the gentle core of your routine: a mild cleanser, a hydrating serum such as hyaluronic acid, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Keep the actives benched a little longer — retinol, AHAs, BHAs, and vitamin C stay off for a full 48 hours from your appointment. When you do reintroduce them, add one back at a time so you can tell how your skin responds.

Skip makeup tonight (if extractions performed)

If your facial included extractions, leave makeup off for the rest of the day. Extraction opens the pore to clear it, and foundation or concealer pressed into that opening can trap bacteria and reclog the exact spots you just had cleaned. Give those sites the evening to close. If no extractions were done, your skin can handle makeup again after about 30 minutes — though bare skin overnight is always the kinder choice.

Brief redness, purging, and what is normal

What's Normal: Facial Downtime

Normal, temporary, and part of the process.

No real downtime

There is no real downtime with a facial. It is a genuine lunch-break treatment — most clients head straight back to work, errands, or their day. The only things to plan around are the 24-to-48-hour pause on active skincare and, if you want to look your calmest, the few hours of pink afterward. If a big event is coming up, book two or three days ahead rather than the morning of, so any flush or minor breakout has time to settle.

Possible mild breakout (days 2 to 5)

A small breakout in the first few days after a facial is common and usually short-lived. Deep cleansing, extractions, and the extra circulation from massage can bring congestion that was already forming up to the surface faster than it would have on its own. For most people it clears within about a week. Do not pick at it — let it run its course, keep your usual gentle routine, and if a breakout is widespread, painful, or still there after a week, let us know.

Mild tenderness (1 to 3 days)

A little tenderness where extractions were done is normal and can linger one to three days — the spots may feel slightly sore or look faintly pink, much like the day after a firm massage. It fades on its own with no special care; just leave those areas alone and keep them clean. What is not expected is tenderness that worsens, spreads, or comes with swelling or heat — that is worth a call, not a wait-and-see.

Pink flush (first few hours)

Expect to walk out flushed and pink. Facial massage, exfoliation, and any extractions all bring blood to the surface, so warmth and a rosy tone right after treatment are normal, not a reaction. For most skin it settles within a few hours into an even, healthy glow; sensitive or reactive skin may stay pink a little longer, sometimes into the evening. Cool, unscented skin feels best in this window — there is nothing you need to do to treat it.

What to avoid in the first 24 to 48 hours

What to Avoid After a Facial

Picking Post-Facial Breakouts

If a mild breakout occurs in the days after your facial, do not pick. It is the cleansing process completing itself — picking turns minor blemishes into longer-lasting scars.

Touching the Face

Avoid touching your face for the rest of the day after your facial. Pores are more open after cleansing and extractions, and hand bacteria is a common breakout trigger.

Sweating & Heat

Avoid sweating, strenuous exercise, saunas, hot tubs, and steam rooms for 24 hours. Sweat in freshly-cleansed pores can cause breakouts.

Sun Exposure (48 hours)

Protect the skin from direct sun exposure for 48 hours. Daily SPF 30+ year-round.

Active Skincare (48 hours)

Avoid retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, and exfoliators for 48 hours. Reintroduce gradually after that.

When to Call The Spa After a Facial

Contact The Spa immediately if you experience:

A facial is one of the gentlest treatments we offer, and genuine complications are rare. Mild flushing, a little tenderness, and a glowing pink for the first few hours are all expected and need no action. Call us if any of the following show up:

Redness or irritation that lasts beyond 48 hours — or that spreads, worsens, or starts to burn rather than fade.
A breakout that does not settle within a week — a small, brief purge as pores clear is normal; a widespread, painful, or lingering breakout is worth a call.
Signs of an allergic reaction — hives, intense itching, or swelling that extends beyond the area we treated.
Signs of infection at an extraction site — pus, increasing redness or warmth, or a fever.

Reach us during business hours at (806) 701-5840. If you are not sure whether something is normal, call — we would always rather hear from you.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

We’ve answered some of the most common questions below to help make your experience simple, transparent, and stress-free.

Standard facials include a cleanse, exfoliation (mechanical or chemical depending on the type), steam, extractions if needed, a treatment mask tailored to your skin, facial massage with serums, and SPF. Length varies by facial type—Mini Facials are 30 minutes, Customized Facials run 60–75 minutes, advanced protocols 75–90 minutes.

What's included in a facial at The Spa by Sheena?

A Customized Facial. We start with a skin consultation, then build the facial around your specific needs—exfoliation method, mask selection, serums, and home care recommendations. This gives us a baseline and lets us recommend a path forward. From there, you'll know which targeted treatments fit best.

What facial is best for first-time patients?

Every 4–6 weeks for maintenance. Skin cells turn over every 28 days, so monthly facials keep texture, hydration, and tone consistent. If you're treating an active concern (acne, melasma), more frequently during correction, then drop to monthly maintenance once stable.

How often should I get facials?

Medical facials use professional-grade products and modalities (chemical peels, microdermabrasion, LED, ultrasound) that produce measurable changes—not just temporary glow. They're customized to your skin's condition rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. All our facials are medical-grade because we operate under physician oversight.

What's the difference between a regular facial and a medical facial?

Yes—when done consistently. Targeted acne facials include deep cleansing, salicylic acid exfoliation, extractions, LED light therapy, and acne-calming masks. For active acne we recommend treatments every 2–3 weeks during correction, then monthly maintenance. Significant acne usually needs facials plus a medical regimen, sometimes plus peels.

Do facials help with acne?

Facials range $90–$225. European Facial: $165. Teen Facial: $165. Customized Facial: $195. Back Facial: $175. Glo2 Facials are priced separately ($150–$525 across variants). Memberships reduce per-facial cost significantly—we recommend membership for any patient committed to monthly facials.

How much do facials cost in Lubbock?

None for standard facials. Mild redness for 1–2 hours after extractions or deeper exfoliation. Skip heavy makeup and direct sun for 24 hours. Don't pick at any small spots that may surface in the days after a facial—this is normal skin clearing as treatments work.

What's the downtime after a facial?

Yes—often recommended. Active breakouts benefit from professional extractions (done correctly to prevent scarring) and calming treatments. We'll skip aggressive exfoliation on active inflamed skin. Tell us about any active issues at booking so we can adjust the protocol.

Can I get a facial when I'm breaking out?

Same protocol as a face facial, but on the back. Cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, mask, and hydration. Excellent for patients with back acne, congestion from sports/sweating, or for general maintenance before vacation or wedding/special events. About 60 minutes.

What's a back facial and who needs one?

Not necessary—we'll cleanse it off anyway. If you're coming straight from work, no problem. We provide robes if you'd like to change. Most patients leave fresh-faced with just SPF; we have makeup available if you need to head somewhere after.

Should I wear makeup to my facial appointment?

Yes—most of our facials are pregnancy-safe. We avoid retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone, and certain essential oils during pregnancy. Tell us at booking and we'll customize the protocol with pregnancy-safe products throughout.

Can I get a facial when pregnant?

Book online or call (806) 701-5840. Most facial appointments are available within a week. New patients: a Customized Facial is the recommended starting point. Repeat patients: book whichever facial fits your needs.