What to do before a facial and what to expect at your first one

What should you do the week before a facial?

1. 1Keep your routine steadyDo not start a new serum, acid or retinol in the days before. The AAD's own home test for a new product takes 7 to 10 days of use on a small patch of skin, so a product you open this week cannot prove itself before your appointment. If your face reacts, nobody can tell whether the facial or the new jar caused it.
2. 2Make a short listWrite down every product you put on your face, with the active ingredients if you know them: retinol, glycolic or salicylic acid, vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide. Add prescriptions and any acne medicine. A photo of each label works too. Kay finds this list one of the most useful things a client brings: it can point to the root cause of irritation, and it can reveal a helpful product your routine is missing.
3. 3Flag isotretinoinIf you have taken isotretinoin in the past 6 months, say so before anything else. The AAD says that raises the risk of complications, including scarring, from microdermabrasion, which is one of the tools in the Advanced Facial.
4. 4Protect your skin from the sunTry to arrive without a fresh sunburn. If you do get burned, call the studio before the day of your visit and ask whether to move it.
5. 5Working back from an event?A wedding or a big photo day changes the timing: nothing new in the last two weeks. The facial before your wedding guide lays out six months of dates.

On the day: small things that help

• Wear something easy. A top you can open at the neck or slip off makes it simpler to work on the neck and chest.
• Bring a clip or a tie if your hair is long, braided or locked, so it stays off your face and out of the products.
• Leave jewelry at home, earrings and necklaces especially.
• Give yourself the full time. A first Signature Facial at Karisma runs about 60 minutes, consultation included. Plan nothing tight right after it.
• Know the studio rules before you go. Reservation fees, cancellations and late arrivals are explained on the policies page.

The studio is at 1542 S Wickham Rd in Melbourne and works by appointment only.

What should you expect at a first facial at Karisma?

1. 1You start with the SignatureNew clients usually book the Signature Facial, $125, the entry point among the facials in Melbourne, FL on Karisma's menu. The consultation is part of the price, so Kay can learn your skin before she plans anything stronger.
2. 2A conversation comes firstKay goes through your list, your goals and your health, and you tell her what has irritated your skin before. That talk decides which Circadia products she reaches for that day.
3. 3Then the facial, one to oneThere is no set recipe. The steps follow from what Kay sees, so two first visits rarely look alike. Every visit is with Kay herself.
4. 4Speak up as you goSay so right away if anything stings, burns or feels too warm. A product can be wiped off and swapped. That is easier than living with a reaction for a week.
5. 5Before you leaveAsk what to change in your routine, when to come back, and whether the $225 Advanced Facial makes sense for your skin later. For the rhythm, see how often to get a facial.

What should you not do after a facial?

It depends on what the facial included. Ask Kay which of these apply to yours.

Cleveland Clinic page last updated July 12, 2023. FDA page on alpha hydroxy acids, content current as of November 22, 2022.

Deeper skin tones: one more thing to mention

Tell Kay if past breakouts, scrapes or treatments have left dark marks on your face. The AAD notes that if your skin tends to develop dark spots after acne or an injury heals, microdermabrasion carries a greater risk of more dark spots. Cleveland Clinic lists darkened skin in the treated area among its possible side effects, and suggests asking whether it works better on light or dark skin.

None of that rules out a facial. It changes the plan: gentler steps first, resurfacing later, and sunscreen every day in between. On the Space Coast, that last part matters year round.