Signature Facial Aftercare: What to Do in the First 72 Hours
By Derma Aesthetics Spa | July 15, 2026
Our Signature Facial is 60 minutes and starts at $130. It’s designed to bring dull skin back to life and get your tone looking healthier, based on what your skin needs that day.
If your skin feels incredibly clean, smooth, and refreshed right after your facial, protect that result by keeping things calm for the next couple days. The biggest rule for the first 72 hours is simple: skip heat and friction. That means no hot showers on your face, no heavy sweating, and no scrubbing. In Denver, our high-altitude sun is stronger than people expect, so SPF is non-negotiable even if you’re “just running out for a minute.”
0–24 hours after your facial: keep it cool, clean, and hands-off
Right after your Signature Facial, your skin tends to be more receptive and a little more reactive. That’s a good thing, but it’s also why we keep your home routine extra simple on day one.
Day 1 quick rules: Gentle cleanse only, hydrate, SPF in the morning, and avoid heat and heavy sweating for at least 24 hours (often 24–48 hours if you run red or sensitive).
What we generally recommend in the first day
- Wash with a gentle cleanser. No cleansing brushes, no gritty scrubs, no washcloth scrubbing.
- Use a simple hydrating moisturizer. If your skin feels tight, add a second thin layer instead of piling on a bunch of new products.
- Skip hot showers hitting your face, steam rooms, saunas, and very vigorous exercise. Heat plus sweat can trigger irritation and clogged pores.
- Avoid picking. Even “just one little spot” can turn into a lingering mark.
Makeup is the big question. If you can go without it for 24 hours, do that. If you truly need something sooner, keep it light, choose non-comedogenic mineral makeup, and use clean tools. Dirty brushes undo a lot of good work.
24–72 hours: protect your glow in Denver’s sun and summer heat
This is the window where people usually notice the “wow” settling in. We hear it a lot, including a client who told us, “I noticed the results after just 24 hours.” Don’t sabotage that with a tough workout and a hot shower.
Sweat and heat: when you can ease back in
If your skin is calm at 24 hours, you can usually return to light movement. If you still have redness or feel “warm” in the skin, wait the full 48 hours before anything that makes you sweat hard.
Cherry Creek tip: After the 48-hour mark, a cool-down walk on the Cherry Creek Trail is a nice way to get moving again without jumping straight into high heat or heavy sweat.
SPF is your aftercare, especially here
Denver’s high-altitude UV can sneak up fast. Use a broad-spectrum SPF every morning, and reapply if you’re outside or you sweat. If you’re out in Cherry Creek North and realize you forgot, it’s worth stopping to grab a quick SPF top-up. It’s the easiest way to keep your tone looking even and your glow lasting.
Days 3–7: when to restart retinol, acids, and anything “active”
If you love strong skincare, this is the part you actually need to follow. Your skin can look so good after a facial that it’s tempting to throw every active product at it. Don’t.
Rule of thumb we use: pause exfoliating acids and retinoids for 3–5 days. If you’re prone to irritation, give it the full 5 days.
What to avoid for the first week
- Retinol and retinoids
- AHA/BHA acids (glycolic, lactic, salicylic)
- Peels, aggressive exfoliation, and at-home devices that “polish” the skin
- Tanning beds (skip them completely). And avoid direct sun exposure as much as you can.
And if you had extractions, give those areas a little patience. A small bump or two can show up a day later. It’s often your skin purging out what was already brewing under the surface. The best move is to keep things clean and hydrated, and don’t attack it with harsh spot treatments right away.
If clogged pores are your main concern, we also wrote a deeper guide on why pores can look clogged after a Signature Facial and what helps.
Your simple facial mask and home routine (busy-day version)
A lot of our Cherry Creek clients are busy professionals and parents. You don’t need a 10-step routine to keep your result. You need consistency and products that don’t stir up irritation.
The “portable” routine we like for the first few days
- Gentle cleanser (morning and night)
- Hydrating moisturizer (morning and night, plus a thin extra layer if you feel dry)
- Broad-spectrum SPF (every morning, and reapply when you’re outside)
If you want a facial mask in the first 72 hours, keep it calming and hydrating. Think soothing gel or cream textures. Skip anything that tingles, “peels, ” or promises intense resurfacing.
And yes, facial massage can feel amazing. If you do it at home, keep pressure light, use clean hands, and don’t massage over irritated spots. In the treatment room, clients often mention how relaxing our finishing facial massage feels, including one who called it “amazing.” At home, less is more.
When to reach out to our facial spa in Cherry Creek (and when it’s just normal)
A little pinkness, mild tightness, or a small breakout can be normal after a facial, especially if you had extractions or your skin was congested. What we don’t want is anything escalating.
Please call us if you notice: severe redness that keeps getting worse, swelling, significant pain, weeping/crusting, or anything that feels like an infection. We’d always rather talk early than have you stress and guess.
“She explained every single step as she worked, and gave me personalized aftercare tips tailored exactly to my skin type.”
one of our regulars
That’s how we work. We take our time, we keep things gentle, and we make sure you leave with clear next steps. If you need a quick check-in or you want to grab the basics that support your results, we’re here for clients across Denver, Glendale, Aurora, Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, and Greenwood Village.
If you’re planning your next visit, our facial services page is the easiest place to start. You can also read facial treatments in Cherry Creek to see how we match the right facial to what your skin is doing right now.
Need us?
Derma Aesthetics Spa
2283 S Monaco St Pkwy Ste 105, Denver, Colorado 80222
Call: +19498806592 | Email: seemaz0621@gmail.com