Aftercare guide
What to put on your face after microneedling
The microneedling recovery routine
Four steps, morning and evening, from the day your provider clears you.
- 1
Cleanse
Ultra Calm Cleansing Cream
AlastinA calming cleansing cream rather than a foaming wash, so you are not stripping skin that is already working hard to repair itself.
$53 - 2
Recover
Regenerating Skin Nectar
AlastinAlastin designed this to precondition skin and optimize the results of skin-rejuvenating treatments. It is the product our injectors hand out most often after a procedure.
$236 - 3
Hydrate
Ultra Light Moisturizer w/TriHex Technology
AlastinLightweight hydration from Alastin. Microneedled skin is tight and thirsty for a few days but does not need anything heavy.
$92 - 4
Protect
Silk Shield All Mineral SPF 30
AlastinAn all-mineral SPF 30. Sun on freshly microneedled skin is the easiest way to end up with uneven pigment.
$72
Day by day
General guidance. Your provider's aftercare instructions come first.
Why what you put on matters more than usual
Microneedling creates thousands of tiny channels in the skin. That is what triggers the repair response you are paying for, and it also means whatever you apply in the first few days goes deeper than it normally would. Fragrance, strong actives and harsh cleansers can sting, irritate or prolong redness.
So the job of the products after microneedling is narrow: clean without stripping, support recovery, put moisture back, and keep the sun off.
What not to put on your face after microneedling
Most aftercare plans hold the following until your skin has recovered, which is often around a week and longer after deeper treatments: retinol and other retinoids, glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids, vitamin C serums, physical scrubs and peel pads, and fragranced products.
Makeup is usually off the table for at least the first day. When you go back to it, a breathable mineral foundation such as Oxygenetix, which was created with post-procedure skin in mind, is a gentler option.
The best serum after microneedling
In the first days, the best serum is one built for post-procedure skin rather than a high-strength active. Alastin's Regenerating Skin Nectar is the one we reach for, and it is also designed to be used before treatments to prepare the skin.
Once you have healed, a hyaluronic serum such as skinbetter's Ampra or an exosome serum such as Plated DAILY can come back into the routine.
Once your skin has settled
People search for the best hyaluronic and exosome serums to use after microneedling. These are the two we carry. Add them back once the redness has gone, not on day one.
Questions people ask
What should I put on my face immediately after microneedling?
Usually nothing beyond what your provider applies in the room. Most providers ask you to leave the skin alone for the rest of the day, then start a gentle routine the next morning.
Can I use hyaluronic acid after microneedling?
Hyaluronic acid is one of the gentler ingredients and many providers allow it early, but check with yours first. We list Ampra under "once your skin has settled" to stay on the safe side.
When can I use vitamin C or retinol after microneedling?
Commonly after about a week, once redness and sensitivity have passed, and only when your provider gives the go-ahead. Both can sting on freshly treated skin.
How long should I stay out of the sun after microneedling?
Avoid direct sun for at least the first several days and wear a mineral SPF every day after. Sun exposure on healing skin is a common cause of post-treatment pigmentation.
Can I put an exosome serum on after microneedling at home?
Exosome serums such as Plated DAILY are topical products for daily use. Use them once your skin has recovered, and ask your provider before applying anything to freshly treated skin.
Treatment at BHRC
Microneedling
Booked in, or thinking about it? Our providers will tell you exactly when to start each step for your skin.
Keep reading
Products are dispensed by Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, an authorized retailer. This guide is general education, not medical advice. Follow the aftercare instructions from your own provider.
