Last Updated on November 9, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
So you just walked out of your facial appointment and your face feels kinda sticky and weird and you’re sitting in your car thinking… wait do I wash this off when I get home or what? Like they literally just spent an hour cleaning your face but now it feels greasy and you’re genuinely confused about what you’re supposed to do. Should you wash your face after a facial? NO. Don’t do it. Wait until the next morning at least. I know it feels super wrong and counterintuitive but there’s actual science behind this and honestly once I explain it you’ll be like “oh ok that makes sense.” Let’s go then:
The Short Answer
Think about what literally just happened during your facial. They did this whole deep cleansing thing, probably did some extractions that hurt like crazy, put on multiple serums and treatments. Your skin barrier has these tiny little channels between cells, and after a facial those channels are more open than they normally are. That’s actually GOOD because it means the active ingredients can get in there better and do their job. But if you go home and wash your face right away, you’re basically rinsing away all that expensive concentrated stuff too early.
It’s kinda like paying for a really nice meal at a restaurant and then throwing it in the trash before you eat it. Like why would you do that? Professional facial treatments use way higher concentrations of the good stuff than what we can buy at the drugstore or even at Sephora, so you really want to let it do its thing and not waste it.
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What About When Your Skin Feels Gross Though?
Yeah I totally know what you mean. Especially if you have oily skin you’re probably feeling super greasy right now and it’s driving you crazy. Or if you have dry skin maybe it feels tight and weird and not comfortable at all. You just gotta wait it out though for best results. If it’s really really bothering you to the point where you can’t stand it, you can gently blot with a clean tissue. Don’t wipe it around, just press it gently to soak up some of the excess. But don’t actually wash with a face wash or anything like that.
The only time I’d say it’s ok to wash it the same day is if something is genuinely causing skin irritation – like if it’s burning or stinging and it doesn’t go away after like 20 minutes. That’s not normal and you should rinse it off. Although if something really irritated your badly, that’d happen on the spotted your therapist can minimise the damage for you. Speak up!
When Is It Ok To Wash Your Face After A Facial?
Next morning you’re totally good to go. By then your skin has had a solid 8-12 hours which is what most skin experts recommend for getting the maximum benefit from all those products they used. You still gotta keep it gentle though when you do that first wash. Use a gentle cleanser with lukewarm water. Don’t do a double cleanse, don’t use anything harsh or intense, just keep it really simple. So even the morning after when you do wash, just stick to the basics – cleanser, moisturizer, and definitely SPF during the day. That’s all you need.
The Exception To The Rule
If you got chemical peels or laser treatments or anything really intense like that, the rules are completely different and you need to pay extra attention. Chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids literally dissolve and remove layers of dead skin cells which makes your skin WAY more sensitive and vulnerable than it normally is. Some peels actually require you to leave the products on for like 12-24 hours before your first wash. Some laser treatments mean literally no water on your face AT ALL for the first day. It really just depends on the type of facial you got and how aggressive the treatment was.
This is exactly why you HAVE to ask your esthetician what to do for your specific situation. They know exactly what products they used on your face and what your specific skin type needs for the best results. Don’t try to guess or figure it out on your own because you might mess something up.
What You SHOULD Be Doing Instead Of Washing
Even though you’re not washing your face, there’s a bunch of other stuff you need to do to protect your skin and make sure you actually get good results from the treatment you just paid for:
- Stay out of direct sunlight. Like seriously this is probably the single most important thing I can tell you. Your skin is extra extra vulnerable to harmful uv rays right now because the treatments literally removed those protective layers of dead skin cells that normally shield you. If you absolutely have to go outside, wear SPF and maybe even a hat. Sun damage right after a facial can completely undo everything good that just happened and you’ll be so mad at yourself.
- Don’t touch your face with dirty hands even though it feels really smooth and nice and you want to keep touching it to see how it feels. Your open pores are way more susceptible to bacteria right now than they normally are and you don’t want to cause problems.
- Skip the gym and steam room for at least 24 hours after your facial appointment. Your pores are open and if you’re sweating everywhere it can push bacteria into them and cause issues. Same thing applies to hot showers – stick to lukewarm water when you shower and try not to let the water spray hit your face directly if you can avoid it.
What To Avoid
- No heavy makeup for at least 24 hours after your treatment, maybe even 48 hours if you can swing it. Your skin seriously needs to breathe and recover. Makeup can clog those open pores and trap bacteria and cause post-facial breakouts which is literally the exact opposite of what you want to happen. If you absolutely have to wear makeup because you have an important event or something, keep it super minimal like just tinted moisturizer and that’s it. And make sure whatever brushes or sponges you’re using are actually clean.
- Avoid harsh products completely for the next few days. No benzoyl peroxide, no retinol, no high concentrations of Vitamin C. Your skin has just been through a lot and it needs time to recover. Don’t do anything that could irritate it.
- Don’t exfoliate AT ALL. No scrubs, no exfoliating brushes, no little exfoliation of any kind. You literally just had deep cleansing done by a professional. Your skin doesn’t need more of that. Doing more will just damage your skin barrier and cause irritation and redness.
- No picking at your face even if you’re tempted. Even if you see some dead skin cells flaking off or you notice post-facial breakouts starting to form. Just leave everything alone and let it be. Picking at stuff causes scarring and can lead to infections and it’ll undo all the good work that was just done.
- Avoid hot water completely and I mean completely. Not just for washing your face but also when you’re in the shower taking a regular shower. Hot water strips away your natural oils and damages your skin barrier which is already compromised and vulnerable from the facial you just got. Lukewarm water only for the next few days at minimum.
Related: 5 Skincare Treatments That Can Harm Skin If Abused
Getting Back To Your Normal Skincare Routine
So the first day after the facial when you finally do wash your face in the morning, keep everything really minimal and simple. Gentle cleanser, a good moisturizer, and SPF during the day. That’s literally it. Don’t add anything else.
After about 3-5 days have passed, you can slowly start adding back your usual products that have active ingredients in them. If you normally use stuff with retinol or acids or whatever, wait at least those 3-5 days before you bring them back into your routine. And when you do start using them again, maybe start with using them every other day first just to see how your skin responds and make sure it’s ok.
For people with sensitive skin types, you might actually need to wait even longer than that – like maybe a full week before going back to your normal routine with all your regular products. Pay really close attention to how your skin actually feels. If it’s still feeling sensitive or if it looks red or irritated at all, that’s your skin literally telling you it needs more recovery time before you start using strong stuff again.
The Bottom Line
Back to the original question that brought you here: should you wash your face after a facial? The answer is no, you should wait until the next morning at minimum. When you finally do wash the next day, just be really gentle about it. Use a gentle cleanser with lukewarm water and avoid all your harsh skincare products for the next few days while your skin recovers. The after-care stuff is honestly just as important as the actual facial itself. And honestly if you’re ever unsure or confused about what to do after a specific treatment, just ask your esthetician before you leave. They know exactly what products they used on your face and what’s gonna give you the best results for whatever specific skin concerns you’re dealing with. There’s no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to taking good care of your skin.
