The Skincare Routine That Actually Protects Your Treatment Results

The Four Products That Do the Heavy Lifting

The routine that protects in-clinic results is short: a gentle cleanser, a vitamin C serum in the morning, a retinoid at night, and broad-spectrum SPF every single day. Everything beyond these four is optional and should be added only if a specific concern warrants it.

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Why Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable

Sunscreen is the single highest-return product. Pigment treatments, peels, and laser series all lose ground quickly without daily protection. In the Bay Area, where outdoor activity is frequent year-round, consistent SPF use is what separates patients who maintain results from those who don't.

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When to Pause Your Routine Before Treatments

Pause retinoids three to five days before and after peels, microneedling, or laser treatments unless your provider says otherwise. Using active ingredients on recently treated skin can impair the healing process and increase risk of irritation or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

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How to Introduce New Products Safely

Add actives one at a time, four weeks apart, so you can tell what is actually helping and what is causing irritation. Stacking multiple new products simultaneously makes it impossible to identify the source of any reaction and can overwhelm skin that is already adjusting to in-clinic treatments.