A professional facial leaves your skin radiant, smooth and refreshed. But once you leave the treatment room, how you care for your skin determines whether that post-facial luminosity lasts for days or fades overnight. Here’s how to extend your glow and keep your skin barrier balanced, calm and thriving.

1. Support your barrier (don’t strip it)

After a facial, your skin is freshly exfoliated, hydrated and more receptive to active ingredients. That means your barrier is in its most delicate state: strong enough to absorb benefits, but vulnerable to over-cleansing or harsh ingredients. Stick with gentle cleansers that maintain your skin’s natural pH and moisture balance. 

Consistent barrier repair formulas with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and soothing botanicals like aloe vera and chamomile will help seal in hydration and strengthen your skin’s resilience between facials.

2. Keep up the exfoliation (the right way)

During your facial, your esthetician might have used professional-grade exfoliants (like AHAs, BHAs or multi-fruit acids) to remove dull, dead cells and smooth texture. But that process doesn’t stop when you leave the treatment room. Incorporate a gentle chemical exfoliator into your weekly routine to maintain those results.

The key is balance: the right formula should pair exfoliating acids like glycolic or lactic with exfoliating acids with calming botanicals (like willowherb and aloe vera) and strengthening adaptogens. Overdoing it can irritate the skin and weaken your barrier, but the right exfoliator keeps cell turnover active without stripping.

3. Replenish hydration daily

Facials flood the skin with moisture, but hydration loss can happen quickly without daily reinforcement. Layer a hydrating serum under your moisturizer – look for hyaluronic acid or adaptogens that help skin retain water and stay balanced. Finish with a barrier-strengthening moisturizer to lock in all that hydration.

If your skin feels tight, dull or less radiant a few days post-facial, that could be a sign it’s craving more moisture, not more exfoliation.

4. Protect that glow from the environment

Even the best facial can’t protect your skin from daily exposure to UV rays, pollution or dust – all of which can dull your complexion. Always apply SPF every morning (yes, even if it’s cloudy) and make sure it’s broad-spectrum. At night, you can double cleanse to remove impurities and support your skin’s natural repair cycle. This helps prevent congestion and keeps your skin looking clear and bright between treatments.

5. Book regular facials to build long-term results

Monthly facials aren’t just for relaxation – they help train your skin to function at its healthiest. Regular treatments boost circulation, strengthen the barrier and encourage ongoing renewal, so your glow becomes cumulative over time.

As Bioelements Senior Director of Education Beth Bialko notes, “If the barrier is weak, the skin can’t hold onto moisture or defend itself against outside irritants.” Consistent professional care, combined with at-home barrier support, keeps that defense strong.