The 7-Day Post-Laser Recovery Routine
Day-by-day protocol for what to put on (and skip) after any energy-based treatment.
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# The 7-Day Post-Laser Recovery Routine
Post-energy-treatment skin is barrier-compromised, inflamed, and unusually permeable. What you put on matters a lot. What you DON'T put on matters just as much.
This is a generalized protocol that works for: non-ablative laser (photofacial, laser toning), fractional laser (Fraxel, Halo), RF microneedling (Morpheus8), HIFU (Ultherapy), and traditional microneedling. Ablative laser (CO2) has a longer, more intense version of this same protocol — follow your provider's specific guidance there.
Day 0 (immediately after)
- Cool compress: 10 minutes every hour for the first 2–3 hours. Dramatically reduces swelling and discomfort.
- No makeup. No skincare beyond what the clinic applied.
- Hydrate orally. Lots of water.
- Avoid alcohol, heat, and sun for 48 hours minimum.
Day 1 (24 hours)
AM:
- Rinse face with cool water only. No cleanser.
- Gentle healing serum or thermal spring water mist: Avène Thermal Spring Water or La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Serum B5.
- Barrier cream: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, Avène Cicalfate+, or plain Aquaphor.
- Mineral SPF 50+ if going outside at all: EltaMD UV Clear Tinted, ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica.
PM:
- Rinse with cool water.
- Barrier cream or occlusive ointment.
- Sleep elevated (extra pillow) to reduce swelling.
Day 2–3
AM:
- Very gentle cream cleanser (Avène Tolérance Extrême) or water rinse.
- Gentle serum — focus on healing: Cicaplast B5 serum, niacinamide at 2–5%, panthenol.
- Barrier cream.
- Mineral SPF 50+.
PM:
- Cream cleanser.
- Barrier cream.
- Still no actives.
You may see pinpoint bleeding (from microneedling), oozing (fractional laser), or crusting (ablative). Do NOT pick. Let everything heal naturally.
Day 4–5
Skin is starting to shed / peel depending on the procedure.
AM:
- Cream cleanser.
- Niacinamide 5–10% serum (The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc is fine).
- Ceramide moisturizer (CeraVe Skin Renewing Cream, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair).
- Mineral SPF 50+.
PM:
- Cream cleanser.
- Peptide serum (Matrixyl, copper peptides) — supports collagen synthesis at the exact time it's active.
- Ceramide moisturizer.
- Optional: thin layer of Vaseline/Aquaphor as overnight occlusive.
Day 6–7
Barrier is ~70% recovered. Can introduce gentle actives cautiously.
AM:
- Cream cleanser.
- Vitamin C at low concentration — MAP, SAP, or TH-ascorbate (not L-ascorbic acid yet).
- Niacinamide serum.
- Ceramide moisturizer.
- SPF.
PM:
- Cream cleanser.
- Peptide serum.
- Ceramide moisturizer.
- Still skip retinoids and acids for another 3–5 days.
Day 10–14
Most people can return to full routine:
- Retinoid: start back 2x/week, not nightly. Build up.
- AHA/BHA: wait until day 14 minimum.
- Vitamin C: full L-ascorbic acid OK now.
Things to avoid throughout the 14-day window
- Hot showers: lukewarm only
- Saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga: heat disrupts healing
- Exercise that makes you sweat aggressively: hold off for 48 hours
- Alcohol: vasodilates, increases swelling
- Retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C at high %: for 7–14 days
- Benzoyl peroxide: for 7 days
- Aggressive cleansing (scrubs, brushes): for 14 days
- Makeup: for 48 hours minimum, then mineral makeup only for 5 days
Red flags — call your provider
- Severe pain (not normal discomfort) after 24 hours
- Pus, yellow discharge, or honey-colored crusting (infection signs)
- Spreading redness beyond treated area
- Fever
- Blisters that weren't expected from the treatment
The general principle
Post-procedure skin is asking for two things: hydration and protection. Give it both. Skip everything else. The more restrained you are in the first 7 days, the better your 12-week result will be.
What you do in this window determines whether you get the 95% optimal result or the 70% one.
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