A facial is only ever as good as the skin it starts with. You do not need to do anything dramatic to get ready. A handful of small habits in the days before your visit help Zoe read your skin clearly and get you the best result on the day.
Arrive with bare skin where you can
If your appointment fits around your day, come with a clean, makeup free face. It is not the end of the world if you cannot, your treatment always starts with a thorough double cleanse. Bare skin simply means more of your time is spent on the good part rather than taking the day off your face first.
Ease off harsh actives 5 to 7 days before
Strong exfoliants and acids are brilliant in the right routine, but stacking them right before a facial can leave skin sensitised and tight. In the week before your visit, pause grainy scrubs, strong AHAs and BHAs, and high strength retinoids. Your barrier turns up calmer and more comfortable, which means Zoe can do more without overloading it.
Not sure what counts as an active?
If a product tingles, is labelled an acid, peel or retinol, or tells you to wear SPF the next day, treat it as one to pause. When in doubt, bring it along or send a photo of the label and Zoe will tell you what to skip.
Fill in your consultation forms in advance
Your booking comes with a short medical and skin history. Completing it before you arrive means we are not eating into treatment time with paperwork, and it flags anything that changes the plan, recent procedures, medication, or pregnancy, before you are on the bed. Honest answers here keep your treatment safe and properly tailored.
No waxing or hair removal 48 hours before
Waxing, threading and depilatory creams all leave the skin freshly exfoliated and more reactive. Give your face at least 48 hours to settle before a facial so products go on comfortably and you avoid unnecessary redness.
Come with no fresh sunburn
Sun damaged or burnt skin is already inflamed and healing, so it is not a surface we want to treat. If you have caught the sun, let it fully recover first and we will happily move your appointment. Year round daily SPF is the single best thing you can do for your skin between visits, sunburn or not.
On the day
- Hydrate. Well hydrated skin is plumper and easier to work with.
- Allow a little extra time. The clinic is on the first floor up a flight of stairs, so build in a moment to arrive unhurried.
- Bring your questions. A facial is also a consultation. If something about your skin is bugging you, this is the time to say so.
Do all of this and you will get more from every minute on the bed. If you are new to the clinic, the best place to start is a New Client Consultation, where Zoe builds a plan around your skin rather than guessing.
