Skincare Treatments With Minimal Recovery Time

With so many facial treatments on the market, picking the right one can become overwhelming. Those looking for an easy way to work on their skin concerns are often left confused with specific facials and their aftercare, as some facial treatments, like laser resurfacing or more aggressive chemical peels, can leave your skin red or inflamed for a week or longer. "These treatments can cause redness and swelling (often referred to as erythema) because what they are is basically a controlled injury to the skin that then allows the natural healing process of the skin to work its magic," Gregory Dylan, a licensed esthetician with 25 years of experience and the owner of Gregory Dylan Skincare, shares exclusively with Glam.

"Treatments that are more superficial and less aggressive will have less recovery," Dylan adds. "More intense peels, extraction-heavy facials, micro-needling, and many medical treatments tend to have more downtime afterward. Communication and planning are key so your day-to-day doesn't get too interrupted." So, if you're looking for a skincare treatment that won't affect the rest of your day or week, here are some options with minimal downtime.

One of the most popular treatments with no downtime that is also safe for all skin types is definitely a HydraFacial — a treatment that helps achieve glowy and healthy-looking skin. "A HydraFacial is essentially a facial treatment that's performed on a proprietary machine," dermatologist Dr. Emma Craythorne explained to Elle. "The idea is that it can cleanse, exfoliate, extract and deliver serums to the skin." The HydraFacial is a treatment conducted with a branded device, so ensuring you're getting it done with that one is crucial for your safety and getting the results you want.

"A HydraFacial leaves skin with an immediate glow, with skin looking clearer, plump and hydrated, alongside feeling smooth and healthy," Dr. Ana Mansouri told Elle. "As the unique skin boosters get to work over the following days, you will also see a brighter, smoother and more radiant complexion thereafter, too." The first 72 hours after a HydraFacial reveal how well your skin responds to the treatment. "My best advice for aftercare is to always follow the instructions from your esthetician or medical provider," Gregory Dylan explains exclusively to Glam. Generally, gentle cleansers and skincare products are recommended in the days following the HydraFacial.

Chemical peels have been popular for a while, and many of us even have some kind of active skincare ingredient in our at-home routine for cell turnover. In fact, nighttime is ideal for active skincare ingredients. However, chemical peels can be done professionally, too, and their downtime depends on the strength of the facial. "Peels exfoliate the skin, improving cell turnover and skin renewal, but they also indirectly encourage collagen and elastin formation," dermatologist Dr. Stefanie Williams explained to Harper's Bazaar. "Chemical peels, despite being very low-tech, can be highly effective on a clinical and cellular level, and are in my opinion greatly undervalued. A peel can be a very effective way of softening fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin texture, minimizing pigmentation and even reducing blackheads and whiteheads," she adds. Chemical peels target myriad skin issues, and they can even aid in getting rid of acne scars.

However, the downtime for chemical peels varies based on their intensity. "The exact strength of the peel should always be tailored to the patient's individual skin and needs," Dr. Williams adds. "Hydroxy-acid peels are great starter peels and also well suited to younger patients or those who prefer their skin not to be visibly flaking after treatment." With a lighter chemical peel, one can expect some redness and swelling, but it should go away within a few days. However, those with sensitive skin, especially if it's their first chemical peel, can expect some dry skin and crusting, but that should go away after a few days as well. 

To best take care of your skin following a "more intense treatment," follow Gregory Dylan's advice for a lighter routine, which he exclusively tells Glam: "This is basically very simple cleansing and moisturizing, avoiding actives such as AHAs or retinol-based products, not having other treatments for a period of time, not waxing, and of course, lots and lots of sun protection." 

Red light therapy has quickly become popular among skincare enthusiasts; however, there are some things you should know before you do LED light therapy. "Essentially, LED wavelengths enter the skin's layers and stimulate the natural healing mechanisms," NHS doctor Raj Arora explained to Who What Wear. The reason why this type of facial treatment is so popular is that it can target myriad skin conditions and worries, including eczema, acne, psoriasis, keratosis, rosacea, and wrinkles.

"LED therapy uses light from the visible spectrum to stimulate the cellular response to regenerate through a process called photobiomodulation," Dr. Maryam Zamani, an oculoplastic surgeon, explained to Who What Wear. "Shorter wavelengths target superficial skin while longer wavelengths penetrate more deeply." LED therapy comes in different colors, and all of them target different things. Blue light targets the first layer of your skin, and it can kill acne-causing bacteria. Red light is the most popular one, as it targets your skin on a deeper level and can help lower inflammation and bolster collagen production, making it great for anti-aging effects. Yellow light is great for hyperpigmentation and overall skin tone. 

Figuring out which light (or combination of lights) is best for you is something your esthetician can help you decide based on your skin concerns. And while the skin can look a tiny bit red after the treatment, LED light therapy generally has no downtime.

Those who have never had any type of facial should probably start with a classic one — a treatment that can help your esthetician clean, nourish, and assess your skin before suggesting any future treatments. "A classic facial typically has no downtime and if any it is usually just a little bit of redness for a few hours," Gregory Dylan explains exclusively to Glam. "You can always discuss any potential recovery time with your esthetician. That way, you can plan accordingly."

A classic facial usually consists of a consultation with the esthetician, face cleansing, exfoliation, extraction (if wanted), a massage, a mask, and hydration, sometimes followed by SPF application. While a classic facial helps rejuvenate and hydrate the skin, it generally isn't as efficient when it comes to targeting certain skin concerns, even though the mask used in it is typically customized based on personal needs. That said, it provides a great way of keeping your skin fresh and dewy, regardless of skin type.

Botox has been a popular treatment for wrinkles for decades, and today, it's as sought-after as ever. In fact, preventative Botox has become increasingly popular; however, there are some risks of starting Botox too early in your 20s. "If you imagine a sheet of paper that gets crumpled up, it's much harder to smooth out if it is scrunched all the way up into a ball – it would be much easier to simply not crumple it quite so much in the first place," cosmetic expert Dr. Jennifer Owens explained to Harper's Bazaar. "The delicate thing to balance here is choosing the appropriate time for you, your skin and your face."

Since Botox targets your muscle movements, it can help prevent the formation of wrinkles. "Using a small amount will help weaken muscle contractions, while a larger amount can completely freeze the muscle and prevent it from contracting at all," board-certified plastic surgeon Shoshana Ambani explained to Henry Ford Health. "Usually, you come in, you have it done and you go about your business," cosmetic surgeon James Zins explained to the Cleveland Clinic. "There's no downtime afterward because of pain or any other issues." However, there are general rules to follow during aftercare, such as not lying down for three to four hours, not massaging the injection site, and avoiding certain medications. Consulting with your injector about aftercare is crucial for ensuring the best results.

Another facial treatment with no downtime is the oxygen facial — a procedure that involves treating the facial skin with oxygen to promote numerous benefits. "Clinical studies show that application of oxygen to the skin can help address mild to moderate acne, as well as eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis, with improved skin hydration and texture, plus reduced irritation," board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav explained to Real Simple. "Anecdotally, people also find that oxygen treatments can reduce fine lines and improve skin's radiance, but this is likely due to the fact that oxygen can improve skin's hydration levels, which smooths the appearance of fine lines."

Depending on your esthetician's analysis of your skin, an oxygen facial is often combined with another noninvasive treatment, such as LED light therapy, to ensure even better results. In fact, the oxygen facial might just need to be a must for your next spa appointment because of its positive effect on collagen production.

Enzyme therapy, also known as the "zombie facial" because of its weird appearance on the skin, is another popular facial treatment with no downtime. While the skin can look a bit redder than usual for a few hours afterward, those who undergo an enzyme therapy treatment can continue their day as planned. There are a couple of different types of enzyme therapy treatments, including some pregnancy-safe options, so consulting with your esthetician to find the best one for you is important.

Now, how does enzyme therapy work? "By removing the dead skin cells from the epidermis it's also taking away light congestion from the skin caused by daily pollutants leading to smoother and clearer skin," facial aesthetics clinician Dr. Nina Bal explained to Harper's Bazaar. "Furthermore, it can be used before an event for skin brightening purposes and allows for better skin penetration of other skincare nutrients into the deeper layers of the skin." While it doesn't look appealing during the treatment, your face should look refreshed, glowy, and more even-toned once it's complete.

When it comes to exfoliating facial treatments, microdermabrasion is definitely among the more popular ones. The treatment is explained by Dr. Sandro Sansoni as "exfoliation in the form of spraying tiny crystals at the skin — usually the face — to remove dead skin cells on the surface" (via Elle). Even though you can have some redness and swelling right after the treatment, especially if you have sensitive skin, it should disappear within a couple of hours post-treatment. However, as with most of these facial treatments, using gentle skincare afterward and avoiding harsh active ingredients is a must.

"Microdermabrasion uses a variable flow of vacuum suction to maintain contact with the skin whilst the crystals (or diamond tips) get to work by smoothing and buffing the skin's surface," skin expert Lorraine Scrivener added. "This depends on the percentage of vacuum suction and the grade of crystals chosen by your skincare expert. There are a few different types of microdermabrasion treatments, from diamond tips to crystals and different crystal grades, but this is very much dependent on the clinic carrying out the treatment and the equipment they choose." When it comes to microdermabrasion methods, hydradermabrasion, which combines crystal-free exfoliation and skin hydration, is one of the newer options. If you're considering this treatment, read our guide to microdermabrasion and its benefits for a full picture.

Laser Genesis is another facial treatment for those looking to improve fine lines and wrinkles, texture, enlarged pores, and facial redness. This treatment works by heating the uppermost layer of your skin, which aid collagen production. Even though subtle results can be seen after the first treatment, getting it done regularly can create more visible results. 

"It's like a workout for the skin—something you have to do consistently over time in order to see substantial differences," board-certified dermatologist Jason Emer explained to Real Self. "It slows down the aging process and reverses signs of aging." Even though it's generally considered a facial with no downtime, subtle redness can occur in the hours after the treatment. "Laser Genesis is one of the safest procedures out there," plastic surgeon Dr. Kouros Azar added to Real Self, adding that those with deeper skin tones should consult with their estheticians as they "need more gradual increases in energy to ensure there is no risk of increased heat, which can lead to hyperpigmentation."

If you love ice rolling or rubbing ice on your face at home, a cryotherapy facial might just be for you. After all, ice rolling is known to have plenty of good skincare benefits, and a cryofacial is kind of like the professional version of that. "An in-office cryofacial is a cryotherapy treatment in which vaporized nitrogen is used to cool the skin of the face, scalp and neck area," board-certified dermatologist Hadley King explained to Allure. "Liquid nitrogen (around -200 degrees Celsius) vaporizes — making it no longer as cold — and is pumped out of a hose and onto your skin."

You may notice improved tightness and brightness in your face as soon as the treatment is done. "The intense cold temperatures constrict blood flow to the face and help tighten the skin and pores," board-certified dermatologist Dr. DiAnne Davis explained to Forbes. The best part about a cryofacial is that it has no downtime, and redness afterward is rare. In fact, due to its effect on the constriction of blood vessels, a cryofacial is a popular treatment for those who experience facial redness and rosacea.

Microneedling is a treatment similar to microdermabrasion, so estheticians often opt to go for one or the other, depending on the client's skin and preferences. Microneedling involves piercing your skin with tiny needles in an attempt to stimulate collagen. "When the needles pierce the skin, signals are sent to your skin's immune cells to tell them to activate their wound healing pathways. This results in the skin cells acting to 'repair' the injury and cells such as fibroblasts are activated to produce new collagen and connective tissue," Dr. Anita Sturnham explained to Women's Health. "Studies show that microneedling can be as effective as laser resurfacing and chemical peels at stimulating collagen production," Dr. Catherine Fairris added.

Since there are some dangers to microneedling, getting the treatment done professionally and avoiding at-home devices might be best. "When performed by a trained medical professional in a clinical setting, microneedling is generally considered safe. However, when done in the wrong hands microneedling can leave you with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and worsening breakouts," Dr. Sturnham added. "Immediately after your microneedling treatment, you may experience redness and sensitivity and your skin may look like it has mild sunburn." Thankfully, any side effects should dissipate within a day of the treatment. However, if injuring your skin doesn't sound appealing to you, no matter the benefits, there are plenty of other ways to improve skin elasticity and collagen production.

Dermaplaning, sometimes called skin scraping, has gained popularity recently due to social media, but it has also created a lot of confusion about what the treatment is. "One of the most important things to note is that dermaplaning is different to facial shaving," Dr. Ifeoma Ejikeme explained to Cosmopolitan. "Dermaplaning is done with a surgical blade and really should only be ever done with a professional who has been specifically trained to use it and the pre-care and aftercare can be administered correctly." Essentially, shaving your facial hair at home is fine (especially if you prepare your skin well), but don't employ a surgical blade. 

The benefits of dermaplaning are numerous and often immediate. "A dermaplaning treatment can improve the surface texture and appearance of the skin by removing some of the dull upper layers," Dr. Jack adds. "In addition, removal of the fine hairs gives a more polished appearance. By removing the top layers of dead cells, which form a barrier to penetration of active skincare products, it allows them to travel deeper into the skin to increase their effectiveness." Once your skin has been dermaplaned, you can expect to notice an improvement in radiance and skin tone within a week.

A carbon laser peel is a very popular facial treatment among the rich and famous. For anyone with aging skin or hyperpigmentation, this treatment aims to achieve skin tone evenness and a nice glow thanks to the removal of a thin layer of skin, revealing the rejuvenated one beneath.

"Carbon laser peels, often referred to as the 'Hollywood Peel' or 'China Doll Facial,' combine the exfoliating power of a carbon-based lotion with cutting-edge laser technology to create a peeling effect without needing to deeply penetrate the skin," aesthetic medicine specialist Dr. Tracy Xu explained for Top Doctors. "Consequently, patients benefit from a quick recovery and can resume their daily activities immediately after the 30-minute session." With such little downtime, this is one treatment you could even fit into a lunch break.

Now, it never hurts to be extra careful, so make sure you check out these 10 red flags that your facial isn't turning out how it should.