Key Points
- Skin Care Rules: Post-laser treatment, avoid retinol, exfoliating acids, vitamin C, and wear SPF.
- Vitamin C Products: The acidic nature of traditional vitamin C can irritate sensitive skin.
- Antioxidant Benefits: Post-laser, skin needs antioxidants like vitamin C for optimal healing.
- Personal Experience: Using a gentle vitamin C serum helped my skin recover without irritation.
Let me share a story. Last year, I had my first ever laser skin treatment (the Moxi laser). At the end of the service, I was given post-care instructions on how to take care of my skin at home to ensure I am not using anything that may impede the healing process.
There were four rules.
1. Do not use any retinol or retinoids for 10 days.
2. Do not use any exfoliating acids for 10 days.
3. Do not use any vitamin C serum for 10 days.
4. Wear SPF daily when exposed to UV rays.
Why do they say NOT to use a vitamin C serum after a laser treatment?
The recommendation against using vitamin C products stems from their formulation with L-ascorbic acid (LAA), which has a low pH that can irritate the skin. This acidic state can cause a stinging sensation, potentially irritating a compromised skin barrier.
Generally, vitamin C products are considered unsuitable immediately after laser treatments due to their potential to irritate sensitive skin.
Why did I choose to use a vitamin C serum after a laser treatment?
As an esthetician, I believe that your skin requires antioxidants most after a laser procedure due to increased free radical activity. Topical antioxidants can significantly benefit the skin during the recovery process.
Using Renée Rouleau Vitamin C + E Treatment, which features THD Ascorbate—a stable form of vitamin C—allowed me to avoid irritation while still providing my skin with essential antioxidants.
Did you do anything else to help expedite healing?
Post-treatment, I experienced chills, indicating my body was regulating its temperature. To support my healing, I took oral antioxidant supplements, specifically 1000 mg of vitamin C.
In conclusion, my skin healed beautifully from the effects of the laser treatment, aided by the use of vitamin C, both topically and internally. This approach has led to recommendations for the Renée Rouleau Vitamin C & E Treatment at Refine Aesthetics in Austin, TX.
Should you get a laser treatment? Read all about my Moxi laser treatment experience.
Learn more about when skincare products sting. Is this normal?
Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 35 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”
