The Glow Journal
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The Glow Journal *
Just Had Dermaplaning? What to Do (and Skip) in the Days After
Fresh, smooth skin is the best part of dermaplaning. Here’s how to protect it in the days after your treatment, plus a few things to skip while your skin settles.
Dermaplaning is a gentle treatment that removes dead skin cells and fine peach fuzz from the face. Most people love how smooth their skin feels afterward, and what you do in the days after your appointment matters too. Here’s how to care for your skin so it stays comfortable and looks its best.
The First 24 to 48 Hours
Right after dermaplaning, your skin may look a little pink and feel more sensitive than usual. This is normal and usually settles quickly. Think of your skin as freshly polished: smooth, but in need of some extra gentleness.
Do
Cleanse gently, morning and night. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Right after treatment, your skin has less of its usual protective layer, so buildup from sweat, oil, and makeup is more likely to clog pores. Washing gently keeps skin clear without stripping it.
Moisturize and stay hydrated. Because dermaplaning removes the top layer of dead skin cells, your skin has a little less protection for a short time. A simple, hydrating moisturizer helps support your skin’s natural barrier and keeps it from feeling dry or tight while it settles. Drinking plenty of water is a good habit for overall skin health, too.
Wear sunscreen every day. The fresh skin underneath is more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. Without protection, it can get irritated or red more easily, and sun exposure can lead to uneven skin tone and dark spots over time. Use SPF 30 or higher, reapply when you’re outside, and add a hat or shade when you can.
Keep your hands off your face. Touching or picking can irritate skin and bring bacteria to the surface.
Change your pillowcase. Sleep on a fresh, clean pillowcase the night of your treatment and for the next few nights. Pillowcases pick up oil, sweat, and bacteria that can end up back on your skin.
Skip
Strong active ingredients. Retinol, exfoliating acids (like glycolic or salicylic acid), and vitamin C serums are designed to work strongly on the skin. Right after dermaplaning, they can sting, cause redness, or lead to peeling. Hold off until your skin feels calm.
Scrubs and exfoliating tools. Dermaplaning already removed dead skin cells from the surface. Scrubbing again can cause redness, irritation, and dryness.
Heat and sweat. Heat can make freshly exfoliated skin look redder and feel more irritated, and sweat can sting and clog pores. Skip saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and hard workouts for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Heavy makeup. Makeup can settle into pores and trap bacteria while your skin is extra sensitive. If you can, go makeup-free for the first day. If you need makeup, use clean brushes and a light touch.
Other hair removal or facial treatments. Waxing, threading, peels, and similar services also pull at or exfoliate the skin. Layering them on top of dermaplaning can overload skin that’s already sensitive, so wait until your skin has settled.
Long stretches in the sun. Even with sunscreen, extra sun exposure right now can lead to redness and uneven tone.
Will My Hair Grow Back Thicker?
This is the question we hear most, and the answer is no. Dermaplaning doesn’t change how your hair grows. Because the hair is cut at the surface, it may feel a little different as it grows back, but it isn’t thicker or darker.
How Often Can I Get It Done?
Many people repeat dermaplaning about every three to four weeks, which gives your skin time to go through its natural renewal cycle between treatments. What’s right for you depends on your skin, and we’re happy to help you find a schedule that fits.
When to Reach Out
A little pinkness is normal. If your skin feels very irritated, or the redness or discomfort doesn’t improve, please call us at 210-510-0777 or email care@glowskinlabsa.com. We’ll make sure the right person on our team follows up with you.
The Bottom Line
Dermaplaning aftercare is simple: be gentle, moisturize, and protect your skin from the sun. A few easy habits help you get the most out of your treatment.
Ready for smoother skin? [Book a dermaplaning appointment] with Paulina at Glow Skin Lab in San Antonio.
Why Am I Still Breaking Out In My 30’s and 40’s?
Adult acne is more common than you might think. Here's what's usually behind breakouts in your 30s and 40s, and what can help.
Written by Paulina Saenz · Esthetician
If you thought breakouts were just a teenage problem, you're not alone in being surprised. Adult acne is actually very common, and it can show up even if your skin was clear for years. Here's what's usually behind it, and what can help.
The CausesWhy Adult Skin Still Breaks Out
There's rarely just one cause. A few common ones we see often:
Hormone changes
Shifts from your monthly cycle, pregnancy, or perimenopause can all affect oil production in your skin.
Stress
Stress can raise a hormone called cortisol, which can lead to more oil and more breakouts.
Products that don't fit your skin anymore
Skin changes as you age, so a product that worked well in your 20s might not agree with your skin now.
Clogged pores from buildup
Sunscreen, makeup, and everyday products can build up over the day, especially along the jawline and chin.
Diet and sleep
These don't cause acne on their own, but they can make existing breakouts worse for some people.
Adult acne looks different, too
It tends to sit deeper in the skin, usually around the jawline and chin, and can take longer to heal.
What Can Help
A routine built for your current skin
Skin needs change over time. A gentle cleanser, a non-comedogenic moisturizer (meaning it won't clog pores), and daily sunscreen are a good starting point. Piling on too many active ingredients at once can actually make breakouts worse, so simple is often better.
Facials and professional treatments
Regular facials can help keep pores clear and support healthier-looking skin over time. Depending on your skin, treatments like extractions, chemical peels, or LED light therapy may also help. What's right for you depends on your skin type and how your skin reacts, which is something we can talk through at an appointment.
Consistency over quick fixes
Skin takes time to respond to changes. Switching products too often can make it harder to know what's actually helping.
Give it 4 to 6 weeks before judging if something is workingWhen to loop in a provider
If breakouts are painful, deep under the skin, or not improving with a consistent routine, it's worth having one of our providers take a look. Some causes of adult acne, like hormone imbalances, are best addressed with their guidance.
Adult acne is common, and it's not a sign you're doing something wrong.
The right routine, plus some patience, makes a real difference for most people. If you're not sure where to start, that's exactly what a skin consultation is for.
Curious what's causing your breakouts?
Book a skin consultation with Paulina to build a routine that fits your skin now.
Book a Skin Consultation
The real reason most people never see results.
The real reason most people never see results
Here’s what most people get wrong when it comes to treating their skin and why it keeps them stuck.
They keep changing the plan before anything has time to work.
One month it’s a new skincare line. Then a trending treatment. Then a product someone swore by on TikTok. Then another recommendation from a friend, influencer, or ad promising “instant results.”
And honestly? We get why people do it. When you’re frustrated with your skin, you want relief fast.
But constantly switching products, treatments, or routines usually creates more confusion, more irritation, and more setbacks; because skin responds best to consistency and strategy, not randomness.
The truth is, most skin concerns are connected to deeper patterns happening beneath the surface. Breakouts, redness, dullness, texture, pigmentation, sensitivity, accelerated aging; they rarely improve long-term from one trendy product or a quick fix.
What actually creates results is understanding:
what your skin is actually needing,
what’s making it worse,
and having a plan where each step supports the next.
That’s the part most people never get taught.
Instead, they end up spending years trying “all the things” without ever having a real roadmap. And eventually they start believing nothing works for them.
The good news is, this is completely fixable. And it usually starts with one thing. 🤍
Feeling Overwhelmed by Skincare? Here’s Where to Start
You’re not behind you just haven’t had the right plan yet.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Skincare? Here’s Where to Start
If you’re unsure where to begin with your skin, you’re not alone. Many people have already invested in products, routines, and trending treatments, only to feel frustrated when they don’t see the results they expected.
The problem usually isn’t a lack of effort. It’s a lack of a clear, personalized plan.
Why Isn’t My Skincare Routine Working?
Even great products may not deliver results if they aren’t right for your skin type, concerns, or lifestyle. Using too many products or combining the wrong ingredients can also cause irritation and make it harder to understand what your skin actually needs.
Do I Need More Products?
Probably not. More products don’t always mean better results. A simple, consistent routine with carefully selected ingredients is often more effective than an overflowing skincare shelf.
Is My Skin Just “Difficult”?
Your skin isn’t difficult, and you’re not doing anything wrong. Concerns such as acne, dryness, pigmentation, texture, and signs of aging often require different approaches. What worked for a friend or someone online may not be the right solution for you.
What Is the Best First Step?
Start with a professional skin consultation. Understanding your skin, your goals, and your current routine allows us to create a plan that feels realistic, personalized, and sustainable.
You are not behind, and you are not failing. You may simply not have found the right plan yet.
At Glow Skin Lab, we’re here to simplify skincare, explain what truly matters, and guide you toward healthier, more confident skin. 🤍
Why Do I Have Lines Between My Eyebrows, Even When I'm Not Frowning?
Where did these lines come from?
Have you noticed lines forming between your eyebrows? Some people call these the "11s." Doctors call them glabellar lines. If you've spotted them, you're not imagining it. This is one of the most common concerns we hear from patients in San Antonio. It's also one of the most misunderstood.
What Causes These Lines
These lines form from muscle movement, done over and over, for years. Every time you frown, squint, or focus hard on something (even your phone screen), the muscles between your brows squeeze together. Over time, this creates a crease in the skin. Eventually, the line can stay visible even when your face is relaxed.
A few things can make these lines show up sooner or get deeper:
Sun exposure, which breaks down collagen (skin firming protein) and elastin (skin-stretch protein) in the skin
Skin type and genes, since some people naturally have thinner skin
Habits, like squinting without sunglasses or frowning a lot
Age, since collagen loss usually becomes more noticeable in your mid to late 30s and beyond
One important note: these lines are not caused by dry skin or skipping skincare. They come mainly from muscle movement. That's why lotions and serums can make skin look and feel better, but they usually can't smooth out a line that muscle movement has already created.
What Can Actually Help
Neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, and similar treatments)
This is the most common treatment for these lines, and for good reason. These treatments work by relaxing the specific muscles that cause the repeated movement. With less muscle movement, the skin doesn't fold the same way, so the line softens.
This is not a permanent fix. Most people start to see results within three to seven days. Treatments are usually repeated every few months to keep the results. This treatment can soften lines you already have and can also help slow new ones from forming.
Skincare and sun protection
Skincare alone usually can't get rid of a line that's already there. But a good routine, especially daily sunscreen, can support healthier-looking skin and may help slow down further damage.
Combining treatments
Some patients also add other treatments, like resurfacing or hydrating facials, to support their skin overall. What's right for you depends on your skin and your goals. We'll talk through this together at your visit.
What to Expect at a Consultation
If you're curious whether treatment is right for you, a consultation is a simple, no-pressure way to get answers. We'll look at your lines, talk about what you want, and walk you through your options. Every face is different, so what works well for one person may not be the best fit for someone else.
Curious about your options? Book a consultation with our team in San Antonio to talk through what might work best for you.