So you’ve just gotten some microneedling done, and now you’re wondering about the recovery process. The first couple days may have been a little uncomfortable, but now that the swelling and redness is down, you’re ready to get back to your life.
It’s soon after the procedure and you wake up getting ready to rock the day ahead of you. If you’re used to putting on makeup before you leave the house, you may be wondering how that changes after a microneedling procedure.
In fact, you may be wondering about a lot of things that can affect your skin after your microneedling. Will you need to change your routine? Can you wear makeup while you’re still healing? If you’re anything like us, makeup adds a real boost to our confidence when we leave the house, so these are important questions.
So, when can you wear makeup after microneedling? You can start wearing make up around 48-72 hours (2 or 3 days) after having microneedling done. If you can’t leave the house without make-up (we know how that feels) then this may be a stressful time and you may feel a little uncomfortable.
However, microneedling tends to cause some redness of the skin and it may even be a bit tender, so you may want to just take a day or two to relax anyway. Resting is a great way to let your body and skin heal so you get the most out of your procedure.
There’s a lot to know about caring for your skin after a microneedling procedure, so keep reading to make sure you know the do’s and don’ts of keeping you and your skin happy and healthy while healing.
What Does Microneedling Do?
Microneedling is a medical procedure that uses a tool to create tiny deep punctures in the skin. In simple terms, these tiny punctures help stimulate collagen production which helps to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of things like wrinkles or scars.
It’s considered to be a non-invasive procedure and you can go home the same day. There are tools available to the public for microneedling at home, which we’ll go over later, but if you’re new or just starting, we suggest you leave it to the pros for now.
Why Wait To Wear Makeup After Microneedling?
Even if your skin feels fine after your procedure and you feel 100% ready to jump back into your routine, you still need to wait 48-72 hours before applying make-up. Microneedling sees that you have small needle punctures on the skin that go deep enough to help stimulate collagen production.
Your face has a bunch of tiny little puncture wounds that need the same care and caution as any other medical procedure. Using makeup before your skin has had time to heal could cause infection or prevent the procedure from following through with its intended purpose.
Best Makeup After Microneedling
If after waiting the recommended amount of time after your microneedling procedure, you feel like you really need to wear some makeup (no judgement here), you’ll want to splurge on the quality of makeup you choose to wear.
Remember that your skin is more sensitive and vulnerable right now, and making sure you choose a sensitive and non-oily makeup product could help prevent any negative effects from wearing makeup.
Microneedling Do’s And Don’ts
Don’ts:
- Don’t apply make-up for the first 48 hours.
- Don’t use any vitamin C products on your skin.
- Don’t use any exfoliant on your skin (exfoliants create tiny scrapes on your face).
- Don’t use scented products or any super harsh products with lots of chemicals.
- Don’t use any medications that double as blood thinners (Advil, Aspirin, etc.).
- Don’t go for a jog or hit the gym – avoid sweating as much as you can while healing.
- Don’t ice your skin immediately after the procedure.
- Don’t go out in the sun. Avoid the sun as much as possible (2 weeks or so).
- Don’t drink too much alcohol or coffee – it’ll dehydrate your skin.
Do’s:
- Do use a light unscented sunscreen if you have to go in the sun.
- Do drink plenty of water to keep your body and skin hydrated.
- Do get some rest – read a book, stalk a celebrity on Insta, etc.
- Do wash your hands before touching your face.
- Do wash your face with a gentle face soap and lukewarm water.
- Do clean all your makeup applicators before use.
- Do follow your aftercare instructions from your physician/dermatologist.
- Do let yourself feel confident and strut your stuff after you’ve healed!
Microneedling At Home
Not a fan of the idea of having a doctor or dermatologist sticking needles in your face? We get that. Do you still want the benefits of what professional microneedling offers? We get that too.
That’s why we are going to talk about at-home microneedling; how it works, how to use an at-home tool, and how to take care of your skin afterwards. But, before we get into that, please make sure you always consult with a physician before attempting any at-home microneedling processes.
Microneedling isn’t for everyone and everybody has its own unique set of needs and responses to different treatments.
The Tools For At Home Microneedling
There are so many at-home options for the microneedling process. You can really take it as far as you’d like to or feel comfortable going. However, we recommend you start with a simple rolling needle method. These tools are called derma rollers and look like something you’d find drawn out in a medieval notebook.
These tools won’t puncture nearly as deep as the tools in a physician’s office, but are perfect for stimulating your skin on your own. You can choose the depth your derma roller will reach and we’d recommend starting at the smallest size.
Always sterilize your tool of choice in isopropyl alcohol and make sure you wash your hands and face thoroughly. While this tool does not penetrate as deep as others, it still carries its own risks.
Using A Derma Roller
Okay, so you’ve got your derma roller, and you’ve washed your hands and face – now what? Now comes the fun part! You can apply a gentle serum on your face to help the roller glide across smoothly.
If you choose to use a larger needled roller, you will need to disinfect your face first as well, but right now we are focused on small roller only. If the small roller gives you some discomfort, a numbing cream doesn’t hurt the process.
You’re going to gently roll the derma roller vertically and horizontally about 5 times on each section of skin. You don’t need to apply pressure to the roller – the needles will stimulate for you.
Do this on each section of skin you’d like to see results on and start by slowly introducing the process once or twice a week. If you’re sticking to the smallest needle size, you can eventually do this every other day if you like.
For a visual tutorial with more in-depth information, take a look at the video below from skinBEAUTIFUL RX on YouTube.
At Home Aftercare
The aftercare for derma rolling at home is similar to if you had gone to a doctor’s office. You will still want to follow all the do’s and don’ts listed above, but some of them may last for shorter periods of time, as the penetration isn’t the same depth.
Letting the skin rest without harsh products or direct sunlight is still important, and you will probably still experience some redness or swelling. Never be afraid to consult with your doctor or dermatologist if something doesn’t feel or look right or if you develop any fever or rash.
Keep yourself and your skin hydrated so your skin will look and feel good! You can document your journey with pictures as you go week to week. It will definitely take some time, but you should begin to see better skin texture after a few weeks.
Final Thoughts On Microneedling
Microneedling can be a good way to fight wrinkles, scarring, or other skin issues. The face, in particular, has been the poster for how microneedling works, and the results can be amazing. Just as with any procedure, aftercare is extremely important and must be taken seriously.
Listen to your doctors and follow instructions. If you choose to use a derma roller at home, do so with caution but also have fun with it.
It can end up being a nice part of your self-care routine, and comes with so many benefits for your skin! We love the idea of trying new beauty techniques and this is definitely one of our favorites.
Boosting collagen may also boost your confidence and that’s what we like to see! So if you’re looking for some extra pep in your skin, then microneedling might be a good choice for you! Always do some research and listen to your beautiful body on what’s best for you.
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