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Picture this: You just completed an appointment that you’ve waited weeks for. Your skin is gorgeously glazed, your forehead and eleven lines are smooth, and your under-eye hollows are plumped to perfection. Now, do you simply pray to the injectable gods that these 10/10 results aren’t as fleeting as Inbox Zero?
Luckily, you do have some control in the matter. Maintaining a stellar skin-care regimen between appointments can have a major impact on the longevity and integrity of your injectables. “A solid daily topical routine is extremely important to help augment and prolong the effects of your injectable appointments,” says Dr. Brian Hibler, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. “The essential components include an antioxidant serum and broad-spectrum sunscreen in the morning, and a retinoid and moisturizer in the evening before bed.”
Of course, these product standouts should be the stars of any skin-health routine—but staying consistent is especially crucial when your goal is to elevate your injectables. Here, Dr. Hibler shares what key ingredients to look for, as well as treatments that can complement your regimen.
Antioxidants
“Using a topical antioxidant serum with sunscreen during the day will help mitigate any UV-radiation-induced photoaging, which includes damage to skin cells, accelerated wrinkle formation, discoloration from sun spots, and broken blood vessels,” says Dr. Hibler. One powerhouse antioxidant he recommends looking for in a product is niacinamide. “It has anti-inflammatory properties and can help alleviate any redness after injections.” His other top picks include vitamin C, which is helpful for hyperpigmentation, and vitamin E, which helps improve skin hydration.
Try:
Beauty Rx Ultra Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 5.0% Niacinamide Serum
Neova C20+ Antioxidant Serum
Retinoids
“Vitamin A, or topical retinoid, helps build collagen and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while keeping the skin tight,” says Dr. Hibler. However, proceed with caution if your skin is dry or sensitive post-procedure. “Hold off on the ingredient until the side effects subside, and avoid heavy creams and makeup while the skin is healing,” he says.
Try:
Hyaluronic Acid
A moisturizer with hyaluronic acid can help keep your complexion looking smooth and refreshed because “it can promote hydration and plumping of the skin,” says Dr. Hibler. “For particular areas of concern, such as the area around the eyes or the neck, use a dedicated eye cream or neck cream that contains the ingredient.”
Try:
Neocutis Bio Serum Firm
Paula’s Choice Anti-Aging Eye Gel
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Neck Cream
LED Light Therapy
To further enhance the benefits of your post-injectable routine, Dr. Hibler says, you can incorporate at-home treatments like an LED light-therapy device: “It can be an anti-inflammatory adjuvant to topical skin-care post-injection to reduce swelling or redness.”
Try:
Complementary In-Office Treatments
Professional skin-perfecting treatments, such as microneedling, chemical peels, and laser treatments, are “excellent options to address concerns related to tone and to help with fine textural changes,” says Dr. Hibler. And although receiving one of these at the same appointment as your injectables may seem like a smart time-saving strategy, he recommends “waiting one to two weeks post-injection to make sure the filler or neuromodulator is perfect before moving on to the next treatment.”