Retinol, acids and your appointments: what to pause and when
Active skincare makes waxing, threading, peels and semi-permanent make-up riskier. A simple timetable for what to stop before each treatment and when to restart.
Retinol, tretinoin, glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids are excellent for skin, and they are also the most common reason a facial wax lifts skin or a peel overreacts. They work by speeding up cell turnover, which thins the outer layer that protects you during treatments. Telling us what you use is more important than any product; this guide tells you what to pause.
Before waxing or threading the face
| Product | Stop before | Restart after |
|---|---|---|
| Retinol, retinal (shop-bought) | 5–7 days | 3 days |
| Tretinoin, adapalene, isotretinoin cream (prescription) | 7–10 days | 5 days |
| Glycolic, lactic, mandelic (AHA) | 3–5 days | 2 days |
| Salicylic (BHA), benzoyl peroxide | 3 days | 2 days |
| Vitamin C (strong) | 2 days | next day |
Threading is gentler on the skin than waxing because nothing is pulled from the surface, so if you cannot pause an active, say so and we will thread rather than wax. Oral isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is different: no waxing, peels, microneedling or semi-permanent make-up at all during treatment or for six months after, on the prescriber's advice.
Before peels, microneedling and hydrodermabrasion
Stop all retinoids and acids for five to seven days beforehand so the skin reacts predictably, and do not restart for five to seven days afterwards. Your barrier is doing repair work; actives on top of it cause stinging, redness and sometimes pigmentation. Gentle cleanser, a bland moisturiser and SPF are the whole routine for that week.
Before microblading, shading or lip blush
Retinoids and acids used near the treatment area cause pigment to fade faster and heal patchier. Stop them two weeks before and keep them away from the healed area afterwards; a brow serum with acids in it will shorten the life of your microblading.
Before brow and lash treatments
Tints, lifts and laminations sit on the hair, not the skin, so actives matter less, but a retinol-thinned eyelid or brow bone can sting under the products. Pause retinol around the eyes for three days before a lash lift or brow lamination if your skin is sensitive.
Other things to mention
- Antibiotics (some cause light sensitivity after peels)
- Steroid creams (thin skin; waxing can tear it)
- Blood thinners and aspirin (more bruising and bleeding with microblading)
- Recent sun, sunbed or fake tan (wait a week)
- Botox or filler (wait two weeks before facials or threading in that area)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding (some treatments and products are off the table; we will say which)
None of this is a reason to feel awkward. Tell us what you use, and we will match the treatment to your skin that week.
