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 a 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?
As an esthetician with 35 years of hands-on experience and someone who gives facial treatments (but not lasers), I understood why they said not to use vitamin C products because generally vitamin C products are formulated with L-ascorbic acid (LAA), with low pHs in the 3.5 range. This puts the skin in an acidic state, as represented by the stinging sensation that can often be felt. The last thing you want is to cause any further irritation to a compromised skin barrier.
Why did I choose to use a vitamin C serum after a laser treatment?
What I know as an esthetician is that of ALL the times your skin requires antioxidants it is after a laser procedure because of the increase of free radical activity. Your skin benefits greatly from topical antioxidants to help with the recovery process.
So I took matters into my own hands, I broke one of the rules. I used Renée Rouleau Vitamin C + E Treatment (a no-sting formula with a skin-compatible pH of 5.3). Instead of using the ascorbic acid form of vitamin C, this uses THD Ascorbate which is now considered to be the most stable form of vitamin C and the new “the gold standard of vitamin C”. Unlike ascorbic acid, it doesn’t need that low pH to be effective so it won’t leave your skin with an “acid burn“. Even though my skin was very sensitive post-laser, I didn’t experience ANY irritation or further damage to my skin’s barrier.
Did you do anything else to help expedite healing?
For a few hours after the laser treatment I had full body chills. I realized this was a natural response for my body to regulate its temperature and so this was a sign my body was being affected. Because of this, I loaded up on oral antioxidant supplements, specifically 1000 mg of vitamin C, to help aid in the healing process.
In summary…
My skin healed from the redness, tightness, flakiness and dryness beautifully and I know my skin greatly benefited from using vitamin C after a laser treatment. The anti-inflammatory effects that a topical anti-oxidant serum can give, as well as fueling my body from the inside with vitamin C. And now, because I shared my findings, Refine Aesthetics in Austin, TX is recommending the Renée Rouleau Vitamin C&E Treatment to their patients after laser treatments!
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.”
