How do you balance using topicals with other skincare treatments, such as facials or professional procedures? Share your approach and any advice for integrating different treatments.

For me, the secret to balancing topicals with professional treatments has always been about respecting the skin's rhythm. I don't believe in bombarding the skin with everything at once. Instead, I treat skincare the way I approach wellness: with intention, patience, and a whole lot of listening. Before any facial or in-clinic treatment—be it a peel, medi-facial, or microneedling—I scale back my actives. No retinoids, exfoliants, or strong vitamin C for at least 3-5 days. I shift to a gentle, barrier-repairing routine: a hydrating cleanser, lots of humectants, and skin-soothing ingredients like panthenol or centella asiatica. This gives my skin a calm, nourished base before undergoing anything more intensive. After a professional treatment, the instinct is often to dive back into a full routine. But I've learned that post-treatment skin needs recovery, not reactivity. So I give my skin space—at least a week without actives—and instead focus on supporting the healing process. That's when I lean into supporting ingredients like ceramide creams, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and, of course, SPF (my forever non-negotiable). I also never book back-to-back treatments or pile on "trending" topicals just because they're popular. Whether it's a brightening serum or an anti-aging booster, it needs to fit into the bigger picture. I ask myself: Is my skin asking for this? Or am I just chasing results too quickly? My biggest piece of advice? Don't treat your skincare like a to-do list. Treat it like a relationship. Check in with your skin. Notice how it feels. Give it rest days. And always—always—support it before and after any big moment, just like you would a friend. When you find that balance, your results don't just show—they last.

Skincare is your everyday foundation, while professional treatments like facials or injectables should be seen as a way to boost and enhance those existing results. The real secret to long-term skin health and glow? Consistency. Maintaining great results comes down to showing up for your skin daily.

Dr. Shamsa Kanwal is a Consultant Dermatologist with over 10 years of experience in both clinical and aesthetic dermatology, specializing in skin rejuvenation, acne management, and laser-based procedures. I balance topicals with procedures by customizing routines based on the treatment type and skin condition. Before treatments like lasers or peels, I advise stopping strong actives (like retinoids or AHAs) 3-5 days in advance to minimize irritation. After procedures, I switch to barrier-repairing products like gentle cleansers, ceramide-rich moisturizers, and soothing agents like panthenol or centella asiatica until the skin heals. Once recovery is complete, I gradually reintroduce active topicals to maintain results. For milder treatments like hydrafacials, fewer adjustments are needed, but I still avoid combining multiple new products or treatments at once. The key is spacing treatments properly, understanding product interactions, and adjusting based on skin response. Less is more when combining professional care with home skincare.

When balancing topicals with other skincare treatments, I take a cautious, layered approach. I prioritize consistency with my at-home routine, using products like serums and moisturizers daily, while ensuring they complement professional treatments. For example, after getting a facial, I usually avoid using active ingredients like retinol or exfoliating acids for a few days to give my skin time to recover. I typically schedule facials or professional procedures around my regular skincare regimen, making sure not to overdo it with aggressive treatments. My advice for integrating different treatments is to listen to your skin. If you've had a chemical peel or microdermabrasion, for instance, give your skin a break and keep things gentle with your topicals for a while. I've found that maintaining a balance between professional treatments and a simple, effective skincare routine has worked best for my skin, helping it stay healthy and radiant without overwhelming it.