Botox injections have been a staple cosmetic treatment for decades. Treatment sessions are quick and entail minimal discomfort while providing results within a week for most patients. However, many patients want to know when they can wear makeup after Botox. Our guide breaks down the time-frame and what types of makeup are safe after having your wrinkle-removing treatment.
How Is a Botox Treatment Administered?
The treatment involves injecting a medical-grade neurotoxin formula into target areas to decrease muscle activity there. When done skillfully, this will have minimal impact on your expressiveness but will still reduce the wrinkles formed by these muscles. For example, common areas include the forehead and nasolabial folds. When muscle activity in these areas is decreased, wrinkles naturally fade and cannot be reinforced.
Treatments take less than half an hour but can produce results that last for 3–4 months on average. However, patients may need to wait some time after treatment before wearing makeup. But first, we need to address one other question.
Can You Wear Makeup to Your Botox Treatment?
Before your treatment, we advise avoiding makeup when coming to your treatment. Additionally, you will want to avoid any potential irritants to the skin for 24 hours leading up to your visit, including any UV exposure (sunlight, tanning). Any activity that increases blood flow to the face should also be avoided, such as saunas, hot tubs, or facial massages. Lastly, we recommend taking extra care not to touch your face, as bacteria and hand oils can both be issues. In short, the fresher, more relaxed, and cleaner your face when you come in for treatment, the better.
When Can I Wear Makeup After Botox Treatment?
The main reason to avoid makeup after Botox treatment is to avoid letting bacteria or irritants into the injection sites. The needles used are extremely fine, but it can still take some time for the body to fully heal the injection sites. While patients may be safe applying makeup within about 6 hours of treatment, we recommend waiting 24 hours.
Will Makeup Irritate the Injection Sites?
Makeup itself might not irritate the sites, but applying it can. The friction and pressure can increase blood flow to the area, which may result in irritation. Additionally, some products are more gentle on the skin than others, so it can vary from one product to the next.
Should I Avoid Any Other Skincare Products?
The main reason to avoid makeup also applies to other skincare products. Any time you touch your face, you are moving bacteria from your hands to its skin. While most bacteria are harmless, others can lead to infection or irritation, which could hamper your benefits.
Furthermore, the skin may already be irritated by the injections. So it is recommended to avoid any abrasive or exfoliant skincare products. Products that contain materials such as retinoids, salicylic acid, vitamin C, or other more aggressive agents should be avoided until your skin is back to normal.
Plan Accordingly
While you will likely be fine applying makeup before 24 hours, the best solution is to plan your Botox treatment on a day when you have no other plans. If you have an upcoming event, try scheduling your visit with at least a day or two between your treatment and your plans. Swelling can last up to 48 hours in some cases, so it may prove best to give yourself buffer room before going out.
Try Botox at EllevateMD
The team members at ellevateMD have honed their technique for wrinkle-removal care through years of experience. They conduct Botox treatments with precision to minimize swelling and irritation so you can start wearing makeup again as soon as possible. Patients in the San Francisco and Bay Area can book a visit today by calling the office.
