#EmmeApproved Acne-Safe Facial Treatments

by Emily Linehan on August 18, 2022

Regular facial treatments are an important part of your skincare routine. When combined with proper home care, facial treatments can help you achieve your skin goals at an accelerated rate! That is why for those that are local to our North Scottsdale studio, we offer advanced treatments that are designed to specifically target your concerns, fit the current needs of your skin, and provide lasting results.

If you aren’t local to us, don’t worry! You can still take advantage of the benefits of professional facial treatments in your city. There are just a few important factors to consider, which is why I’ve compiled this list of #EmmeApproved Acne-Safe Skincare Treatments and tips for ensuring you get the best results.

Finding an Esthetician

Finding the right esthetician can feel overwhelming, especially if you are new to professional treatments. I recommend that you start your search by word of mouth. Ask friends or co-workers that you trust for any recommendations. To help narrow the choices down further, read online reviews, review social media pages, and read through their websites.

Once you find an esthetician that may be a good fit, here are a few key components to verify with them before scheduling –

Are the treatments offered #EmmeApproved?
While there are quite a few different skincare treatments out there, not all of them are recommended! Be sure to choose an acne-safe skincare treatment from the list below.

Is the esthetician willing to use your Emme Diane skincare products during the facial?
To help minimize the risk of breakouts after the treatment it is crucial that you ensure that all products used are 100% acne-safe. Although the esthetician may say the products used are acne-safe, many of them can still contain hidden pore-clogging ingredients.

Typically, a facial will start with a thorough cleansing and skin analysis followed with exfoliation such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, etc. Post exfoliation your skin is extra susceptible to pore-clogging ingredients, so it is important to ensure that whatever is applied to the skin after exfoliating is 100% acne-safe. This means you should bring your own skincare with you to use during the treatment. This includes your Emme Diane cleanser, toner, Skin Quencher Gel, moisturizer, and your SPF.

In addition, you can also bring your own treatment masks which the esthetician can use. If your skin has been feeling dry, I recommend bringing the Cucumber Cooling Mask. Or, for those that are acne-prone, bring the Sulfur Refining Mask.

Lastly, if the esthetician recommends any other products outside of your normal skincare routine, be sure to check-in with me first to ensure they are truly non-comedogenic and won’t sabotage your clear skin.

Is the esthetician skilled in extractions?
Clinical extractions are the manual clearing of a clogged or compacted pore to accelerate the clearing process. Not only is understanding how to perform extractions super important, but finding an esthetician that knows when to extract is crucial. By this, I mean that the esthetician should have a strong understanding of which acne lesions should and should not be extracted. Just like how I tell clients not to pick their skin at home, if the esthetician isn’t selective about which pimples or blackheads to extract, the skin can break out worse after a facial. In addition, extractions should be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes per treatment.

#EmmeApproved Acne-Safe Skincare Treatments

While there are quite a few different skincare treatments out there, not all of them are recommended! Be sure to check out this list of acne-safe skincare treatments before booking your appointment.

Facial Treatment Modalities

Exfoliation:

Corrective Chemical Peels
These are a non-invasive treatment used to treat skin discolorations, scarring, texture and wrinkles. We love blended, self-neutralizing TCA, mandelic acid, and lactic acid peels.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Enzyme Peels
Typically composed of fruit enzymes such as papaya (papain), pineapple (bromelain), or pumpkin, these are a gentle exfoliation option for sensitive, dehydrated or compromised skin types.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Dermaplaning
A procedure that exfoliates your skin, removing dead skin cells and vellus hair to reveal a smoother, brighter complexion.

Acne-Safe: Yes, with caution! This can be performed around mild active acne lesions, however the esthetician should never go over active acne.

Microdermabrasion
A minimally invasive procedure where tiny exfoliating crystals gently sand the skin to smooth texture, even skin tone and manually resurface the skin.

Acne-Safe: Not with active acne! This should never be performed on active acne.

HydroExfoliation / HydraFacial™
This device can be used to exfoliate this skin, however the full HydraFacial™ protocol should not be completed as the infused serums are not acne-safe.

Acne-Safe: Not with active acne! This should never be performed on active acne.

Deep Pore Cleansing:

Clinical Extractions
Manual clearing of a clogged or compacted pore to accelerate the clearing process. As mentioned above, be sure your esthetician is skilled in this area!

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

High Frequency
An effective tool that oxygenates the skin to help kill acne bacteria and accelerate the clearing of acne breakouts.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Advanced Corrective Modalities:

PRX Derm Perfexion (PRX-T33 “Unicorn” Facial)
A non-invasive topical bio-stimulator that targets aging skin, texture, laxity, wrinkles, and dullness for complete rejuvenation without downtime. Click here to learn more.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Microchanneling (as opposed to Microneedling)
An advanced form of microneedling that produces both corrective and anti-aging results. Click here to learn more.

Acne-Safe: Yes, with caution! This can be performed around mild active acne lesions, however the esthetician should never go over active acne.

Note: There are special post-care instructions I recommend for this treatment! View them here.

Nano Infusion (examples: Rezenerate NanoFacial)
A non-invasive alternative to micro-needling that reverses acne scarring, smooths texture, and assists with product absorption.

Acne-Safe: Yes, with caution! This can be performed around mild active acne lesions, however the esthetician should never go over active acne.

LED Light Therapy
A treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light to help reduce inflammation and rejuvenate the skin.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Microcurrent
A great Botox alternative, this treatment stimulates the facial muscles to lift and sculpt the face, tighten and firm the skin, and stimulate collagen growth.

Acne-Safe: Yes, with caution! This can be performed around mild active acne lesions, however the esthetician should never go over active acne.

Cryotherapy
Aids in reducing redness, inflammation, and puffiness, promotes circulation, minimizes the appearance of pores, and more.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Oxygen Treatment
Oxygen treatments are designed to replenish the levels of hydration in your skin, resulting in smoother, plumper skin. Oxygen is also known to accelerate wound healing and can kill certain bacteria, which can help calm acne.

Acne-Safe: Yes! This can be performed on active acne.

Medi-Spa or Dermatology Office

All of these are best when the skin is consistently clear. Note that lasers will not “clear” the skin as they do not address the root cause of acne.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) or BBL (Broadband Light)
Best for hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and/or acne scarring, this treatment uses light energy to target and remove pigmented and damaged skin cells.

PicoSure
Utilizing a short-pulse laser, this non-invasive treatment is best for hyperpigmentation and anti-aging.

Clear and Brilliant
Another gentle and non-invasive laser treatment that is best for reducing the appearance of pore size and improving texture.

Note: There are special post-care instructions I recommend for this treatment! View them here.

MOXI
Best for texture, pores, pigmentation/scarring, and anti-aging, with little downtime.

Note: There are special post-care instructions I recommend for this treatment! View them here.

VBeam Perfecta
This pulsed dye laser is best for broken capillaries or red acne scarring (Post Inflammatory Erythema or “PIE”).

Special post-care instructions for designated treatments:

As mentioned above, it is important that you bring your skincare with you to the treatment to avoid all pore-clogging ingredients pre- and post-treatment (cleanser, toner, Skin Quencher, HydraLuxe, and SPF) and only use those before and after the treatment. If your professional uses a cooling, hydrating mask post-treatment, bring the Cucumber Cooling Mask to your appointment and have them use it. Before heading home be sure you apply your Tinted Mineral SPF40 as well!

That night, please follow this routine:

Cleanse: Massage a nickel-size amount of Gentle Cleanser and a little water onto the skin using your fingertips for 30 to 60 seconds - no skin brushes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Tone: Use 12 sprays of Calm Down Toner on a cotton round and gently wipe the face and neck.
Acne Eraser: Apply 3 pumps of Acne Eraser 5% to the skin, avoiding the eyes and neck. Let it sit on the skin for 15 minutes, then cleanse it off with Gentle Cleanser.
Tone: Use 12 sprays of Calm Down Toner on a cotton round and gently wipe the face and neck.
Serum: Apply 1 pump of Firming Peptide Serum (if you have it).
Skin Quencher Gel: Apply 2 pumps of Skin Quencher Gel to the face.
Moisturize: Apply 2 pumps of HydraLuxe Cream or Pure Light Lotion.

The next morning, perform your morning routine without the Clarifying Serum. You can resume the Clarifying Serum the following day if the skin is feeling calm.

On the following nights, increase how long you leave the Acne Eraser on the skin:
- Night 2: 30 Minutes
- Night 3: 1 Hour
- Night 4: Leave it on all night and resume your regular skincare routine.

xoxo, Emme