What Serums Can I Apply to my Face After Dermaplaning?

by Alice

What can I put to my face after dermaplaning? Are serums a good choice, and if they are, which ones should I use?

I recently began dermaplaning at home in hopes of reducing some of the age spots on my face.

Before that, I've been using switching between alpha hydroxy acid and vitamin C serums for brown spots and discoloration. But I wasn't seeing much results. So I was hoping that dermaplaning along with the serums might help.

Is it safe to apply these serums right after dermaplaning? If not what should I put on my face right after dermaplaning?

Thanks,
Alice

Editor's Note:

Hi Alice!

Great question! And I'm glad you asked before layering your serums over freshly dermaplaned skin.

I love how smooth my face feels after dermaplaning, but I've learned that this is one time when less skincare is usually better.

My advice? Skip vitamin C, AHAs, and other strong treatment serums immediately after dermaplaning. Give your skin a chance to settle down first.

What I put on my face after dermaplaning

Personally, I like to dermaplane at night. That way, I can apply a gentle, calming moisturizer afterward and leave my skin alone for the rest of the evening.

No makeup, exfoliating acids, retinol, or vitamin C serum. Just my moisturizer, and that's it!

I find this much more comfortable for my sensitive skin than dermaplaning in the morning and immediately applying several skincare products.

If your skin feels dry, a simple fragrance-free moisturizer is a good choice. You don't need a special serum just because you've dermaplaned.

When can you use vitamin C again?

That depends on how your skin responds and the type of vitamin C you're using.

A gentle vitamin C product may be comfortable once your skin has settled, while a stronger L-ascorbic acid serum might sting if you apply it too soon.

I would wait at least a day or two before restarting stronger serums, and longer if your skin still feels sensitive or irritated.

I've written a separate article about when to use vitamin C serum after dermaplaning, including which formulas may be easier on sensitive skin.

What about AHAs for brown spots?

Since dermaplaning already removes surface dead skin cells, I wouldn't use glycolic, lactic, or other exfoliating acids immediately afterward.

Wait until your skin feels completely comfortable again before restarting them.

And remember, more exfoliation doesn't necessarily mean faster results. Too much can leave your skin irritated, which may actually make discoloration more troublesome.

As for those age spots, dermaplaning can make your skin look smoother and brighter, but it won't necessarily fade established sun spots. That's where ingredients such as vitamin C, along with consistent sun protection, may be more useful over time.

One last tip

The morning after I dermaplane, I return to my gentle skincare routine and apply sunscreen before heading outdoors.

This is especially important if you're working on brown spots because sun exposure can undo some of the progress you're trying to make.

If you'd like more tips on the technique itself, visit my at-home dermaplaning guide.

And if you're interested in what vitamin C can and can't do for discoloration, I explain that in my vitamin C skincare guide.

Hope this helps, Alice! Sometimes giving your skin a little break between treatments is the best thing you can do.

Best,
Linda