While some skin care professionals are not able to work on their clients’ skin in person, they can still provide advice, products, and direction on what clients can do  at home to push an ordinary treatment toward the professional realm. But it is critical to make sure clients understand not just what they can do, but also what they cannot. Here is a quarantine advice cheat-sheet.

GO FOR IT

Masks: The easiest and most accessible of at-home treatments, masks can be enhanced with the addition of a serum underneath for a targeted boost. Popular serum or mask combinations include:

• Acne: benzoyl peroxide medication + sulfur mask
• Brightening: mandelic acid serum + algae mask
• Acne All Skin Tones: mandelic acid serum + sulfur mask
• Anti-Aging: oligopeptide serum + algae mask
• Antioxidant: vitamins C and E serum + algae mask

Micropeel Miniature Facial: Here is a recipe for an at-home, miniature facial that is simple and safe for clients.  Scrub the face with an exfoliating cleanser and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse and apply a targeted serum and layer a mask on top. This will result in a micro-peeling effect in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Icing: For acne-prone clients, icing at home every day will help keep inflammation down and improve the absorption of their products.

Non-Invasive Home Tools: At-home facial steamers, high-frequency machines, and microcurrent devices are all okay. To enhance their benefits, a vitamin A, mandelic acid, or peptide serum can be applied before use.

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME

Extractions: Remind clients not to attempt their own extractions to avoid the risks of scarring or infection.  

Aggressive Peels: High-percentage or medium-depth peels should be done only by a skin care professional in the proper setting to avoid the risk of hyperpigmentation, scarring, or chemical burns.

DIY Trends: Baking soda scrubs, toothpaste as a topical, lemon juice instead of toner, coconut oil for moisturizing, or whatever other home remedies the internet is recommending should be avoided. Educate clients on the potential for allergy, irritation, or comedogenicity of homegrown formulas and point them to the spa’s product page.