What aftercare should I follow after hair removal to prevent dark spots and pimples?

Exfoliation, moisturizing, sun protection… Follow our guide to the dos and don’ts ofskin care after hair removal.

What to Do Before Hair Removal: Prepare Your Skin

A good post-waxing routine begins even before waxing to minimize the risk of irritation, pimples, and ingrown hairs, which can in turn lead to the appearance of hyperpigmentation spots.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare your skin and enjoy a more comfortable hair removal experience:

✅️ Exfoliate the area with a Gentle Scrub to 48 hours before hair removal to remove dead skin cells, “free up” the hairs trapped under the skin, and thus prevent ingrown hairs. Be careful not to scrub too aggressively, as this can weaken the skin and cause a tingling or burning sensation during hair removal.

✅️ Make sure to moisturize your skin well the night before and in the days leading up to hair removal. Soft, supple skin responds better to hair removal. Be careful, however, not to apply moisturizer right before hair removal, as this could make it less effective.

✅️ Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and minimize redness. Avoid alcohol and coffee, as their dehydrating and vasodilatory effects (they widen blood vessels) can make your skin more sensitive and thus make hair removal more painful.

✅️ Check the length of the hairs you want to remove. If they’re too long or too short, hair removal might be difficult and uncomfortable. The ideal length? Hairs between 6 mm and 2 cm, so they’re easy to grasp.

What to Do Immediately After Hair Removal: Soothe the Skin

Immediately after hair removal (whether by tweezers, waxing, shaving, an epilator, or depilatory cream), the skin is sensitized. The skin barrier is temporarily weakened, and the pores are dilated. As a result, the skin becomes more vulnerable to bacterial infections and inflammation. It may appear red, feel tingly, or feel warm. The goal is to soothe it quickly and prevent skin reactions. To do this:

✅ Rinse with lukewarm water (avoid hot and cold water) to remove any wax or depilatory cream residue if you use one of these hair removal methods.

✅ Spray on a soothing floral water, such as chamomile, lavender, or orange blossom floral water.

✅ Finish with a moisturizing and soothing product such as aloe vera gel, a cream containing calendula or panthenol, or an unscented body lotion such as our Intense Repair Body Balm.

✅️ Choose soft, loose-fitting clothing to minimize friction.

What to do in the days following hair removal: exfoliate and moisturize

In the days following hair removal, it is especially important to follow a suitable and consistent skincare routine:

✅️ Two days after hair removal, exfoliate your skin with an enzymatic exfoliant or a fine-grained scrub such as our Radiance-Boosting Body Scrub or our Gentle Scrub for the face. This will remove dead skin cells and promote healthy hair regrowth. As a reminder, exfoliating your skin is generally recommended once or twice a week.

✅️ Try to get into the habit of applying, at least once a day, a face cream and a body lotion enriched with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients to strengthen the skin barrier and help reduce breakouts, tightness, and itching.

What to Avoid After Hair Removal

❌️ No products that are scented or contain alcohol, or pure essential oils.

❌️ Do not exfoliate within 48 hours before or after hair removal.

❌️ Avoid hot baths, steam rooms, hot tubs, or saunas in the days following hair removal, as heat opens the pores and may further weaken skin that is already sensitive from the hair removal process.

❌️ Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight, as they can cause irritation from friction.

❌️ Avoid direct sun exposure. Wait at least 12 hours before going out in the sun, cover the treated area with clothing, and/or apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50.

And how can you prevent post-waxing spots?

Some skin types are prone to developing dark spots: following irritation caused by hair removal, a dark spot may form, and it can sometimes be very difficult to get rid of. This is known aspost-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is relatively common in people with olive, Black, and particularly sensitive skin.

If you notice pimples or ingrown hairs, or if your skin appears damaged or irritated on your legs, underarms, face, or any other recently shaved area, we recommend applying a suitable anti-dark spot treatment daily and locally, such as the Brightening Anti-Dark Spot Serum. This serum helps regulate the production of melanin, which is responsible for dark spots. You can also enhance the preventive effects of your serum by combining it with the Brightening Blemish Cream for the face or the Brightening Anti-Dark Spot Body Milk.

Finally, since your skin is more sensitive to the harmful effects of UV rays after hair removal, finish your routine by applying sunscreen to prevent dark spots from getting worse.

By taking care of your skin with these few simple steps before and after hair removal, you'll give yourself the best chance of preventing pimples, ingrown hairs, and post-hair-removal spots.