Having a beauty treatment before the party season? Follow these steps to protect your skin

Event season is kicking off, and if you’re in the market for a skin refresh before hitting the party circuit, it pays to find one with minimal downtime. Cosmetic physician Dr Joseph Hkeik, of Sydney’s All Saint Clinic, offers CoolPeel, a laser resurfacing procedure with about two days of downtime. “This helps to brighten skin and rebuild collagen,” he says.

Of course, regardless of which treatment you choose, it’s essential to pay attention to appropriate after-care. Following the procedure, keep your skincare routine simple to support the barrier and protect it from sun damage.

Dr Hkeik suggests using a gentle, non-active cleanser and a moisturising SPF50+ sunscreen, and taking an ingestible marine collagen supplement such as Par Olive’s Marine Collagen. “It’s paired with vitamin C from the Kakadu plum, which is exactly what skin needs to keep producing its own collagen once the treatment is done,” he says.

Once your skin has bounced back from the treatment, at around the two-week mark, you can reinstate your active skincare products.