Your Holiday Party Skin Prep Timeline
Office parties, family photos, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve — December fills up fast, and so does our calendar. The secret to glowing in every photo isn’t a last-minute scramble. It’s timing.
Some treatments need a few weeks to settle, while others are best just days before. Here’s exactly when to book each one so you look rested, smooth and glowing from the first party to the last — without any surprise swelling or redness.
6 to 8 weeks before: Start now
Book your appointments now — December dates go quickly. This is also the time to start a medical-grade skincare routine, so your skin has several weeks to respond before the big nights.
Looking to reset texture, sun spots or redness? Start your laser treatments now so there’s time for more than one session if you need it.
4+ weeks before: Lasers and microneedling
Resurfacing treatments like CoolPeel CO2 laser and microneedling deliver the biggest glow, but your skin needs time to heal and build new collagen. Book them at least four weeks before your first event so any redness or peeling is long gone and your results are at their best.
Sun spot laser treatments fit here too: treated spots darken and flake off over one to two weeks, revealing more even skin.
4 weeks before: Botox and filler
Tox takes about two weeks to fully set in, and filler — including lip filler — can swell or bruise for a few days and settles in about two weeks. Booking about four weeks ahead means everything looks natural and fully settled by your first party, with time for a touch-up if you want one.
Running short on time? Botox needs at least two weeks before an event. If you’re past that, a facial or IV is your best bet this year.
1 week before: Brows and lashes
Brow wax and tint, brow lamination and lash lifts look best when they’ve had a few days to settle. Book about a week out so your brows and lashes frame your face in every photo.
1 to 3 days before: Facials, glow and IVs
This is glow week. A facial one to three days before an event leaves your skin fresh, smooth and makeup-ready — the Glass Skin Facial is a favorite for that lit-from-within look. The MoveoGlo laser facial has zero downtime, so it works well close to an event too.
An IV drip helps you look and feel rested through a busy season. Hydration drips, NAD+ and glutathione are popular before big nights — and after them, too.
The day of: Keep it simple
Skip anything new. Stick with your usual skincare, drink plenty of water, wear SPF during the day, and let your treatments do the work.
Avoid these right before a party
Don’t try a brand-new treatment, product or peel the week of an event — you don’t want a surprise reaction. Skip filler and Botox in the final two weeks, and give lasers and microneedling at least four weeks. When in doubt, ask us — we’re happy to help you plan.
Shopping for someone else?
Gift cards are the easiest present on your list — they’re emailed instantly and work for any treatment, product or amount. And if you’re hosting this year, an IV or facial for yourself might be the best gift of all.