Don't Sleep on Your Skincare Post-Laser—These 12 Products Enhance Your Results

When I was younger, daily sun protection wasn't as stressed as it is now. Sure, Id put on sunblock if I knew I was going to be in the sun outright, but it didn't cross my mind on an average day. Now, I'm making up for lost time with a strict SPF regimen and other skincare necessities to protect my skin and hopefully reverse some of the damage I caused. One tactic I like to use is the occasional laser resurfacing session, which helps reduce some of the pigmentation caused by the mishaps from my youth, among other benefits. Laser treatments, including non-ablative fractional lasers like Clear and Brilliant and Fraxel Dual, help improve skin texture (which was something I needed), even out skin tone, and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, and the aforementioned sun damage. 

While getting these treatments done can dramatically benefit the skin, it's not a one-and-done situation. Yes, they require repeated sessions for optimal results, but I'm talking about post-treatment care, too. It's just as important to adequately care for your skin for the following days, weeks, and beyond following your treatment. (Think temporarily avoiding harsh ingredients, like retinol and acids, as well as being diligent with sunscreen.)

However, there is also the matter of using the right products. I'll admit that there was a time I got a laser resurfacing treatment done and did not keep up with my aftercare. It didn't completely mess up my results or instantly revert my skin to its original state, thankfully, but the next time I got a treatment done, I made sure to follow the post-care instructions to a T. Now, I know which products to use and what to avoid so my skin maintains the bright and glowy results for as long as possible.

One of my new favorites for post-treatment care is Saint Jane Beauty's Star Flower Serum ($95). The serum is straight-up pretty—it's filled with micro pearls that sparkle under the light. Those tiny pearls are filled with hydration and actives, like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and starflower, aka borage oil. The titular ingredient, starflower, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and has a demonstrated ability to improve skin barrier function.

What's more, it's also gentle enough to use after a laser resurfacing treatmtent. The brand partnered with facial plastic surgeon Sheena Samra, MD, who tested it with her patients. "The key ingredient, niacinamide, is anti-inflammatory and it has antioxidants in it. It's essentially calming the skin, which decreases the redness. And when the skin is less inflamed, new healthy skin can grow," Samra tells me. "The starflower borage oil also suits the skin. So, anecdotally, my patients are very pleased in the healing process because their skin just feels taken care of."

Samra adds that a handful of her patients loved it so much that they continued to use it long after the treatment. "It's now part of their everyday skincare routine. Some are prone to having skin that's more sensitive, and this product eases that." If you're thinking of getting a laser resurfacing treatment, don't do what I did and get lazy about post-treatment care. Better yet, take it from a pro. "When you have a laser done like Clear and Brilliant, we want to help repair your skin barrier and keep it protected from the sun," says Samra. "The most important thing would be to continue to wash your face twice a day and keep it really clean, and then apply some form of serum that will help ease inflammation and hydrate the skin."

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