The One Skincare Mistake You’re Making Before Your Eyebrow Appointment—And How to Avoid It

Every year, more skincare products emerge promising glowing, youthful skin. However, according to beauty expert Sara Millecam, Director of Education at Beautiful Brows and Lashes, one common skincare mistake can lead to painful side effects during your next eyebrow waxing or threading appointment.

If you’re using certain active ingredients in the days leading up to your treatment, you might be setting yourself up for irritation, burns, or worse.

When prepping for a waxing or threading session, it's natural to focus on achieving perfectly shaped brows. Yet, using potent skincare ingredients like retinol, AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), or BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) just before your appointment can drastically increase your skin’s sensitivity, leading to unexpected—and painful—side effects.

“These products are designed to exfoliate and accelerate skin cell turnover," Millecam explains. "While they can work wonders for your complexion, applying them too close to your eyebrow waxing or threading session can leave your skin vulnerable to redness, burns, or even peeling.”

The Dangers of Active Ingredients

Retinol, AHAs, and BHAs are beloved for their ability to fight acne, brighten skin, and reduce the signs of ageing. But their exfoliating properties also make the skin more prone to irritation. Active ingredients weaken the skin’s barrier and thin its outer layer, leaving it less protected against the physical irritation of waxing or threading.

“When your skin is in a weakened state,” Millecam says, “it’s much more susceptible to damage. Using these ingredients before your appointment can lower your skin's tolerance to hair removal treatments, which would normally be fine, but now cause painful reactions.”

Millecam shares a personal experience: “I once used retinol the night before a threading session, and my skin was burning afterward. Since then, I avoid using these products for at least 48 hours before any hair removal.”

How to Properly Prep Your Skin

To avoid this discomfort, Millecam recommends pausing the use of retinol, AHAs, and BHAs at least 48 hours before your appointment. But avoiding these ingredients is just the start. She also advises steering clear of exfoliating scrubs, chemical peels, and excessive sun exposure, all of which can increase your skin’s sensitivity.

Instead, in the days leading up to your appointment, stick to gentle, hydrating products that help maintain your skin’s natural barrier. And as always, don't forget your sunscreen. “The goal is to keep your skin calm and intact before your treatment,” Millecam adds.

Beauty Done Right: A Smooth, Safe Experience

By taking these steps, you can ensure a smoother and more comfortable waxing or threading experience, without the risk of irritation or long-term damage. Millecam encourages women to consult their beauty professional if they’re unsure about their skincare routine before an appointment.

“Plan ahead and be mindful of the products you’re using,” she advises. “The last thing you want is for a routine beauty appointment to turn into an uncomfortable experience.”

For a beauty routine that complements rather than compromises your treatments, being informed about the interaction between skincare products and hair removal is key. With the right precautions, you can enjoy perfectly shaped brows—without any of the side effects.

"Many women don’t realise that using active ingredients like retinol, AHAs, or BHAs before eyebrow waxing or threading can make their skin more sensitive, leading to irritation, burns, or peeling. These ingredients thin the skin and heighten its susceptibility to damage during hair removal. I always recommend pausing these products at least 48 hours before your appointment and sticking to a gentle skincare routine to ensure a smoother, irritation-free experience."

By following these expert tips, you’ll be ready for your next eyebrow appointment, armed with the knowledge to protect your skin and enjoy flawless results.

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