Your Holiday Beauty Countdown: What to Book and When

The holiday season is officially upon us! Between Thanksgiving gatherings, Christmas parties, family photos, and New Year's celebrations, your calendar is probably filling up quickly.

You've started thinking about your outfits, making plans, and maybe even scheduling your hair and nail appointments.

But what about your skin?

If you're hoping for smoother skin, a refreshed appearance, or a little extra glow for the holidays, when you schedule your aesthetic treatments can be just as important as which treatments you choose.

Some treatments provide a quick refresh, while others require time for healing, collagen production, or results to fully develop.

At The Spa at MPS, we're breaking down your holiday beauty countdown so you can plan your treatments around the celebrations on your calendar.

6-8 Weeks Before: Start With the Treatments That Need Time

If you're interested in making more noticeable improvements to your skin before the holidays, the earlier you start, the better.

Treatments that stimulate collagen, address pigmentation, or involve resurfacing often require more planning than a traditional facial.

Microneedling

Microneedling treatments, including SkinPen, stimulate the skin's natural healing response and collagen remodeling to help improve the appearance of certain wrinkles, acne scars, and uneven texture.

While initial redness and sensitivity often resolve within several days, collagen remodeling and visible improvements develop gradually over weeks to months.

If smoother-looking skin is on your holiday wish list, starting early gives your skin more time to respond.

Laser Treatments

Laser treatments can address concerns such as sun damage, pigmentation, fine lines, and uneven texture.

At The Spa at MPS, our providers offer different laser modalities, including HELIX CO2 treatments, to address a variety of skin concerns.

However, recovery can vary significantly depending on the treatment and its intensity.

Some laser treatments involve relatively limited downtime, while more intensive resurfacing may require a longer healing period.

If you're considering a laser treatment before a major event, schedule a consultation early so your provider can recommend an appropriate treatment and recovery timeline.

3-4 Weeks Before: Plan Your Injectables and Skin Renewal

With several weeks before your event, there's still time to consider treatments that may need a little recovery or time to settle.

Botox, Dysport & Other Wrinkle Relaxers

If you're hoping to soften forehead lines, crow's feet, or the lines between your eyebrows, neurotoxin treatments may be worth considering.

Botox and Dysport work by temporarily relaxing targeted facial muscles responsible for expression lines.

Results typically begin developing within several days, with the full effect often becoming apparent around two weeks, depending on the product and individual.

Scheduling a few weeks before your event allows time for the results to develop and for any potential bruising to resolve.

Dermal Fillers

Thinking about refreshing your lips, cheeks, or another area of the face?

Dermal fillers can restore volume, enhance contours, and address certain facial concerns.

While some changes are visible immediately, swelling, tenderness, and bruising can occur, and the final appearance may take additional time to settle.

For that reason, we generally wouldn't recommend scheduling your first filler appointment immediately before an important event.

Giving yourself several weeks provides a more comfortable buffer.

VI Peel

A chemical peel can be a great option for addressing dullness, uneven tone, and certain pigmentation concerns.

The VI Peel encourages controlled exfoliation and skin renewal, helping reveal smoother, more refreshed-looking skin.

However, peeling typically occurs during the days following treatment, and the skin may remain sensitive afterward.

If you're planning a VI Peel before a holiday event, allow enough time for the peeling process and recovery to finish before applying your favorite holiday makeup.

Your provider can help determine an apporopriate schedule based on your skin and the specific peel.

1-2 Weeks Before: Focus on Hydration and Radiance

As your event gets closer, the focus shifts away from more intensive corrective treatments and toward maintaining healthy-looking skin.

This is a great time to consider professional facials that emphasize hydration, cleansing, and a refreshed appearance.

DiamondGlow

DiamondGlow combines exfoliation, extraction, and serum infusion in one treatment.

It's an excellent option to discuss if you're hoping to improve the appearance of dullness, congestion, and uneven skin texture before an event.

Because DiamondGlow can leave the skin looking smoother and more radiant, it can be a popular choice for patients preparing for special occasions.

SkinWave

If your skin feels dry, congested, or lackluster, SkinWave may be another option.

This facial combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, and hydrating solutions to help refresh the skin.

It's particularly appealing during the colder months when indoor heating and seasonal changes can contribute to dryness.

For patients who already tolerate these facials well, scheduling within a week or two of an event may provide a timely refresh. First-time patients should allow additional time in case of temporary irritation.

The Final Few Days: Keep It Simple

Your holiday party is almost here!

At this point, the goal isn't to introduce a dramatic change. It's to maintain your skin, keep it hydrated, and avoid anything that could cause unexpected irritation.

Dermaplaning

For patients who have had dermaplaning before and tolerate it well, this treatment can be a great way to create a smoother surface before makeup application.

Dermaplaning removes dead surface skin cells and fine vellus hair, helping makeup apply more evenly.

However, it can cause temporary semnsitivity or irritation, so it's best to avoid trying it for the first time immediately before a major event.

Prioritize Your Skincare

Now isn't the time to experiment with several new active ingredients or an aggressive exfoliating routine.

Instead, focus on:

• Gentle cleansing
• Hydrating serums
• Moisturizer
• Daily broad-spectrum SPF
• Products your skin already knows and tolerates

Medical-grade skincare from brands such as SkinCeuticals, ALASTIN, Hydrinity, and Epicutis can help support your skin throughout the season.

Our team can recommend products based on your skin type and concerns.

Your Holiday Beauty Countdown at a Glance

6-8+ Weeks

Microneedling, laser consultations and appropriate laser treatments

3-4 Weeks

Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, VI Peel

1-2 Weeks

DiamondGlow, SkinWave, hydrating facials

Final Few Days

Familiar gentle skincare; dermaplaning only if previously tolerated

These are general planning guidelines, not guaranteed recovery periods. Your provider may recommend more time depending on the treatment, your skin, and whether you've had the procedure before.

Don't Forget the Little Things

The holiday glow isn't just about what happens in the treatment room.

A few everyday habits can help your skin look and feel its best throughout the season.

Stay Hydrated

Holiday travel, busy schedules, and winter weather can make it easy to neglect hydration. Drinking adequate water supports normal skin function, while topical moisturizers help reduce water loss from the skin.

Prioritize Sleep

Between parties, shopping, and celebrations, your schedule can get hectic. Consistent sleep supports your body's normal recovery processes.

Don't Skip Sunscreen

UV exposure doesn't disappear when temperatures drop. Daily sun protection remains essential, especially if you're undergoing treatments that increase skin sensitivity.

Avoid last-minute experiments. That viral skincare product you've been wanting to try? Save it for after your big event if you aren't sure how your skin will react.

And most importantly, don't underestimate the value of consistency. A thoughtful skincare routine maintained over time can make a bigger difference than scrambling to try everything in the final week before a celebration

The Best Holiday Beauty Plan Starts With Your Calendar

There's no universal beauty countdown that works for everyone.

Someone preparing for a black-tie Christmas party may have different goals than someone hoping to refresh their skin before family photos.

And the best treatment schedule depends on your skin, your goals, and how much recovery time you have available.

You don't need to know which facial, injectable, peel, or laser treatment to book before reaching out.

Start with your event date and what you'd like to improve.

Our team at The Spa at MPS can help you create a treatment plan that fits your schedule and gives your skin the time it needs.

Because the last thing you want to worry about while getting ready for your holiday celebration is whether your skin will be ready, too.

Let us help you plan ahead so you can focus on enjoying the season - and feeling confident in your skin.

Schedule your appointment  or explore available treatments  at The Spa at MPS to get your holiday beauty countdown started!