A facial treatment works on your skin for about an hour. What you do in the four weeks between visits decides whether that hour lasts. Most of the clients who tell us a treatment “didn’t hold” are using the wrong products at home, or the right products at the wrong time. This guide sets out the routine our skin team at Nouvelle Clinique recommends between facial treatments, what to pause before and after a visit, and why we use the serums we do.
It is written for normal, combination and mature skin. If you have active acne, rosacea or eczema, ask us for an adjusted version at your next appointment.
Why the home routine matters more than the treatment
HydraFacial, Dermapen microneedling, exosome therapy, radiofrequency and PRP facials all do the same thing in different ways: they create a short window in which the skin repairs, renews and absorbs more of what you put on it. That window is open for days, not weeks. A routine built around four proven ingredients, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and retinol, keeps the skin working between visits, and daily sunscreen protects the result. Everything else in this guide is detail.
Morning: protect and brighten
- Cleanse with a gentle gel cleanser and lukewarm water. Pat dry; do not rub.
- Vitamin C. Apply a few drops to the whole face and neck. We use a 20% vitamin C serum for pigmentation and sun damage from TRIPLE A Skin Science. Vitamin C slows the formation of new pigment, supports collagen and defends the skin against pollution and UV through the day. A light tingle in the first week is normal. Below 15% most vitamin C products do little, which is why we chose a 20% formula.
- Hydrate. On damp skin, a hyaluronic acid serum draws water into the upper layers and plumps fine lines for the day. It also makes vitamin C more comfortable on drier skin.
- SPF 50, every day, including winter and cloudy days in Tirana. This is the one step that is not optional. Without it, the pigmentation we treat in clinic simply returns.
Night: repair and renew
- Cleanse again, removing sunscreen and makeup completely.
- Retinol. This is the ingredient that changes skin texture, softens fine lines and keeps pores clear. We recommend a 0.5% retinol night serum: strong enough to work, gentle enough to use long term. Start with two nights a week for the first two weeks, then every second night, then nightly if your skin is comfortable. If you have never used it, this guide to starting retinol without irritation walks through the first eight weeks.
- Niacinamide on the other nights. On nights without retinol, or layered under it once your skin is used to it, a 10% niacinamide serum calms redness, regulates oil and strengthens the skin barrier. It is the product we reach for most often for clients whose skin reacts easily.
- Hydrate with the same hyaluronic acid serum if your skin feels tight, then a simple moisturiser if you use one.
Before and after a treatment
This is where most home routines go wrong. Active ingredients and in-clinic treatments compete for the same skin, so timing matters.
The week before microneedling, exosome therapy or radiofrequency: stop retinol and any exfoliating acids five to seven days before your appointment. Keep vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and SPF. Skin that arrives calm and hydrated tolerates the treatment better and heals faster.
The first three to five days after microneedling, exosomes or PRP: cleanser, hyaluronic acid, a bland moisturiser and SPF 50 only. No vitamin C, no retinol, no acids, no scrubs. Expect some redness, tightness or light flaking depending on the treatment.
Day five to seven: restart vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide at night. Day seven to ten, or once flaking has stopped, restart retinol at two nights a week and build back up.
After a HydraFacial or radiofrequency session: there is no downtime — keep your normal routine, but give retinol a night off. After a PRP facial: nothing on the skin for 24 hours, then hyaluronic acid and SPF. Vitamin C and niacinamide from day three, retinol from day seven.
If you are unsure, bring your products to your appointment and we will set the dates for you.
Why we use TRIPLE A Skin Science in clinic
We chose these serums for three practical reasons. The formulas are fragrance-free and vegan, so they suit skin that has just been treated. The active levels are clinical rather than cosmetic: 20% vitamin C, 0.5% encapsulated retinol, 10% niacinamide. And every serum comes in an airless syringe, so the product is never exposed to air or fingers between uses, which keeps vitamin C and retinol stable and matters in a clinic where hygiene is not negotiable. They are made in Australia by a small company we deal with directly, and the same products are available to you for home use.
The routine at a glance
| When | Step | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Gentle cleanser | Lukewarm water, pat dry |
| Morning | 20% vitamin C | Whole face and neck; light tingle is normal at first |
| Morning | Hyaluronic acid | On damp skin |
| Morning | SPF 50 | Every day, all year |
| Night | Cleanser | Remove SPF and makeup fully |
| Night | 0.5% retinol | 2 nights a week, then every second night, then nightly |
| Night | 10% niacinamide | Nights without retinol, or under it once tolerated |
| Night | Hyaluronic acid, moisturiser | If skin feels tight |
| 5 to 7 days before a treatment | Stop retinol and acids | Keep vitamin C, HA, niacinamide, SPF |
| 3 to 5 days after | Cleanser, HA, moisturiser, SPF only | Then restart actives in order |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use vitamin C and retinol on the same day?
Yes. Vitamin C in the morning, retinol at night. They do not need to touch. Using them at the same time of day is where irritation usually comes from.
How long until I see results from the home routine?
Hydration and glow improve within two weeks. Pigmentation and fine lines take eight to twelve weeks of consistent use, which is also the gap we recommend between some facial treatments, so the two line up.
My skin is sensitive. Where should I start?
SPF, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for two weeks. Then add vitamin C in the morning. Add retinol last, one night a week, and build up slowly. The 0.5% retinol we use is encapsulated, which releases it gradually and is kinder to sensitive skin than a plain retinol.
Do I need all four serums?
No. If you only buy one product, buy sunscreen. If you buy one active, choose vitamin C if pigmentation is your main concern and retinol if it is lines and texture. Add the others as your budget and skin allow.
Can I buy the products at the clinic?
Yes. Ask at reception or at your next appointment, and we will match the routine to your skin and your treatment schedule.
This guide is general advice from the skin team at Nouvelle Clinique, Tirana. Your treatment-specific aftercare instructions take priority. If you notice spreading redness, blistering or pain after a treatment, contact the clinic the same day.
Medical review: the clinical information on this page is reviewed by the Nouvelle Clinique medical team under the supervision of Dr. Elvira Frangu, MD (Faculty of Medicine, University of Tirana; Order of Physicians of Albania, Registry No. 3973). This content is informational and is not a substitute for an individual medical consultation.
