At RG Spa & Wellness Centre, your skin’s health and safety always come first. One of the most common frustrations we encounter is when a client arrives for a treatment and we need to reschedule or modify the service because they have recently used active skincare ingredients.
We understand this can be disappointing, especially if you’ve been looking forward to your appointment. However, this policy is in place to protect your skin and ensure you achieve the best possible results.
What Are “Active Ingredients”?
Active ingredients are products that are designed to change, exfoliate, resurface, brighten, or stimulate the skin. While these products can be excellent for improving skin health, they can also make your skin more sensitive.
Common active ingredients include:
- Retinol and Retin-A (Vitamin A products)
- Tretinoin
- Retinoids
- Glycolic Acid
- Salicylic Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Mandelic Acid
- Vitamin C serums (high-strength formulations)
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Hydroquinone
- Prescription acne medications
- Exfoliating scrubs, peels, and resurfacing products
If you’re unsure whether a product contains active ingredients, please ask us before your appointment.
Why Do I Need to Stop Using Them?
Treatments such as:
- Hydrafacial
- Dermaplaning
- Certain professional facials
- Waxing services
- SkinPen Microneedling
already exfoliate, stimulate, or temporarily increase the sensitivity of your skin.
When active ingredients are combined with these treatments, your skin may become over-treated. This can increase the risk of:
- Excessive redness
- Irritation
- Burning sensations
- Peeling
- Inflammation
- Skin lifting during waxing
- Delayed healing
- Increased sensitivity and discomfort
Think of it this way: if you’ve been sanding a piece of wood every day at home, and then someone sands it again professionally, the surface can become damaged. Your skin works much the same way.
Why Five Days?
For most clients, stopping active ingredients for five days before treatment gives the skin time to calm down, restore its natural barrier, and reduce sensitivity.
This helps us perform your treatment safely while giving you the best possible outcome.
Why Might My Appointment Be Rescheduled?
If you arrive having recently used active ingredients, we may determine that proceeding with your scheduled service is not in your skin’s best interest.
In these situations, we may:
- Recommend postponing your treatment
- Modify the treatment plan
- Switch you to a gentler service that is safe for your skin that day
This decision is never made to inconvenience you. It is made to protect your skin and prevent complications that could lead to discomfort, prolonged healing, or unwanted results.
We Are Advocating for Your Skin
Our team would much rather spend a few minutes discussing a schedule change than have you leave with irritated, damaged, or compromised skin.
When we ask you to discontinue active ingredients before your appointment, it isn’t a suggestion—it’s an important safety guideline based on professional skincare standards and our commitment to your wellbeing.
If you’re ever unsure whether a product should be stopped before your appointment, please contact us. We are happy to review your skincare routine and help you prepare for your treatment.
Remember: Please discontinue all active ingredients for 5 days prior to Hydrafacial, Dermaplaning, certain facials, waxing services, and SkinPen Microneedling. Failure to do so may require your treatment to be modified or rescheduled for your safety.
Your skin deserves the safest care possible—and we’re here to help you achieve beautiful results safely.