Holiday Party Prep: What Skin Treatments You Should and Shouldn’t Do Last Minute

Holiday parties, photos, family events, and year-end celebrations are officially here, which means your skin is about to take center stage. Whether you want a fresh glow, smoother texture, or a quick confidence boost, there are treatments that give you instant results… and others you should avoid right before a big event.

This dermatologist-approved guide breaks down the best last-minute skin treatments before holiday parties, and which ones to save for after the festivities.

Let’s help you time things perfectly so you walk into every event looking radiant, refreshed, and confident.

Last-Minute Treatments You Can Safely Do Before a Holiday Party

These treatments give you quick glow, smoothness, and radiance, with little to no downtime.

1. HydraFacial or JetPeel — Instant Glow, Zero Downtime

If you want that “glass skin” holiday glow today, HydraFacial and JetPeel are the best last-minute options.

Benefits:

• Deep cleanse + exfoliation

• Hydration + plumping

• Removes congestion

• Makeup sits flawlessly afterward

• Zero downtime

Ideal Timing:

1–2 days before your event (or even the same day).

These are true event-prep treatments that work for almost every skin type, even sensitive winter skin.

2. Glass Facial — Smooth, Poreless, Camera-Ready Skin

The Glass Facial combines Beauty Booster injections with superficial Botox to refine pores, reduce redness, control oil, and create that ultra-smooth, Instagram-worthy skin finish.

Benefits:

• Minimizes pores

• Controls shine

• Evens texture

• Reduces redness

• Light-reflecting glow

Ideal Timing:

5–10 days before your event (so the Botox component has time to settle).

3. Beauty Boosters — Hydration + Radiance for Dull Winter Skin

If your skin is feeling tight, flaky, or tired from cold weather, Beauty Boosters can revive it quickly.

Benefits:

• Deep hydration

• Plumpness

• Softer fine lines

• Glow that builds over days

Ideal Timing:

About 1 week before your eventYour glow will peak right in time for the holidays.

4. Light, No-Downtime Chemical Peels — Fast Brightening

Not all peels require downtime. Gentle peels are perfect for dull, uneven winter skin.

Benefits:

• Brightens

• Smooths texture

• Evens tone

• Refreshes tired-looking skin

Ideal Timing:

3–5 days before your event

Avoid mid-to-deep peels (we’ll talk about that below).

5. LED Light Therapy — Quick Redness & Inflammation Reduction

This is the ultimate finishing touch before events.

Benefits:

• Reduces redness

• Calms inflammation

• Helps breakouts heal faster

• Safe for all skin types

Ideal Timing:

Same day or 24 hours before

It’s the easiest low-commitment option for instant clarity.

Treatments You Should Avoid Right Before Holiday Parties

Some treatments deliver amazing long-term results—but they require downtime. These shouldn’t be done within days of an event.

1. Botox or Filler (Unless You Have 10–14 Days)

Botox needs a full 10–14 days to settle. Filler can cause swelling, bruising, or asymmetry that improves over 1–2 weeks.

Avoid if your event is in:

Less than 7 days.

If you've never had injectables before, definitely don’t book right before photos.

2. Medium to Deep Chemical Peels

Deeper peels can cause:

• Peeling

• Redness

• Sensitivity

• Tightness

These can last 5–10 days depending on the peel.

Avoid if your event is in:

Less than 10 days.

Save deeper peels for after the holidays—when downtime is easier to manage.

3. Microneedling or Microneedling with Exosomes

Incredible treatment, but not event-week friendly.

You may experience:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Tightness

• Flaking

• Purging (rare, but possible)

Avoid if your event is in:

Less than 5–7 days.(For first-timers: wait 10–14 days.)

But December is the ideal month for microneedling—just not the week of events.

4. First-Time Acne Treatments

Treatments like Plasma Glo Acne, extractions, or new acne routines can initially cause purging or redness.

Avoid if your event is in:

Less than 5 days.

If you’ve done these treatments before and know how your skin reacts, that’s different—but first-timers should wait until after photos.

5. Any New Skincare Products

Trying something new the week of an event, especially exfoliants or retinoids, can lead to:

• Redness

• Irritation

• Breakouts

• Dry patches

Introduce new products slowly, ideally after the holidays.

Best Timeline for Holiday Party Skin Prep

Same Day – 48 Hours Before:

✔ HydraFacial / JetPeel

✔ LED Light Therapy

✔ Gentle exfoliation

✔ Hydrating masks

3–7 Days Before:

✔ Light chemical peel

✔ Beauty Boosters

✔ Acne maintenance treatments

✔ Glass Facial (if timed properly)

2+ Weeks Before:

✔ Botox

✔ Filler

✔ Microneedling

✔ Medium-depth peels

Want Perfectly-Timed December Skin? We’ll Build the Plan For You.

Every treatment works best when it’s timed correctly for your skin + your schedule. Instead of guessing, book a consultation at Market Mall Dermatology and we’ll create a holiday-specific skin plan so you walk into every event looking fresh, confident, and glowing.