Using summer as an excuse to go all out on beauty appointments and products is standard practice for us; arguably it’s as good as the holiday itself. However, unlike a lot of those year-round beauty appointments (think: nails and hair), aesthetics treatments aren’t always summer-approved.

Not all treatments are suitable for high temperatures and sunny activities sadly. So, before booking your pre-summer beauty prep, we asked the experts which treatments they don’t recommend ahead of a summer holiday — here are the 7 most common.

BTW, our Summer Beauty Bible is on newsstands now. Don’t miss your chance to grab your guide full of helpful tips and product recs – buy now, keep forever.

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal uses pulses of light to destroy the hair follicle and slow down hair growth. All good things take time, friends, and this treatment is a process, so summer isn’t the best time to jump aboard the laser hair removal train. Sessions are spaced 4-6 weeks apart and you should avoid the sun a week before your appointment as well as 2-4 weeks afterwards, as you’re more prone to hyperpigmentation and sunburn. Aftercare tips are there for a reason; we don’t want you wasting your time or money.

Chemical peels

The last thing your skin needs is a sunbathing session after a peel. Resurfacing treatments are a no-no during the peak of summer. “Chemical peels can increase the risk of sun sensitivity as they remove the outer layers of skin, exposing fresh, delicate skin that is more prone to UV damage,” explains consultant dermatologist, Dr Derrick Phillips. Aesthetic doctor Dr Catharine Denning echoes this: “medium or deep peels can also activate melanocytes and can lead to increased risk of burning and pigmentary complications.”

Laser treatments

Be mindful of laser treatments like CO2 or Erbium-Yag. These work to treat “signs of sun damage, addressing wrinkles and tackling acne scars by vaporising water and removing the top layer of skin, simulating collagen production and skin renewal,” says Dr Phillips. This comes with an “increased risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and even prolonged redness,” explains Dr Sonia Khorana, cosmetic doctor and dermatology expert at Kat&Co Aesthetics.

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The same is true for other forms of light therapy treatments like broadband light therapy, says Dr Denning. Dr Khorana doesn’t necessarily tell patients to avoid them (after all, some people live in sunny climates — jealous), but notes that people need to practice strict sun safety.

Collagen stimulants

Exposure to UV causes damage to our precious collagen and elastin, so getting collagen stimulants such as Lanluma, before a holiday or increased sun exposure, doesn’t make sense. In addition to this, Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, Cosmopolitan’s contributing aesthetic expert, says that “it takes a few months for the stimulants to work fully and for you to see the full results.” If you want to see results from your collagen treatments by the summer, best to get them in the autumn before.

Microblading

Microblading might be best saved for autumn/winter if you’re a sun seeker, or have the treatment at least a month before sunny holidays, recommends semi-permanent makeup artist Nez Hasan. Your brows only take around two weeks to heal, but allowing extra time for correct aftercare is best. “Be mindful of excessive sun exposure and sweating in the summer as this can impact the healing process and pigment retention; always wear a hat to protect your eyebrows from sun during the first two weeks of healing,” she explains. Once you’re all healed, you can “wear a high SPF on your eyebrows to prevent pigment fading.”

Morpheus8

Morpheus8 and microneedling work by causing microscopic injuries in our skin to produce impressive renewed results. But, without meticulous SPF application, you risk post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), particularly in Fitzpatrick skin types 3 (olive skin tones) and above. “[PIH] can be a significant risk, even without direct sun exposure,” explains Dr. Shaimaa Jamshidi, plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of Montrose London.

Filler treatment

Fillers aren’t something to blanket avoid in the summer, however “don’t go on holiday for at least a few days following treatment (at any time of the year),” says Dr Denning. This makes sure you’re local to your injector if you experience any delayed complications.

“Flying also causes us to retain water in our soft tissues and because hyaluronic acid filler likes to hold onto water, this can collect around newly injected filler and make any potential swelling worse for a few days,” she adds. Book your filler treatment at least 2 weeks before flying (especially long haul flights). “Extreme heat can also worsen swelling following filler treatment so I’d advise not sitting in the heat for a couple of weeks afterwards.”

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