Microcurrent Aftercare, What to Do After a Session
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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After microcurrent, remove the leftover gel with water or a gentle cleanser if it feels sticky, apply your serum and moisturizer, add sunscreen in the daytime, and you can wear makeup and carry on with your day, because microcurrent has no downtime.
This guide covers the hours after a session, such as:
- whether to wash your face
- what to apply and in which order
- makeup, workouts and sun
- what to avoid straight after
- how to keep results going
and many more!
We make microcurrent devices and hear these questions from new users every day.
Key Points:
Microcurrent has no downtime, so most people go straight back to their day.
Rinse or wipe off leftover gel if it feels tacky; a hydrating gel can also be pressed in.
Follow with serum, moisturizer and, in the daytime, sunscreen.
Makeup is fine once your skincare has settled.
Results build with regular sessions, so the most important aftercare is the next session.
Should you wash your face after microcurrent
You do not have to, but many people prefer to. Most conductive gels are water-based and partly absorb, and some leave a slightly tacky film. If yours feels sticky, rinse with lukewarm water or use a gentle, non-foaming cleanser, then pat dry.
If you used a hyaluronic acid serum or a gel with skincare ingredients as your conductive layer, you can simply press the remainder into your skin and continue. Gel choices are compared in our gel vs serum vs aloe article.
What to apply next
Apply a hydrating serum, then your moisturizer, while the skin is still slightly damp. In the morning, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Strong actives such as retinoids or exfoliating acids are better kept for the evening or for days without a session if your skin is sensitive. More detail is in our retinol and microcurrent article and our vitamin C and acids article, and the full order is in our microcurrent before or after skincare article.
Makeup, workouts and sun
| After a session | Fine? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup | Yes | Once skincare has settled |
| Workout | Yes | Cleanse after sweating |
| Sun | Yes | Wear sunscreen as usual |
| Facial or peel | Plan it | Microcurrent first, or wait until skin calms after a peel |
| Sleep | Yes | An evening session suits many routines |
Timing questions are answered in our morning or night article and our microcurrent and makeup article.
What is normal after a session
A slight warmth or a faint pink flush that fades within minutes is common, especially if the gel ran thin. A firmer, more awake look straight after a session is also common, and it is the reason many people use their device before an event.
Stinging, lasting redness or a rash are not normal. Stop, add more gel next time, lower the level and see our article on whether microcurrent should sting.
Aftercare after a spa microcurrent facial
After a professional facial, follow your esthetician's advice, which is usually much the same, gentle skincare, sunscreen and plenty of water. Avoid booking a peel, laser or microneedling for the same day unless your provider has planned it.
Finding the right professional is covered in our guide to finding a good microcurrent esthetician.
The aftercare that matters most
Microcurrent results build and hold with regular sessions, so the most useful aftercare is booking or doing the next one. A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured the effect of facial electrical stimulation after twelve weeks of regular use, and our schedule is in our how often article.
Clean the device head after every session with a damp cloth so leftover gel does not build up. Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wash my face after microcurrent
You can if the gel feels sticky. Rinse with lukewarm water or a gentle cleanser, or press a hydrating gel into the skin.
What should I put on my face after microcurrent
A hydrating serum, moisturizer and, in the daytime, sunscreen.
Can I wear makeup after microcurrent
Yes, once your skincare has settled.
Can I work out after microcurrent
Yes. Cleanse your face afterward if you sweat.
Is redness normal after microcurrent
A faint flush that fades within minutes is common. Lasting redness or stinging means you should add more gel and lower the level.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.