The Beauty Treatments You Should Never Book Right Before a Holiday

Booked a pre-holiday beauty blitz? Worth a rethink. "Your skin needs proper recovery time before it meets sun, sand and cabin pressure," says Annabelle Taurua, beauty expert at Fresha - here's her timing guide.

Laser treatments need 2–4 weeks either side of travel. Skin is highly UV-sensitive post-treatment, and tanned skin can cause the laser to target skin instead of hair follicle, risking real damage.

Microneedling needs 5–7 days minimum. It works by creating micro-injuries to boost collagen, so skin needs to fully recover before facing sun exposure.

Chemical peels need 7–10 days. Peels strip the outer skin layer, temporarily weakening your barrier and leaving it vulnerable to sun damage.

Dermal filler is best two weeks out. Cabin pressure and dehydration cause water retention, and since hyaluronic acid attracts water, swelling can look far more pronounced mid-flight.

Dermaplaning needs about a week to let your barrier recover from increased sensitivity.

Lash extensions need 3–4 days for the adhesive to fully cure - otherwise sun cream, sea and pool water will weaken the bond fast.

Hair colour needs 5–7 days to properly settle before UV, saltwater and chlorine get to it.

The rule of thumb: the more intensive the treatment, the more buffer your skin deserves before it meets the sun.