This Is The Most Popular Facial Treatment EVER, And It’s Amazing!
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Chances are if you haven’t already had a HydraFacial, you’ve heard of it… And if you haven’t heard of it, you’ve probably seen it on your fave influencer’s Instagram story. Yup, it’s the facial performed with a small suction device that promises to target everything from oily and congested pores, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and deliver an instant glow… Probably why it’s performed every 15 seconds in the USA – how insane?! Of course we had to try it for ourselves and get an expert’s opinion to see if the HydraFacial really is worth the hype. So, we spoke to celebrity dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss, and she gave us the full DL on this seriously hyped facial.
Why the HydraFacial is SO popular
It’s pretty rare to find a facial that works for almost all skin types and has zero-downtime, but the HydraFacial is that facial, and it’s one of the reasons it’s so popular. Dr. Idriss explains, “This facial is being requested by both men and women of all ages and across all demographics. It can be used for those who have extremely dry skin to those prone to oilier skin. This treatment is also particularly requested over the winter time when dry skin is the norm. In addition, it comes highly requested prior to big events such as weddings or red-carpet events because it delivers that extra glow.” However, she does say that “The only type of patients I would not recommend it to are those suffering from cystic acne or rosacea as it can flare it up.”
What to expect from the HydraFacial
“There are several steps involved in the hydra facial. You start off by cleansing the skin, followed by a light toner in order to prime the skin for the next step, which is the dermabrasion. This rids your skin of all impurities and allows it to be more receptive to the infusion of glycolic and salicylic acid. Once the peels are applied, the extraction phase of the facial takes place. This is followed by the final step, which is a hyaluronic peptide infusion to restore moisture and glow.” Dr. Idriss also tells us that “This can all be topped off with LED lights to help stimulate collagen.” This typically only takes 30 minutes, but extra steps can be added to boost the facial.
Obviously, we had to try the experience for ourselves and after a 60-minute HydraFacial at the Dubai Mall’s NStyle Spa, we left with the most glossy skin we’ve ever seen. Here’s the breakdown:
- Detox. This step increases lymphatic circulation in your skin by moving a metal suction device along your lymphatic system. Better lymphatic circulation not only helps move out toxins but also increases blood flow, providing extra oxygen to invigorate the skin.
- Exfoliation. The exfoliating, vacuum-like tip is passed all over the skin to gently remove dead skin cells, while all at the same time delivering a revitalizing serum (customized to your skin type) to hydrate and protect the skin.
- Acids. To clean deeply into pores, a glycolic or salicylic solution is pressed all over the skin which helps to decongest pores and brighten the skin. They used a high strength, 15% salicylic treatment on our oily skin, and yes, it stung!
- Extraction. A weird water and suction treatment then takes place (using a vortex-extraction nozzle) to gently draw out whiteheads, blackheads, and oil trapped in pores. This is the step that helps you get tiny, tight pores!
- Serum-infusion. The final step for many treatments is the application of a nourishing serum that drenches skin with potent, protecting antioxidants, collagen-supporting peptides, and hydrating hyaluronic acid. It will leave your skin feeling insanely soft, plump and it helps smooth out the appearance of fine lines.
The HydraFacial usually costs between $80 to $200, depending on the salon and the level of steps in your HydraFacial. You can often choose between the basic HydraFacial, which is steps two to four, and then you can opt for extra add-on treatments, and red light as well if you like.
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The Results From Just ONE HydraFacial
With most facials, there’s downtime; it’s normally a few days of sensitive skin where it’s not yet at that glowy selfie-level you may have imagined. However, this is not the case with a HydraFacial; as soon as you leave the appointment, your skin will look radiant and dewy – in fact, ours literally looked like glass, it was kinda insane! The HydraFacial also has a huge impact on skin texture (ours felt softer than we’ve ever felt it before) and your pores will appear smaller. It can also help improve the appearance of blemishes (see the results below). Some people have reported that they felt some tightness for approximately 12 hours after due to the extraction.
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You can also customize the results dependant on your skin type to target different issues, from dullness and fine lines to acne and pores. During the first stage of the HydraFacial, your aesthetician will assess your skin and its needs, and choose between different gradient peels, like 10% salicylic acid or a different mix of AHAs. Your technician can also select the right ‘suction strength’ depending on your skin type, and it can even be used to loosen milia, aka those tiny white dots that develop under the skin.
After our HydraFacial, we did see a little peeling around the nose in the next few days, but our nose has never been so blackhead-free, so it was worth it! The other really cool, but very gross thing, is that your technician is able to show you exactly what is sucked out of your skin at the end of the process – ours was a milky-looking water with hundreds of tiny whiteheads floating around in it. Very gross, but very satisfying!
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Post HydraFacial dos and don’ts
Post-HydraFacial you should avoid touching or picking your skin, as the aesthetician will have performed extractions, so any aggravation could irritate the skin. If possible, do your HydraFacial in the late afternoon or evening and don’t wear makeup so the creams and serums have time to work their magic. It’s also a good idea to workout pre-facial as increased heat and sweat could irritate your exfoliated skin. Basically, leave your skin alone for 12 hours, and don’t put anything on it or sweat too much.
Product-wise, make sure you stay clear of any chemical exfoliants for three days, and make sure (as always) to wear sunscreen the following day, as your skin will be more vulnerable to UVA and UVB damage.
Another major advantage of the HydraFacial is that its results and the procedure itself are consistent, as it relies on the equipment rather than the aesthetician’s technique. Although with that being said, Dr. Idriss notes: “Being performed in a physician’s office does elevate the procedure a little because it can deviate from the standard protocol by being upgraded to a medical grade treatment. This can be done by incorporating stronger peels and various other products.”
A HydraFacial won’t make up for a bad skincare regime
Don’t forget that the best way to have healthy, hydrated skin is a good skincare regime; “HydraFacial’s do not replace the need for an adequate and appropriate skincare routine. I would consider this treatment as an add-on treatment in order to give your skin that extra push of radiance. Patients come in on average once every 6-8 weeks to help boost their glow,” explains Dr. Idriss.
Have you guys had a HydraFacial? Let us know in the comment below.
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