Is This Facial A Shortcut to Glass Skin?

As rejuvenating as a 90 minute steam, deep clean and massage is for our skin (and soul), what we really want is glowing skin, stat. Putting skin-refining exfoliators and hyaluronic acid to work in a high-tech pen, the HydraFacial promises fresh and dewy skin straight out of the clinic—read below for marie claire's verdict of the almost too good to be true facial. 

The Lowdown

This treatment hits that sweet spot between a spa facial and in-office procedure—and since it only takes 30 minutes, it’s perfect if you’re time-poor. It’s often described as hydradermabrasion because, rather than blasting skin with gritty particles as is the case with traditional dermabrasion, a small handpiece has a kind of whirling technology in its tip that simultaneously sucks away dead skin cells and delivers a variety of active ingredients onto the skin.

The Blow-By-Blow

There are three parts to this treatment: cleansing, exfoliating and infusing. With each step, the pen-like device passes over the entire face, dragging a little without feeling too uncomfortable. The first step includes a mixture of glycolic and salicylic acid to resurface skin. The second step is focused on extracting gunk from pores while nourishing skin with a blend of peptides, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. The final step saturates skin with peptides to maximize radiance. Afterwards, the technician asks us whether we want to see everything that’s been removed from our skin and we are both awe-struck and deeply unsettled by the amount of debris floating in the clear, mid-sized canister at the bottom of the device.

The Results

Our face is flushed for about an hour, but not uncomfortable. In the lobby, we peer into the mirror and note the reflective quality of our freshly resurfaced skin. But it’s the next morning that we really understand the hype of this award-season treatment: our complexion is lit-from-within radiant and feels baby-smooth. The treatment suits all skin types (except for those who are rosacea-prone) and we would absolutely consider bolting it onto our next in-office IPL or laser treatment.

The Cost

From $175-$200. One treatment will address dullness and congestion, but it will take a course of six to improve fine lines, acne and brown spots.

Clinics offering the treatment can be located here.

At-Home

Dissolve impurities and unwelcome texture and flood skin with hydration for plump, juicy and bright post-facial skin at home.