HydraFacial®

Hydradermabrasion is a form of skin treatment that cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates the skin. It's similar to microdermabrasion but uses a powerful jet of liquid instead of crystals or the 'scraping' method of diamond-head microdermabrasion. HydraFacial is a patented brand of hydradermabrasion consisting of 3 stages: Cleanse+Peel, Extract+Hydrate, Fuse+Protect. All stages are performed via their proprietary HydroPeel tips on a handheld applicator. The procedure benefits the skin by delivering a deep cleanse, mild exfoliating peel, extraction, and serum infusion, in a 30 or 60-minute treatment. Each stage can be adjusted to meet the needs or limitations of a particular client, making a HydraFacial a versatile hydradermabrasion treatment for almost anyone.¹

A traditional HydraFacial includes an exfoliation step that uses hydroxy acids (like salicylic and glycolic acids) which haven't been shown as safe to use during pregnancy. Although you could customise this step to use pregnancy-safe ingredients instead, the actual system itself hasn't been evaluated for pregnant or breastfeeding patients either. The HydraFacial system is therefore not recommended for these groups.

Hyperpigmentation is essentially a defence response by the skin to blemishes and/or irritation, and called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Microdermabrasion represents one of those, so it may stimulate increased pigmentation.² The resulting patches of darker-coloured skin can appear tan, dark brown or even purple. Generally, the suction and chemical exfoliation processes involved in a HydraFacial are too gentle to induce PIH, but you should consult a trained skincare professional to determine if HydraFacial is an appropriate hydradermabrasion exfoliation treatment for your skin type.

A HydraFacial combines hydradermabrasion with a gentle chemical peel and deep pore cleansing. With regular use, it may help with several causes of blemishes.³ Monthly HydraFacial treatments are the general recommendation, with some conditions taking 4 to 6 months before seeing results.
However, if you already use prescription retinoids (such as tretinoin) or over-the-counter options like retinol to successfully manage your blemish breakouts, you might be better off giving hydradermabrasion a miss. Retinoid use should be stopped three days before a HydraFacial procedure, so having such a treatment may disrupt the retinoid's activity.
If you are considering HydraFacial for the treatment of blemishes, we advise consulting a skin care professional first. They can accurately assess your skin and provide advice on whether it will be beneficial.

Hydradermabrasion uses the effective but gentle force of water to exfoliate the skin. The chemical exfoliation step of a HydraFacial is also quite mild. Because of this, one HydraFacial treatment a month is generally recommended for improving the appearance of the skin.¹

Comparing a HydraFacial to a regular facial is difficult, because the benefits of each are influenced by the practitioner's skill, the quality and efficacy of the products and equipment they use. Assuming the skincare professional is experienced and uses quality products, a regular facial may achieve similar outcomes to a HydraFacial. A HydraFacial does have the advantage of speed and consistency—the fast, efficient protocol can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.¹

A HydraFacial hydradermabrasion uses a proprietary tip with a spiral design, creating a vortex effect to deeply purify pores. Gentle suction then lifts the impurities away from the skin and into a waste reservoir.⁴ This can be quite effective at unclogging pores, especially if a booster is used. However, for deeper blackheads a manual extraction may be needed to completely remove them.

How long the effects of any non-invasive procedure last depends on your individual response, as well as lifestyle and skincare practices. A HydraFacial doesn't impact the deeper layers of your skin, so the effects generally last 5-7 days.¹ Repeated hydradermabrasion can encourage better skin function, with less pore congestion or blemish formation. In such cases, the cumulative effects may be longer lasting.

Although the chemical exfoliation used in a HydraFacial is quite mild, the combination of hydradermabrasion, exfoliating acids, and suction can accelerate movement of impurities from deeper within the skin, also known as a 'purge'. This is the natural process of getting rid of underlying congestion, which is exactly what we want to achieve, so it's better for it to come out than to stay under the skin. Resulting in a breakout, these purges generally occur in areas of your face where you normally experience breakouts. You'll usually find these breakouts resolve more quickly than usual. If a breakout occurs in an area not normally prone to them, it could be that the treatment or product is too aggressive for your skin type.

A HydraFacial combines two forms of exfoliation (hydradermabrasion and a light chemical peel), manual stimulation of circulation (via suction) and the jet infusion of vitamins and peptides. Following this treatment cocktail, a visible difference may immediately be evident, with brightened skin, improved texture and less visible fine lines and wrinkles. This makes it a popular option prior to big events like weddings or photoshoots, where you want to look your best. The immediate effects of smoother feeling skin and improved hydration may last 5 to 7 days.¹

Yes, absolutely. However, you might prefer not to, or at least not immediately. The final step of a HydraFacial includes the jet infusion of skin nourishing peptides and antioxidants. It takes the skin a minimum of 30 minutes to absorb these, so we advise waiting at least an hour before showering. Better yet, allow the serums to remain on the skin for the rest of the day. If you do need to shower, avoid getting hot water on your face because this can cause flushed skin.

*Always consult your physician before undergoing this procedure