A hydrodermabrasion facial cleans your pores with water and suction. A small handpiece sprays a fine jet of water onto the skin and suctions it back up at the same time. The suction lifts dead skin, oil and whatever is sitting in the pore. The water keeps the skin wet while it works, so it does not drag or dry it out.
You may know it from clinics under brand names. HydraFacial is the best known one. The idea is the same: water and suction instead of crystals or a dry vacuum.
How is it different from microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion sprays tiny crystals, or uses a rough tip, to sand off the top layer of skin. It works, but it can leave the skin red and sensitive, and it is not a good idea if you have sensitive skin or rosacea.
Hydrodermabrasion replaces the crystals with water. The water gives the suction something to work against, so it does not pull at the skin the way a dry pore vacuum does. That is why it usually suits sensitive skin better.
What it does
- Lifts blackheads, whiteheads and makeup residue out of the pores.
- Takes off some of the dead skin on the surface, so your skin looks smoother and fresher for a few days.
- Leaves the skin clean, so your serum and moisturizer reach it better.
What it does not do
- It does not shrink pores for good. Clean pores look smaller, and they fill up again with time.
- It does not treat acne, rosacea, melasma or scars. Those need a dermatologist.
- It is not a one time fix. Blackheads come back, so it works best as regular upkeep.
Who should not do it
Skip it on active acne, rosacea, and broken, irritated or sunburned skin. If you use retinoids or isotretinoin (Roaccutane), or have a skin condition, speak to a dermatologist first.
What to expect after
Some redness is normal and usually settles within 5 to 10 minutes. There is no downtime. Moisturize afterwards, and use sunscreen if you are going out, because freshly exfoliated skin burns more easily.
At a clinic or at home?
A clinic uses a professional machine with stronger suction and its own serums, and a specialist looks at your skin first. On very congested skin, the first clinic session will pull out more than a first session at home.
At home you give up some of that strength, and in return you can do it every week, on your own schedule, without paying per session. If you are wondering which works out cheaper for you, we compared the costs honestly, including what the clinic does better: HydraFacial price in Lebanon vs doing it at home.
Doing it at home with HydroBloom
HydroBloom is our hydrodermabrasion device for home use. It works on the same water and suction idea. It comes with 6 nozzles, 3 firm ones for oily and combination skin and 3 soft ones for dry and sensitive skin, and it has 3 suction modes.
- Price in Lebanon: $49.99, free delivery, cash on delivery.
- Delivery: within 24 hours in Beirut, 1 to 3 days elsewhere in Lebanon.
- How often: dry skin up to twice a week, oily and combination skin up to 3 times a week. A full treatment takes 5 to 10 minutes.
- Guarantee: 30 days money back, and a 1 year warranty.