Microdermabrasion is one of those in-spa treatments that never fails to leave your skin looking glowy and fresh. It's a treatment that uses abrasive techniques to sweep dirt and dead skin off your complexion, so your skin is healthier and your products absorb more readily. But of course, as we learned during the height of COVID-19, it's not always possible to get to a spa for the skin treatments you need.
Enter at home beauty tech. Beauty is one of the fastest growing spaces in the world of tech. As we saw at CES 2021, many of the newest and most exciting devices involved personal grooming and beauty - like YSL Beauty's colour changing lipstick that can make you a bespoke colour at your whim.
As such, it is possible to get a microdermabrasion experience at home given the latest innovations. We recently reviewed the Happy Skin Co. Microdermabrasion Kit - here's what you need to know
What is it?
Although this is labelled a 'microdermabrasion' tool, it's very different to what you will experience at a spa. Spas will traditionally use a pneumatic hose/vacuum. It blasts rough, granule. at your skin to loosen the dirt and then the dual vacuum tech sucks it all up. Other forms of microdermabrasion will use an exfoliating and sometimes diamond encrusted pad to exfoliate the skin before the skin is vacuumed.
As an at-home kit, the Happy Skin Co. iteration does not have the facility to blast your skin wth granules. But it something that effectively mimics the in-spa vacuum. The Happy Skin Co Microdermabrasion Kit in essence is a skin vacuum with several power settings, a heating tool and interchangeable vacuum heads.
In your kit you'll get a small, hand-held device, three vacuum heads and a charger. Don't be fooled by the size of the device, it's quite powerful and even has the potential to bruise if you don't follow the instructions. The device has two ends, one is of course the vacuum. The other is a hot compress, a thick, curved wand that heats up to 46 degrees celsius to help open pores. It also has a setting with 8600 ultrasonic vibration frequencies per second, to help target loosen dirt in the deeper layers of skin.
How does it work? And how do you use it?
To start using your device, you can begin with heating tool or head straight to the vacuum. It is recommended you start with the heat function and I completely agree. I found I had much better results when using the heat tool first.
Turn the device on and prep the areas of your face you wish to treat by gliding the hot tool over your skin. The heat will open up your pores and it will vibrate slightly to help loosen any dirt stuck in the lower layers of your skin. Once your skin is warmed, you can switch to the vacuum. The oval and round heads will head you reach all the different areas of your face. Then there's the microcrystalline suction head that helps to scrub off dead skin as you work. This will offer deeper exfoliation.
Once you've picked your preferred head, then set the device to your desired level of suction. Now simply sweep the device over your face. Avoid the eye area of course and don't hover in any one place for too long or you could bruise your skin.
The vacuum will suck up excess oil and dirt. It will also remove anything lifted by the exfoliating microcrystalline head if you're using it.
What are the results like?
It's not a gimmick, this actually does work. When it comes to cleaning your device - this process is detailed in the instructions - you'll see just how much dead skin and dirt has been swept off you face.Not only will you be able to see the end results, but you can actually feel the deep cleaning effects as they happen.
Of course, it's not exactly the same as a professional or in-spa treatment, for safety reasons - professional grade devices do need specialist training to operate. But it's about as close as you'll get from an at-home experience. It certainly left my skin feeling brighter, smoother and more even in tone after one use - and it improves are consistent use. I use my device once a month if I've been unable to make it to a salon.
