Have you ever had a HydraFacial before? If you have not or don't even know what I am talking about, let me tell you about my recent experience with my very first treatment.
A HydraFacial is a facial treatment using a device used by a professional to cleanse, exfoliate, extract, and hydrate your face. While it is removing dead skin cells and impurities that are clogging your pores, it is also delivering a boost of hydration. This treatment leaves your skin glowing, plump, and refreshed.
It had been 7 years since my last facial treatment at a professional's office.
Besides not prioritizing my time and finances for a facial appointment, I had become too comfortable doing the bare minimum at home. But deep down, I knew that I was in the wrong mindset. My at-home skincare routine involves using quality skin care products regularly. Cleansing twice a day, exfoliating weekly, using spf, and taking the time to research skincare products and skin care in general. Though I feel confident in my practices, there are advantages to seeking out a professional once in a while. By that, I mean once a month or at least once a quarter.
I finally got over myself and made the call (literally). During my chat with the receptionist, she suggested the HydraFacial and briefly explained how it would benefit me. So, I agreed to that treatment and booked a session. The day prior to my appointment, I had completed my paperwork virtually where I expressed my areas of concern, my skin goals, and my current skin care routine. There was also a section that asked about my last facial treatment. Unfortunately, it's an unpleasant story.
November 2015: Long story short, my face was treated with a harsh chemical peel in which I had a terrible reaction to 48 hours later. Imagine having to put 2 icepacks on your face and looking like Freddy Krueger. It took me about 7 days to look normal. Any ways, that's all in the past and now I've got a far more pleasant story to tell.
The morning of, I cleansed my face and did a gentle exfoliation followed by a refreshing essence. Nothing further was applied since I have to arrive with clean skin. I know what you're thinking; why did I exfoliate before my appointment? The same reason you brush and floss before your dentist appointment. I wanted my complexion to look as healthy as possible so that I could truly see if there was a significant improvement afterwards.
Well, it is finally time for my appointment. The professional takes me to the room where my treatment will be done which had a very peaceful ambiance. The professional and I spoke briefly about my concerns. I was very intent on expressing how sensitive my skin is and how that made me a little nervous about the appointment. She was sympathetic to my concerns and promised to use the gentlest system during the treatment. I knew right away that I was in good hands.
Note: my eyes were closed the entire session; so, I can only tell you what I felt and heard her doing.
She began with a gentle cleanse and a hot towel to open up my pores while also removing the excess product. The very next step was done with the HydraFacial device. This device felt as if it had some suction that she used all over my face. It wasn't uncomfortable at all. The next process I believe was applying an exfoliant of some kind to remove dead skin cells. Again, it was not uncomfortable. The next step, if I remember correctly, was the use of blue-light therapy to kill any remaining bacteria (great for acne prone skin). Of course, she fully prepped me with eye coverage and even then, it was bright. It felt as if she gave me a 5-minute treatment (totally unsure) during which time she was giving me a hand massage. Hands need love, too. She then moved on to the red-light therapy which is used for antiaging methods. I kept thinking about how my skin would react to all this.
The finale was a treat. The hot towel was reintroduced followed by a brief facial massage. Lightweight products were applied including an spf and lip moisturizer before completing the treatment. As soon as I opened my eyes and got up from the bed, I stepped in front of the mirror. A sigh of relief escaped me, and I took a closer look. My skin looked detoxed, smooth, plump and bright. Overall, I was very content with the appointment and the results of the treatment. I was going home looking fresh and feeling beautiful. Nonetheless, I still feared the following 24 hours reminiscing on my past experiences. The next day came, and I still looked good.
Success! Woo-Hoo! Oh, yeah!
Of course, I took a before and after photo as shown above. The left (before) picture was taken at 11:00 am before I left my house. Even after cleansing and a gentle exfoliation, my skin looks a little dual with some redness on my cheeks and nose. I should mention that I had not been using my skincare products for about 4 weeks due to seasonal allergies. I had just been cleansing and using spf. Though my skin looks healthy, it does seem like it's missing something (no, not make up).
The right (after) picture was taken around 4:00 pm when I finally arrived home. Though the lighting is slightly different due to the time of day, the results are visually apparent. My skin has a healthy glow, and all the redness is gone. Seriously, all I need is lipstick and mascara.
When you have healthy and radiant skin, it makes you feel good from the inside out. Taking care of your skin is not vanity, it is simply putting your best face forward. I would absolutely recommend this treatment to anyone 13 years old and over due to how gentle and un-invasive it is. Always seek a certified professional to do anything like this. Shop around before deciding on a facility and make sure they have a good reputation.
Tell me in the comments if you have ever had a hydrafacial or any other great facial treatment(s). Let me know your opinion on my before and after results and if you would try this treatment if you haven't already.
- xoxo, Ody
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