The HydraFacial: Everything You Need To Know

“This post is sponsored by Glamour Plastic Surgery & Med Spa. As always, all opinions are my own.”

I’m back with another skincare post and today, we’re talking about the one skincare treatment EVERY person should be doing – the HydraFacial MD. If you missed my last beauty post, you can get the scoop on all my skincare struggles and what Dr. Bachilo did to completely transform my skin. I’m so glad I’ve been able to share this journey with you guys and hope my personal experience has helped you in some way.

Today, I’m answering all of your questions regarding my experience, educating you on the process itself, and diving into a more in-depth post about why not all Hydrafacials are created equally. If you’ve never experienced a HydraFacial before, you’re in for a real treat. Here’s a quick rundown of the 4 steps involved.

STEP 1: Cleanse & Exfoliate

The first step is the removal of dead skin cells, dirt, makeup, and other impurities on the surface of the skin. Your aesthetician will apply a cleansing serum, then use a neat little gadget to gently suction it away.  Water is actually the exfoliator as it’s released into the skin from a vortex-like tool. During this step, you will enjoy some lymphatic drainage and improvement in circulation as a result of the suction and circular movement of the device.

STEP 2: Brightening Agent

The second step is applying a very gentle chemical peel to really loosen up any impurities underneath the skin.  It’s non-irritating and doesn’t hurt at all.  If you have acne-prone skin like me, your skin is going to love the mix of salicylic and glycolic acids to combat future breakouts.

STEP 3: Extractions

The third step is my favorite – the extractions!  Using a vortex-extraction nozzle, it literally sucks out all the dirt and impurities in your pores leaving them squeaky clean. Think of it as a vacuum collecting all the gunk in your skin.  There’s absolutely no pain whatsoever and the best part is seeing what comes out at the end of the treatment. Make sure to take a photo of the evidence!

STEP 4: Hydrate & Protect

The final step is also known as vortex fusion. This is where your aesthetician will apply all the good stuff to get our skin glowing. Instead of using her hands, she uses a tool to deliver antioxidants, potent peptides, and hyaluronic acid directly into the skin rather than just on the surface. It’s more effective and will leave your skin glowing for days!

I also received these additional services as part of one of Dr. Bachilo’s HydraFacial packages – ZO Skin Health mask, collagen booster for my neck, LED light therapy (blue light to combat any acne and blemishes / red light to fight fine lines and wrinkles), and lip exfoliator.  See pricing below for more info.

After posting my videos via Instagram, I received so many questions about the treatment and wanted to address them here.

DOES THE TREATMENT HURT? Not at all! This non-invasive treatment is pain-free and so good for your skin.  The suction sensation from cleaning and extracting your skin is really gratifying because you know your pores are getting a good deep clean.

HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT TAKE? HydraFacials typically only take about 30 minutes, but if you need to address specific skin concerns, you may need a few extra minutes. Heck, you could totally squeeze this in during your lunch break and come back with glowing skin.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET A HYDRAFACIAL?  It’s recommended you come in once a month, but if your schedule doesn’t permit it, I would definitely say every other month. In between visits, it’s definitely important to maintain a good skincare routine to keep your skin looking its best.

I HAVE ACNE-PRONE SKIN. IS THIS TREATMENT RIGHT FOR ME?  I have acne-prone skin and it has helped me tremendously.  Since starting my ZO Skin Health skincare regiment and doing this HydraFacial, I’m virtually free of any breakouts. In fact, the HydraFacial is great for any skin type, even those with sensitive skin.  It’s completely customizable to work with your unique skin and your skincare professional will work with you to find the perfect combination.

WHAT’S THE DOWNTIME?  None! You can go on about your day as usual. If you want to hit the gym, you can do that too. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to get this treatment before a big event because it leaves their skin so hydrated, radiant, healthy-looking.  Because there’s no picking/probing involved, you won’t be left with any marks or scars that need additional healing time.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A HYDRAFACIAL? There’s a ton to list – non-invasive, gentle, improvement in elasticity and firmness, brighter complexion, healthy hydrated skin, minimized pores, helps with fine lines and wrinkles, reduction of dark spots, and the list goes on. Plus, it’s one of the best investments you can treat your skin to for lasting results.

WILL I BREAKOUT AFTER THE TREATMENT?  If you have any slight post-facial breakouts, don’t worry! It’s completely normal and just your body’s way of releasing those toxins that were trapped underneath your skin. I had a couple very small pimples emerged 2-3 days after my treatment, but they went away on their own and I haven’t had a pimple ever since.

ARE HYDRAFACIALS LIKE ANY OTHER FACIAL? Such a great question and the answer is definitely not!  Let’s dive into this topic in more detail. In my experience, there are a lot of places claiming they offer this treatment to clients, but it’s important to know if you’re getting the real deal or just a similar version of it. Remember – you get what you pay for. I’ve done “hydrafacials” in the past only to find out I wasn’t getting the real deal.

A true HydraFacial uses medical grade products only offered through a doctor’s office. They contain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients which means they’re more potent and effective for your skin. Only ZO Skin Health products were used during my treatment and I couldn’t be happier.

Another easy way to find out if you’re really getting the right treatment is to look for the HydraFacial MD branding on the machine. If it’s a different brand, it’s not the real deal.

Additionally, a true HydraFacial is very different from a spa facial. While both are very relaxing, spa facials tend to have a lot of “fillers” to make you feel good. Often times, a ton of product is used, but without good reason other than smelling nice or helping you to relax.  Don’t get me wrong – I love a good spa treatment, but I tend to use them for massages, not facials.  A true HydraFacial targets the face, neck, and chest.  There may be some light massaging during the treatment, but the focus is on treating the skin for optimal results.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?  Dr. Bachilo offers 2 HydraFacial packages using only the best medical grade products from ZO Skin Health. The Deluxe HydraFacial includes the 4 standard steps plus the ZO hydrating skin mask, a skin booster to help address specific skin concerns, and skin tightening for neck + decollete (Price: $275)

I still can’t believe this came out of my skin in just one treatment! The video above was recorded right after I came home from my HydraFacial and proof of how smooth and healthy my skin looked. Thanks to these amazing products from Glamour Plastic Surgery and this skincare treatment, I’m officially hooked!

Now, for the good stuff – GIVEAWAY TIME!  I’m teaming up with Dr. Bachilo to give one lucky winner a chance to win a HydraFacial and entry is so easy. The giveaway will run until Friday June 7th at 11pm EST  and one winner will be drawn at random within 48 hours. You can enter via this Instagram post or Facebook or both!

If you want to book an appointment now, below is all the information.  Remember to mention my name & blog to receive 15% off your service. Send me a photo of your results! I definitely want to hear about your experience.