HydraFacial and microdermabrasion are two very different methods aiming for the same goal. They both provide a deep cleanse and exfoliation. They remove the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin to promote cell turnover and reveal a new, healthier layer of skin. They’re both used to treat acne, dull skin, uneven complexion and some signs of ageing.
Both treatments are suitable for all skin types, but we have a strong clinical preference for HydraFacial, which we’ll explain below.
There are a few people out there who experience strong redness after these treatments, but this is very rare. In such cases, we normally recommend a gentler cleansing and toning treatment, such as the China Doll Facial.
So what are the significant differences between these treatments? The major difference is in the method.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is performed on skin that’s been cleansed and dried. There are two types of microdermabrasion; crystal and diamond-tip. Diamond-tip microdermabrasion involves a hand piece with a grainy surface that scrubs the dead skin cells off your complexion, and suctions them up as it goes. Crystal microdermabrasion sprays tiny little crystals on your skin to blast off the dead cells.
After a microdermabrasion treatment, most clinics will manually apply a moisturiser or hydrating serum by hand.
HydraFacial
HydraFacial, exfoliates your dead skin cells, and it has a vacuum device, but there are a few extra features and one very important difference. HydraFacial involves liquid exfoliating agents to dissolve the natural glue that holds the dead cells together. This means that the dead cells can be removed easily without any of the scraping involved in microdermabrasion.
When done properly, this method of exfoliation is actually safer than manually scraping the dead cells off. With exfoliating scrubs, you risk causing micro damages that can lead to tiny bits of scar tissue.
Additionally, the patented vortex in the HydraFacial hand piece uses cleansing serums to flush debris from your pores while the vacuum suctions the debris out. This gives you a deeper cleanse than microdermabrasion and works wonders on blackheads.
One of the biggest differences between HydraFacial and microdermabrasion is the extra final step; hydration. After cleansing, exfoliating and extracting debris from your pores, HydraFacial infuses the skin with antioxidants, humectants and nourishing serums to give your fresh layer of skin a healthful boost. The device offers better penetration of the serums than when they are applied by hand.
Is one better than the other?
Rather than compare the two, we prefer to think of HydraFacial as an evolution on microdermabrasion. Just as at-home exfoliating scrubs have moved over for AHA cleansers, microdermabrasion is making way for HydraFacial as a more advanced method to reach the same goal; clear, radiant and youthful-looking skin.
