Putting a Fresh Face Forward: I Tried Microdermabrasion

Fresh back from my trip to Cancun, I was relaxed and tanned. But despite the careful and heavy use of sunscreen in the strong Mexican rays, my skin was not looking quite so refreshed as the rest of me. In fact, the fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead were more pronounced than ever. (Apparently, I spend a lot of my time not frowning, but with my eyebrows raised high in surprise.) I am starting to look my age, and that just isn’t working for me.

So when my esthetician suggested a facial – and maybe trying out a microdermabrasion treatment – I was intrigued. After all, I’m trying to take better care of myself, especially since – truth be told – I am terrible about taking care of my skin – all too often I fall asleep without removing my makeup – so I told her to do the facial. And while I’ve always viewed facials as more of a “pampering” treatment, there are real benefits to regular facials that I wasn’t aware of. Check this out:

Benefits of Routine Facials – They can:

relieve stress and muscle tension that causes deep wrinkles
remove environmental impurities from the upper layer of the skin (epidermis)
reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
reduce the effects of sun damage, age spots, and acne scarring
even out skin tone and complexion
increase blood circulation
promote collagen production

Now, I confess – I’ve been a bit nervous with the idea of a microdermabrasion. After all, it sounds…well…harsh. (I mean, it contains the word “abrasion” and that doesn’t sound gentle at all.)

Thankfully, the spa I frequent uses diamond tip microdermabrasion, which is (relatively) pain-free and which is safer to perform closer to the eyes and on more sensitive skin – perfect for those, erm, “laugh lines” that are suddenly appearing around my eyes (which do not make me laugh.) It�s appropriate for most skin types because it is non-invasive, and can effectively reduce or eliminate wrinkles, acne, age spots, stretch marks, and more.

In addition to the exfoliation benefits, microdermabrasion also increases blood flow to the skin, which then helps to produce collagen – done on a regular basis, this will promote healthier-looking skin! Anyway, the following is just my review of it. If you are considering it you might want to take a look at this great VCI guide to learn more.

My esthetician started off by analyzing my skin under a light with a magnifying lens. (There will be no pictures of THAT, thank you very much.) She then cleansed my face using IS Clinical Cleansing Complex, then used a brightening polish while she exfoliated using a Clarisonic ultrasonic brush.

Once this was complete, she began the microdermabrasion. (Did I mention I’m terrible about taking proper care of my skin?) The process exfoliates dead skin cells and vacuums them from the face using microdermabrasion tips covered in tiny diamonds. (Fancy, huh?) During the process, I felt a rough “scrubbing” sensation accompanied by gentle suction. She spent a lot of time around my eyes, where I’m showing signs of age.

Following the microdermabrasion, she applied a much-welcomed soothing gel mask with antioxidants and hydration properties – and it felt wonderful. She gently wiped off the mask and then applied a serum with vitamin C and E, and finished with an application of Eclipse SPF 50+ sunscreen.

And with that, I was done! I couldn’t wait to see the results – and I was thrilled with what I saw – glowing, healthier skin.