This Facial is the Winter Skin Treatment Your Face Needs
Updated: Feb. 25, 2019
Curious about HydraFacial, the buzzy new skin treatment? Our editor tests it out and reports back.
On a cold afternoon earlier this winter, I took the subway from our offices at Yonge and Bloor a few stops south to the Eaton Centre. I normally avoid the mall (crowds!), and prefer to do my shopping at stand-alone shops or online, but on this day I wasn’t there to shop, I was there for a facial. In addition to more than 250 retailers and restaurants, the CF Toronto Eaton Centre is home to Caryl Baker Visage spa. (FYI the brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!)
The spa is known for its brow, lash and makeup services, and recently started offering the HydraFacial, which is what I was there to experience. Here’s what you need to know about this buzzy new facial treatment.
What is the HydraFacial?
The HydraFacial is a 3-step facial treatment that uses patented technology to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate the skin. Sounds like a normal facial, right? But it’s not. The major difference has to do with the exfoliation. Rather than a traditional dermabrasion, the HydraFacial uses Hydradermabrasion, using what I can only describe as a gentle handheld suction tool. Instead of blasting your skin smooth or squeezing gunk from your pores, the esthetician uses this device to suction dirt, oil and other impurities from your pores. At the end you can actually see everything that’s been sucked out — sort of like when you empty the filter in your vacuum. The gentle suction also acts like a massage, stimulating circulation and boosting your overall glow.
The way a HydraFacial hydrates your skin is also different. Serums are actually applied during the Hydradermabrasion. As the tool suctions your skin it simultaneously infuses it with a cocktail of “super serums” based on your skin concerns. Watch the video below for an illustrated example of how it works.
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HydraFacial benefits
So, in addition to exfoliation, what other results can you expect from the HydraFacial? You’ll notice hydrated, plump skin immediately after, and with regular treatments, you can also expect minimized dark spots and a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. No wonder it’s a new fave among celebs (Kate Winslet is said to be a fan).
My HydraFacial results
I’m someone who actually likes getting extractions done with a facial (I like that squeaky clean feel), so I wasn’t sure I would get the same results from Hydradermabrasion since it seemed so… gentle. What I learned was that gentle can be just as effective — if not more. My skin felt smooth and hydrated and I didn’t have any of the redness that sometimes happens during extractions. In fact, I went straight back to the office, makeup-free, and my skin felt amazing for weeks afterward.
The HydraFacial is available at Caryl Baker Visage spas, starting at $199.
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