Looking your best is about more than just your complexion. It’s about how you feel when you look in the mirror. Both microdermabrasion and facials are great ways to give your skin a healthy glow that’s sure to impress. But what if you only have time and money for one of them? Which one is right for you? Whether you call it microderm or microdermabrasion, this skin care service aims to smooth out your complexion by exfoliating the top layer of dead skin cells and unclogging pores. When it comes to choosing between microdermabrasion and facials, here’s what you need to know:
What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a form of manual exfoliation that uses a controlled stream of fine crystals to gently remove layers of dead skin. The crystals are applied to your face using a special microdermabrasion wand. You might hear it referred to as a “sanding” for the skin, but microdermabrasion is not as aggressive as sanding. It’s meant to be extremely gentle. Microdermabrasion works best on those with oily and acne-prone skin. It’s great for reducing pore size and helping your skin hold on to moisture. There are two kinds of microdermabrasion machines: sonic and manual. Sonic machines use suction and vibrations to push the crystals against your skin. Manual machines use a rotating head to move the crystals.
What is a facial?
A facial is a skincare treatment that focuses on cleaning, exfoliating, and nourishing your skin. There are different types of facials, but they all involve a trained aesthetician using the hands and special products to clean, hydrate, and exfoliate your skin. Facial treatments that use steam, exfoliation, and extractions, like the ones you can get at a spa, are often called “chemical peels,” although they’re nothing like the chemical peels you might get from a dermatologist. The goal of a facial is to clean and gently exfoliate your skin. A facial won’t get rid of blackheads or significantly reduce pore size.
The difference between microdermabrasion and facials
Both microdermabrasion and facials have the same goal: to make your skin look more radiant and smooth out imperfections like enlarged pores. Microdermabrasion and facials also both use exfoliation, steam, and extractions to reach this goal. The main difference is that facials are done on a much gentler scale than microdermabrasion. Facials use special products to clean and exfoliate your skin. Microdermabrasion uses crystals that are much stronger and more abrasive than facial products.
Which one should you choose?
If you want your skincare routine to be as gentle as possible, microdermabrasion is probably not right for you. It’s an extremely aggressive procedure that often leaves patients with red, painful skin. Most people will have to wait a few days before their skin heals enough to resume their normal skincare routine. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, microdermabrasion might be easier on your skin than a facial. But if you have dry skin, a facial might be the better choice. Facials are generally gentler and less likely to cause irritation, redness, and swelling. They also don’t require any downtime. As long as you use the right skincare products after the facial, your skin will be back to normal in no time.
Conclusion
If you have oily and acne-prone skin, microdermabrasion might be a better choice than a facial. A facial is generally gentler on dry skin, but it might leave oily skin raw. Microdermabrasion cannot remove blackheads or significantly reduce pore size, like a facial can. If your goal is to make your skin look its best, a combination of microdermabrasion and facials might be the best choice. You can do one or two microdermabrasion treatments and follow up with a facial to get the most out of both treatments.
Book your microdermabrasion appointment online today or give us a call to schedule.
