Taking Skin Care Seriously – My HydraFacial Experience

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found I’ve taken more of an interest in taking care of myself in all aspects. Obviously that means taking care of my body and eating right, but it also includes something many women struggle with – my skin. I was one of those teenagers with an oily t-zone and acne, and I always assumed I would grow out of it. While I did grow out of most of it, not all of my acne has disappeared as I’ve gotten older, which leaves me in the weird position of both preventing wrinkles and fighting acne. Just weird.

I’ve experimented with a lot of different things, and I’ve found that a simple approach generally works best for day to day, with some extras when they’re needed. I use a simple cleanser, my homemade facial serum, and the extras when I feel I need them, which is why I was so excited to try out Hydrafacial at NOVA Plastic Surgery.

Hydrafacial is a four step facial that’s designed to target your specific trouble spots, simply. I’ve had facials before, and they were really involved and left my skin irritated for a few days. This? No irritation, just great skin.

Sherri Anderson did my Hydrafacial, and she explained the whole process to me in detail before starting. The four steps boil down to four simple things: exfoliation, peel, extraction, and moisturizing. The whole process was really easy, and almost felt like a vacuum on my face. (I know that sounds weird, but I assure you it wasn’t at all) I could tell that each step was happening, and Sherri and I talked the whole time (side note – her sister in law works for Stitch Fix – how cool is that?). 

I think my favorite part was the extraction. I know that sounds strange, but I have had blackheads on my nose for as long as I can remember. Like, to the point that I don’t even know how many there are! As Sherri did the extraction, I could feel a difference, and when I looked in the mirror afterward everything was finished, I could actually see that many of them were gone. (Plus, when I picked Chris up afterward, he told me my pores were really open – weird compliment, but I knew exactly what he meant and loved it!)

All that said, I think the absolute best part of the whole experience was that afterward I could do what I wanted. It only took about 30 minutes, and I wasn’t irritated like I have been with past facials. I wasn’t red, and I was able to just go about the rest of my day with no issues. So easy to fit into my day, and the results were even better the next day. My skin was softer, brighter, and just seemed healthier.

I’m so glad I go the experience, and I’d highly recommend it for others – I love that it’s personalized, easy, and fast. If you’re in the Northern Virginia area, go see Sherri at NOVA Plastic Surgery… and try not to talk her ear off like I did. She made it fun and I felt so at ease in her care. I’d absolutely go back and do another one – it’s perfect for once a month maintenance, or a way to brighten up your skin the day before an event.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary Hydrafacial in exchange for this review, but all opinions are my own. I only recommend things that I actually love!