Testing, Testing: A Beauty Editor's Review of The Hydrafacial

There are two types of facials: the relaxing spa facial and the get-shit-done facial. For times when I need a get-shit-done facial, I always book a Hydrafacial. The treatment is painless, require zero downtime, and leaves my pores looking teeny-tiny and my skin ridiculously glowy too. And because Hydrafacials are super customizable, I can rely on the treatment to address whatever skin issue I'm dealing with at that particular time, whether it be dark spots, acne, or dryness.

Keep reading for my full review of the Hydrafacial—plus everything you need to know about the treatment, including what exactly a Hydrafacial is, how it works, the benefits, and how much it costs.

What is a Hydrafacial?

The Hydrafacial is a type of facial that uses patented technology to deeply cleanse, extract and hydrate the skin. During a treatment, a wand that works like a vacuum is passed over the skin in various steps to exfoliate skin, deep clean pores, and then push targeted booster serums deeper into the skin. "Hydrafacials can be tailored to individual skin types and concerns by using different boosters serums or adding LED light therapy or lymphatic drainage to a treatment," says aesthetician and Hydrafacial wiz Miranda Sturce.

Dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD, likens getting a Hydrafacial to power-washing your skin. "A Hydrafacial treatment uses water power to physically push dead skin cells and congestion from the skin," she says. If you're consistent with at-home turnover treatments (exfoliating acids, retinoids, bakuchiol, etc.) you may not need a Hydrafacial, says Dr. Rogers, but if you don't use those types of products regularly there's a good chance you can benefit from a treatment.

What are the benefits of a Hydrafacial?

There a ton of benefits to Hydrafacials, including clearer skin, smaller pores, and smoother skin texture. And depending on the booster serums applied during your treatment, a Hydrafacial can help with hyperpigmentation, dryness or dehydration, and blackheads and whiteheads too.

What are the negatives of a HydraFacial?

Dr. Rogers says the biggest negative of getting a Hydrafacial is that it can potentially leave your skin dried out and/or irritated. This is especially true if your skin is sensitive or if you used strong actives, like retinoids or AHAs, in the days leading up to your treatment.

Also! Hydrafacial isn't a one-and-done treatment, so don't expect any long-lasting miracles after just one session. "To really build collagen, fade brown spots, and maintain smooth texture, you have to keep feeding your skin what it needs to fight the fight, day in and day out," says Dr. Rogers. "Real results take time and consistency," she adds.

How long do HydraFacial results last?

One of the great things about a Hydrafacial is that the results are instant. Those results can last for a few days too, depending on how well you take care of your skin after your appointment (check out the products I used post-treatment, below). To maintain your results, you should aim to make Hydrafacials part of your regular routine. "I tell my clients to come in for a facial one a month until their skin is on track, and then every eight weeks after that for maintenance," says Sturce.

Products I <3 for maintaining a Hydrafacial glow:

This Antioxidant Serum

Face Reality Antioxidant Peptide Serum

$54 at facerealityskincare.comProduct Shot ImageThis Retinol

Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform

Product Shot ImageThis SPF

Lightsaver Activated Mineral Sunscreen

Product Shot Image

Which age is best for a HydraFacial?

There's no best age to get a Hydrafacial—it's a treatment that's appropriate for just about everyone. You can be in your 20s with clogged pores, 30s with dark spots, or 40s with fine lines and a Hydrafacial can be good for you.

What does a Hydrafacial cost?

The price of a Hydrafacial treatment really depends on where you live (the cost in major cities like NYC and L.A. tends to be higher) and where you get your treatment done (the price in a derm's office may cost more than at a day spa), but on average, a single Hydrafacial treatment can cost anywhere from $150 to $300. Since the benefits of a Hydrafacial are cumulative, ask your provider if there's a discount for buying a package or series with multiple treatments. You'll save some $$ and your skin will look extra radiant too.

Is a Hydrafacial really effective?

Hydrafacials are effective at deep cleaning the skin, exfoliating the skin, and improving skin tone and texture. As for acne, Dr. Rogers says its "fine but not a miracle worker—it does not do much for the active lesions but by unclogging pores it can help prevent further breakouts," she adds.

My review of the Hydrafacial:

Last month my period finally came back after having a baby in February and my skin has been going absolutely haywire as a result. Like suuuuper oily with bumpy texture and PMS-style clogged pores and cystic acne. I had been faithfully using retinoids and exfoliating at home, but my skin needed a seriously deep clean so I scheduled myself a Hydrafacial with Miranda Sturce. I've been a fan of Hydrafacials for years now, always booking myself a treatment before a big event or when my skin's acting up and my at-home routine just isn't cutting it.

My recent facial with Sturce lasted an hour and half (she comboed my Hydrafacial treatment with lymphatic massage, an LED mask, and a Biologique Recherche mask), but the actual Hydrafacial part lasted about 30 minutes. First, Sturce cleansed my skin and then used the wand to deliver a exfoliating serum with a mixture of glycolic acid and salicylic acid to gently break down dead cells and prep it for the following step: some much needed extractions.

During the extraction portion, the wand swiftly sucked up surface-level gunk and build-up. This was my favorite part of the Hydrafacial TBH. The wand is maneuverable enough to really get into the crevices around my nose and the contours of my jawline to unclog pores—plus I usually find manual extractions uncomfortable, but with the wand it was totally pleasant.

After my skin was fully cleansed and degunked, Sturce used the wand again (told you, the wand gets shit done) to push a serum with antioxidants and peptides into my skin for some brightening and anti-aging benefits. She also applied the Hydralock booster serum, which contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, since my skin was a bit dehydrated in addition to being congested. I LOVED the effects of this booster. It gave my skin that dewy glass skin effect, but didn't feel heavy at all or clog my pores.

Overall, I left my treatment with my skin looking clear and glowy—and the blackheads and clogged pores on my nose and chin were nearly gone. I still had red mark from breakouts on my chin area, but they seemed less inflamed which was a plus for me.

Want to try a Hydrafacial for yourself? Click here to find a provider.

Meet the experts:

Miranda Sturce is a licensed aesthetician in New York, NY with more than 15 years of experience. Sturce's custom skin treatments are loved by celebs and editors.
Heather Rogers, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle, WA. Dr. Rogers is the co-founder of Modern Dermatology and the CEO of Doctor Rogers Skin Care.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the best pore minimizing treatments. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to professional treatments.

Lauren BalsamoDeputy Beauty Director

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.