Microdermabrasion Before a Facial

To speed up the rate at which dead skin is exfoliated, and jumpstart the proliferation of new skin cells,your aesthetician or dermatologist may recommend a series of microdermabrasion treatments. Using a diamond- or bristle-tip head, skin is lightly “buffed,” gently lifting away dead skin cells that contribute to a lackluster appearance. “I do microdermabrasion on my clients before every facial since it’s great for breaking through the top layers of damaged skin and getting off that ‘city grime.’ It’s so hard to do a facial on someone whose skin is essentially suffocating,” says New York aesthetician Joanna Vargas. “When the dead skin cells are eliminated, products can penetrate better and skin won’t feel as dry.” Used to treat a variety of different skin concerns, including hyperpigmentation, sun-damage spots, dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, and even minor acne scars, microdermabrasion can be coupled with just about any other type of skin treatment and is usually recommended to be done every few weeks to every two or three months.