Hydrafacial is one of the best treatments out there at the moment for pretty much every single skin type! If you're wondering if this is the right skincare treatment for you, this blog post will answer all of your questions. 

At Beauty Affairs, Hydrafacial is one of the treatment modalities offered to help you on your journey to your best skin, ever. Here's exactly what it can do for you and why we love offering it at our locations!

What is a Hydrafacial Treatment?

In essence, it's a two-in-one deep exfoliating and cleansing treatment performed with a professional-grade Hydrafacial machine. 

It helps to physically exfoliate your skin on a level that you wouldn't be able to achieve at home on your own - which is what makes it such a great treatment to have done professionally. 

Exfoliation is an essential skincare step that really takes your routine to the next level! The first benefit is reduced congestion and texture on skin. Because exfoliation sweeps away excess dead skin cells, the opportunity for pores to get blocked with those dead skin cells and excess oils is rapidly reduced.

The other major benefit of exfoliation, especially at this level, is an increase in cell turnover. Boosting cell turnover has a knock-on effect of increasing collagen, and other benefits that I'll touch on in this blog post. 

What is a Hydrafacial Machine?

This device is what creates the magic for your skin. It's not a small, hand-held device - most hydrafacial machines have a handheld nozzle that the therapist uses over your skin, but this nozzle is attached to a larger machine that powers the suction effect and provides a continuous supply of fresh water - hence the 'hydra' part of the hydrafacial!

The part that comes into contact with your skin is the exfoliating tip of the nozzle. This exfoliating tip scrubs away dead skin cells and sebum effectively. The suction effect and water literally suck away this debris, leaving skin feeling and looking amazing. 

Depending on your skin's needs, your therapist may also infuse the water with skin-beneficial ingredients such as antioxidants to give your skin a further boost!

When I've had hydra facials in the past, the therapist has shown me the water from afterwards - it's kind of gross but satisfying. Usually, it's a milky white with some visible skin flakes floating in it! So icky, but so good to see what's really being removed from skin. 

Hydrafacial vs. Microdermabrasion: What's the Difference?

These two professional skincare treatments are similar on the surface - they both involve using a nozzle that exfoliates and has a suction effect on the skin. 

The major difference is that microdermabrasion is performed on skin without any water, while the hydrafacial has a water supply running through the nozzle.

This impacts how intensive the exfoliation is. To put it simply, microdermabrasion has a much stronger effect on the skin compared to the hydrafacial process. Microdermabrasion is less suitable for sensitive skin, and may have a slightly longer downtime in comparison. 

Benefits of a Hydrafacial

One thing we love about a hydrafacial is that it's ideal for all skin types. It's something that suits normal, oily, dry, and combination skin!

The benefits that you'll see with consistent hydrafacial treatments include:

• Smoother skin texture
• Firmer, bouncier skin
• Improved skincare absorption
• Smaller-looking pores
• Improved skin radiance
• Clearer skin
• Faded dark spots
• Less pronounced wrinkles

I know what you're thinking - how is it possible that this treatment has so many benefits for skin? 

It starts with the exfoliation process. Studies have found that hydradermabrasion improves the appearance of wrinkles, pores, and dark spots thanks to increasing fibroblast density, a special type of cell in skin that increases the amount of collagen in skin. 

This increased collagen production visibly improves the appearance of all aspects of skin, for a long-lasting, rejuvenated glow. 

The Hydrafacial Process

When you come in for a hydrafacial at one of our Beauty Affairs MediSpa locations, the overall process goes as follows:

1. Makeup & sunscreen removal
2. Facial cleansing & preparation for treatment
3. Hydrafacial 
4. Skin infused with hydrating treatment 
5. Moisturiser
6. Sunscreen

The process for this type of appointment starts with makeup and sunscreen removal. 

This is a critical part of beginning any facial treatment as it ensures your skin is free of any external debris and is properly prepared for treatment. Our beauty therapist may use a milk cleanser or micellar water to gently cleanse skin of makeup or sunscreen. 

Next, she'll go in using a facial cleanser she has chosen for your skin type and needs. She may also use a gentle physical scrub to further prepare skin for a smooth and effective hydrafacial session.

Finally, it's time to start the treatment. Focusing on certain areas, your beauty therapist will apply the hydrafacial nozzle in gentle strokes across your skin. She'll treat your face and neck, before moving on to the next step of the session.

To help reduce visible redness and support all skin types, a moisturising treatment such as a cream mask or sheet mask may be applied. This is tailored to your skin type and skin's needs to ensure you get the most out of your session! 

In some cases, your beauty therapist may also determine that LED light therapy is needed, and she may choose to administer it at the same time as the hydrating treatment.

To finish up, she'll apply moisturiser and sunscreen to nurture and protect your skin.

What does a Hydrafacial Feel Like?

Because of the suction, when the nozzle is moved over your skin there is definitely a bit of a pulling sensation, followed by a 'thwip' sound as the beauty therapist moves the nozzle around on your skin. 

During the treatment session, there should never be a burning or stinging sensation - if this happens, let your aesthetician know immediately. Each machine has settings that can be turned up or down in intensity to tailor this treatment to your skin.

Hydrafacial Results & Aftercare

So, now that you've finished your appointment - now what? Well, the two things that you need to focus on are how your skin looks right after and how to take care of your skin after your treatment. 

Results

Visible changes in your skin that you will notice right after your treatment are:

• Glowy skin
• Minimised pores
• Smoothed skin texture

The combination of exfoliation and hydration is like an instant boost for your skin. Removing lingering dead skin cells instantly reveals more radiant skin, while also lending long-term benefits such as pressing fast-forward on skin cell turnover. 

Increasing cellular turnover has the side effects of increasing the skin's natural collagen levels, which helps to improve the firmness and elasticity of skin, minimising the appearance of wrinkles and lax skin. 

Aftercare

What therapists and clients alike LOVE about hydradermabrasion is that this treatment has minimal downtime. 

Compared with some peels and lasers that require you to avoid sunlight for days after treatment, you'll only need to avoid prolonged, direct sunlight and using active skincare ingredients for the next 24 hours (but you can go 48 hours to be safe). 

Mild redness may occur right afterwards, but that usually subsides quickly. If you have any concerns about redness or irritation right afterwards, the best person to reach out to is the beauty therapist who administers your treatment!

How Soon Can I Wear Makeup After a Hydrafacial?

This treatment is touted as one of the best to do before a big event for flawless makeup, and while I agree, timing this correctly can make or break the effectiveness of the treatment. Applying makeup too soon can clog those recently cleared-out pores - not what we're looking to do!

For optimal glow for your special event - such as your wedding day - make sure your last hydrafacial treatment is 2-3 days before the big day. This ensures that your skin is 100% the perfect canvas for makeup!

Where to Book for a Hydrafacial in Sydney

Hydrafacials are offered at both Beauty Affairs MediSpa locations in New South Wales. The Sydney CBD location, conveniently located at Market Street is easily accessible for those close to the city, while our Brookvale location is our touchpoint for the northern suburbs. 

Call either location to book a hydrafacial-specific appointment, or, if you're looking for a treatment plan that includes the occasional hydradermabrasion session, book online for our Bespoke Luxury Facial and our expert therapists will be able to advise you on a course of treatments to help you reach your skincare goals!

Key Points: Hydrafacials

To sum up, the hydra facial is an incredibly versatile and effective facial treatment that can benefit all skin types - that's why it's one of our favourites at Beauty Affairs! 

By combining deep cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and intensive hydration, it not only removes skin-dulling dead skin cells but also stimulates cellular renewal for a visible glow. 

The hydrafacial's unique treatment process allows tailored serums to further target your specific skin concerns like fine lines, congestion, or dehydration. With little to no downtime required, you can enjoy an instantly rejuvenated complexion that looks refreshed and revitalised. 

It's a treatment that's perfect for preparing for a special event or as part of a course of treatments to overall improve your skin's firmness and radiance. The combination of exfoliation and hydration 

Book your appointment today to experience the transformative results for yourself!