ReZoom

The latest microdermabrasion products are supposed to cause less irritation than their predecessors. Will paying more lead to less redness and downtime later?

Microdermabrasion treatments, popular in the U.S. for nearly a decade, use fine crystals to remove dead skin cells from the face and improve the skin's surface. While the treatments won't work on scars or other skin problems below the surface level, many claim microderm treatments are as close as you can get to the "fountain of youth." With the help of our 53-year-old tester, ReZoom asks how much you should be willing to shell out for this skincare procedure.

Big Spenders
For the latest in microderm technology, I paid a visit to Bishop's Salon & Day Spa for an Aveda Botanical Skin Resurfacing ($85, but more traditional microderm treatments can run upwards of $200). Known as Aveda's "innovative alternative to microdermabrasion," according to the Aveda website, the Botanical Skin Resurfacing facial supposedly "smooths skin texture, reduces the appearance of fine line lines and diminishes pore size while significantly increasing radiance."

As a chronic dry skin sufferer, most of the masques and moisturizers applied during my facial were in the "hydrating" family, and I definitely felt and saw the difference in my skin's texture for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, the experience was very pleasant. And, while I was worried that the wand used to suck recently loosened dead skin cells from my face would feel unpleasant or even painful against my skin, it felt more like the aesthetician was running an electric toothbrush over my face than anything else.

It is certainly a procedure I would want to try again.

Middle of the Road
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion in a Jar ($75) is one of the pricier alternatives for those looking to recreate this popular spa experience at home. Dr. Brandt's offering uses "pharmaceutical grade crystals" and promises "more soothing ingredients to improve [the product's] effectiveness without irritation."

Supposedly, massaging just a dab of Dr. Brandt's all over the face once a week leads to better skin texture and appearance. Our tester's take?

"It gave me a real smooth, soft feeling," she says. "I can definitely tell a difference, and I would keep using it."

Philosophy also offers their own Microdelivery Peel ($65) for those who want more frequent microderm treatments without going broke at the spa or salon. And, unlike Dr. Brandt's, Philosophy's product doesn't stop at exfoliation. The company touts that "what makes this next generation microdelivery peel so revolutionary is that unlike peels of the past that only exfoliated, this peel delivers peptide and vitamin c to the skin as it's being rapidly exfoliated."

Of course, the two-fold benefits of Philosophy's Microdelivery Peel also mean that the product has a two-fold process. You massage one part of the product into your skin before adding a second product to the face that causes the mask to heat up.

"For someone as low maintenance as I am, that's a little too much effort," our tester says.

In the end, both products seemed to improve the skin with minimal irritation and redness, but it was the ease of use that differentiated them in the long run.

"They both worked. They both seemed to make my face feel smooth," our tester adds. "[Philosophy] is just harder to use."

Bargain Hunters
Dove's recently introduced Skin Vitalizer ($13.99) is the bargain basement alternative for those interested in microdermabrasion treatments. The electronically-charged wand uses cleansing pillows to give the face "a deep clean as well as massaging and exfoliating benefits for healthy, beautiful skin."

Unfortunately, our tester wasn't all that impressed.

"It made my nose feel funny," she says.

Plus, while the Skin Vitalizer itself might seem like a steal, you'll have to refill the Cleansing Pillows fairly often – especially if you use the product on a daily basis, as recommended by Dove.

When our tester tried to get two uses out of the cleansing pillow (one from each side as suggested by the packaging instructions), she ran into a bit of a dead end.

"The reverse side never got foamy," she adds.

At ReZoom, we're left to conclude that microdermabrasion treatments have real benefits to the skin, and are not just another flash in the pan in the world of beauty, but it seems this is a treatment you're going to have to pay for – whether at the salon or in high-end product purchases.

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