We’re grown accustomed to paying hundreds of pounds here and there for deep-cleaning facials at the hands of a professional. But do you ever wonder if practitioners are actually clearing £200 worth of gunk and grime from our skin in the process? (Not to mention, what would £200 of gunk and grime even look like?)
Thanks to a wave of treatments that use vacuum and vortex technology to literally suck excess oil, debris, and dirt from clogged pores and — yes — deposit it all into a receptacle for later viewing, we now have our answers. Sure, it’s not pretty, but much like watching a Dr. Pimple Popper video, it’s indescribably fascinating to see all the stuff that once hung out on our skin.
Naturally, these facials are becoming all the rage. Though the treatments and technologies have been around for longer than you'd think, clips of people examining their own muddy post-treatment waters are just starting to pop up all over social media. (Last month, we even made a little video of our own.)
We get it: Seeing dirt and debris collected from the faces of others is fun. But there’s still nothing like experiencing one of these skin-sucking sessions for yourself. So we surveyed the landscape of deep-cleaning facials that end with a fascinating gross-out viewing party to get the scoop on where to get one, what makes each unique, and even how to get in on the action for free, ahead...
The Treatment: HydraFacial
First Introduced: 1997
Why It’s Unique/What It Does: Those with sensitive skin may find more comfort in this version of the popular treatment: Instead of using a diamond or rollerball tip, HydraFacial employs a soft plastic tip and a double helix-like vacuuming action to lift and remove dead skin cells and excess oil from the skin — all while depositing a medical-grade serum that helps soften pores (for gentler extractions), brighten, and more. The treatment is also designed to include lymphatic draining and/or red or blue LED therapy, upon request.
Length of Treatment: Approximately 30 minutes.
Average Cost: $200 (£150)
Where to Get It: More than 8,000 dermatologists' and plastic surgeons' offices, medi-spas, and day spas nationwide in the UK, including Nuriss and Debbie Thomas.
The Treatment: Dermalinfusion
First Introduced: 2002
Why It’s Unique/What It Does: Sometimes known as the Envy or SilkPeel facial, this treatment employs a diamond-tipped wand (selected to correlate with your level of skin sensitivity) and a closed-loop, pressurised air chamber to exfoliate and extract oil and debris from clogged pores, while simultaneously depositing serum onto the skin right at the moment of exfoliation. Why the one-two punch? Traditional exfoliation triggers our bodies' wound-healing response, something that protects skin from pathogens — and anything else deliberately applied in the process, even good-for-you skin-care products. By performing extractions and laying down restorative serums in tandem, this machine is geared to provide better serum penetration (and, therefore, more hydrated, plump, even-toned skin).
Length of Treatment: Approximately 30 minutes.
Average Cost: $175 (£132)
Where to Get It: More than 1,000 dermatologists' offices, medi-spas, and day spas nationwide in the UK, including The Clinic by Dr Mayoni.
The Treatment:Perk Hydrating Facial
First Introduced: 2018
Why It’s Unique/What It Does: Like other treatments available, this facial employs a device to suck up oil and dirt from the skin, while simultaneously depositing a nutrient-rich serum (options include vitamin C, and lactic acid) onto the face. (And yes, all that gunk is collected into a vessel for your viewing pleasure once the treatment is done. Just ask our writer.) Unlike other treatments, this one is super affordable (as in, free if you’re ready to pony up for new skin care), but isn’t performed by licensed aestheticians.
Length of Treatment: 30 minutes.
Cost: Price on request.
Where to Get It: There are many Perk providers across the UK. Discover your nearest provider here.
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