What Is HydraFacial? How It Differs from Water Facials, and Price

HydraFacial is a popular skincare-oriented aesthetic treatment because the sessions are short and there is no downtime. During the pandemic in particular, wearing a mask for long hours easily caused sensitive skin and constant blackheads and breakouts, which is exactly when a HydraFacial treatment is needed to cleanse the skin thoroughly!

What Is HydraFacial? How Is It Different from a Fractional Laser?

If you are new to aesthetic skincare, you may confuse water facials with fractional lasers, but the two are completely different treatments.

HydraFacial is a non-invasive blackhead-cleansing treatment and has nothing to do with fractional lasers. It is built on 3 core technologies: a patented handpiece, vortex water-swirl technology, and infusion of skincare serums. Simply put, it "uses water plus the suction of the handpiece to remove built-up dirt and dead skin cells from the face." As the handpiece moves across the face, jets of water flush into the pores and wash out impurities while skincare serums are infused at the same time, delivering brightening, hydrating, radiance-boosting, and anti-acne benefits and returning the skin to a moisturized state.

I Already Use Skincare Products. Do I Still Need HydraFacial?

UV rays, sweat, airborne impurities, and makeup easily cling to the skin. If the skin is not cleansed properly over the long term, it can lead to enlarged pores, more blackheads and breakouts, and a dull complexion. No matter how much money you spend on skincare products, the skin cannot truly absorb them.

"Skin cleansing" is also a point that dermatologists keep reminding patients of when treating skin problems. HydraFacial starts from a full cleansing of the skin, and compared with the long-term cost of buying skincare products, the price of HydraFacial is not expensive, which has made it the most popular skincare treatment in aesthetic medicine in recent years.

How HydraFacial Cleansing Works: 3 Steps to Clearer, Brighter Skin

One HydraFacial session takes about 30 minutes and is done in 3 steps:

1. Cleansing and exfoliation

HydraFacial's patented 360-degree rotating handpiece sprays two jets of water finer than a strand of hair as it rotates. It can thoroughly remove the PM2.5, oil, blackheads, breakouts, leftover makeup, dust, dirt, and dead skin cells that have built up in the pores over time, fully purifying the facial skin from the inside out.

2. Vacuum extraction of dirt and blackheads

In addition to spraying fine jets of water, the HydraFacial handpiece also provides vacuum suction that gently draws out the dirt and dead skin cells inside the pores. If you wear makeup regularly, the waste bottle after a HydraFacial session will contain not only blackheads but also leftover makeup! This is because ordinary makeup removal and face washing can never completely remove the makeup left on the face.

3. Hydration infusion and skin protection

The last step of a HydraFacial treatment is hydration infusion. Right after the pores have been deeply cleansed, a hydrating serum is evenly infused into the facial skin, which also promotes blood circulation, completing the 3 steps of skincare. After the treatment, you can use a hydrating mask, moisturizer, and similar products to further improve the skin's water retention.

3 Major Advantages of HydraFacial

1. Affordable price

HydraFacial is relatively affordable compared with aesthetic treatments that often cost NT$10,000 or more. Prices vary slightly depending on the doctor's skill and the services each clinic provides.

2. A true "red carpet treatment" with instantly noticeable results

HydraFacial is very effective at clearing blackheads, and you can feel your pores become cleaner right after a single session. Because the dirt and oil deep in the skin are drawn out and dead skin cells no longer stay on the skin's surface, you can immediately see your face look several shades brighter!

3. Cleansing and skincare in one session

HydraFacial's patented vortex water-swirl technology, paired with 3 patented handpieces, seamlessly combines cleansing and skincare in a single session. The treatment causes almost no skin wounds and carries a lower risk of infection, so even people who are prone to keloids can have a HydraFacial treatment and instantly restore their skin's radiance.

What the HydraFacial Waste Bottle Reveals About Your Skin Type

After a HydraFacial session, you can see the blackheads, dirt, and flakes drawn from your face in the small waste bottle. They may appear in 3 different colors, each reflecting a different skin condition:

1. White and cloudy: tends toward oily skin.
2. Yellow and clear: tends toward dry skin.
3. Gray and cloudy: caused by dirt built up in the pores or leftover base makeup.

Water Facials Are Not HydraFacial!

Besides aesthetic clinics, many beauty spas also offer water facials. Is there a difference in results?

HydraFacial is a medical device approved by the U.S. FDA and Taiwan FDA, and it is a leading hydrating skin-renewal brand with more than 2 million treatments performed worldwide. It is also the red carpet treatment that many celebrities get before major appearances. Besides aesthetic clinics, many beauty centers on the market also offer water facials. Apart from being cheaper, these are closer to beauty-salon skincare treatments and differ from the medical-grade HydraFacial. We recommend choosing equipment from a major manufacturer with proper certification, which gives you better protection and safety for a water facial.

Why Do Water Facial Prices Vary So Much?

Water facial prices vary mainly because of the machine model and whether the handpieces are original manufacturer parts, and secondarily because of the doctor's diagnosis and skill. For a top-tier HydraFacial, the price of a single session cannot be lower than NT$2,000, as that would be below the actual cost.

Which Skin Types Is HydraFacial Suitable For?

Millions of people worldwide have had HydraFacial treatments, and it is suitable for essentially all skin types. Even if you have sensitive skin, rosacea-prone skin, or are prone to keloids, there is no need to worry, as the serums used in HydraFacial are formulated to suit a wide range of skin types. However, if you have acne with active inflammation on your face, it is not recommended. If you only have a few pimples, they can simply be avoided during the HydraFacial treatment.

How Often Should You Get a HydraFacial?

HydraFacial is a deep skin-cleansing treatment. After one session, the best level of skin hydration can last 5 to 7 days. Doing it once a month can improve fine lines, wrinkles, and acne-prone skin, and every session leaves the skin looking refreshed, so it can be treated as a routine monthly skincare treatment.